Water: the lifeblood of our planet, yet its management is often marred by inefficiencies and inequities. The global water crisis is intensifying, threatening communities and ecosystems worldwide, with projections indicating a potential 40% gap between supply and demand by 2030 if current trends continue. This isn’t simply a matter of scarcity; it’s a complex challenge encompassing governance, infrastructure shortfalls, and equitable access.

Climate change is poised to exacerbate this already precarious situation. By 2025, regions facing water deficits could see demand exceeding supply by a staggering 458 billion cubic meters annually. These deficits fuel groundwater depletion, ecological stress, and unsustainable water use practices, placing immense pressure on our ecosystems and leading to long-term degradation. Rising global temperatures disrupt hydrological cycles, leading to more frequent and intense droughts and floods. The stakes are undeniably high.

Regulation Gaps: Where Are We Failing?

Significant gaps in regulatory frameworks exacerbate the global water crisis, which hinders the effective management of this vital resource. 

1. Fragmented Governance Structures

In many nations, water management responsibilities are dispersed across various governmental levels and sectors, leading to disjointed decision-making and inefficient resource allocation. In Eswatini, for example, the absence of a comprehensive legal framework for water pricing and inadequate infrastructure for real-time monitoring significantly impedes efficient water management. This fragmentation results in:

• Duplication of efforts and wasted resources
• Inefficiencies in service delivery leave communities underserved
• A failure to address pressing issues such as climate change and rapid urbanisation effectively

2. Outdated Legal Frameworks

Are our laws equipped to address 21st-century challenges? Often, institutional gaps stem from outdated legal frameworks that fail to address contemporary realities such as climate change and rapid urbanisation. For example, take Eswatini, a country in southern Africa; the Water Act of 2003 and the Water Services Corporation Act of 1992 require urgent updating to reflect current needs and streamline water supply across urban, rural, and peri-urban areas. This lack of legislative modernisation leaves countries vulnerable to the escalating impacts of droughts and floods.

3. Financial constraints and Underinvestment

A significant barrier to implementing effective water management strategies is insufficient financial resources. Across many regions, inadequate infrastructure maintenance and modernisation investment exacerbate water scarcity and pollution problems. Without sufficient financial backing, countries struggle to adopt innovative technologies that can enhance efficiency and resilience, such as advanced water treatment systems and precision irrigation technologies.

4. Capacity and Infrastructure Deficits

Do we have enough skilled personnel and technological infrastructure to manage water effectively? Capacity building is crucial for improving institutional setups and monitoring and evaluation structures. Moreover, inadequate technological infrastructure, such as real-time monitoring systems, hampers efficient water management. The lack of real-time gauging stations in rural regions limits the ability to monitor water availability and respond to emergencies promptly.

Today, countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina have made strides by establishing effective policy dialogue platforms to facilitate stakeholder consultations and align reforms in the water sector. This approach demonstrates how coordinated governance can address regulatory gaps effectively, leading to more sustainable and equitable water management practices.

Addressing the Gaps in Water Management

The gaps in water management regulations are profoundly entrenched but not insurmountable.

1. Strengthening Governance and Policy Frameworks

Nations must establish unified governance frameworks that promote vertical and horizontal coordination across all levels of government and sectors. As the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) emphasises, a “whole-of-government” approach is crucial, where water management is integrated across administrative boundaries and policy domains.

One example of this approach is the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD), which provides a comprehensive legal framework for managing water resources across member states. By focusing on river basin management plans, the WFD ensures that water bodies are managed to balance environmental, social, and economic needs. Similar frameworks could be adopted globally to address transboundary water challenges, particularly in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where shared rivers often become sources of conflict.

2. Building Institutional Capacity

At individual, institutional, and societal levels, capacity building is essential to empower stakeholders to sustain water resources. This includes:

• Comprehensive training programs for water managers
• Strategic investments in technical expertise
• Establishing robust monitoring and evaluation systems

A notable example is the capacity-building initiative in Malaysia, supporting the Water Sector Transformation 2040 (WST2040) Roadmap in 2024. This program aimed to institutionalise Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) practices across the public and private sectors.

Workshops in Sabah and Perlis covered modules on river basin management, disaster risk reduction, and climate change projections. This initiative has enhanced the capacity of stakeholders to implement IWRM strategies effectively, contributing to Malaysia’s goal of transforming its water sector into a dynamic and resilient component of its economy.

3. Improving Funding Mechanisms

Innovative financing mechanisms are needed to bridge this gap. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can be crucial by leveraging private sector expertise and investment while ensuring public accountability.

For instance, Kenya’s partnership with private firms under its Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) initiative has improved irrigation efficiency and expanded access to clean drinking water for over one million people since 2023. By replicating such models globally, countries can address funding gaps while promoting sustainable practices.

4. Leveraging Technology for Better Regulation

Advanced technologies offer transformative solutions for addressing regulatory gaps in water management. Real-time monitoring systems powered by Internet of Things (IoT) devices can provide accurate data on water quality, availability, and usage patterns. Artificial intelligence (AI) can analyse this data to predict demand surges or contamination risks, enabling proactive decision-making.

Furthermore, digital platforms can streamline regulatory compliance by tracking permits, monitoring wastewater discharge levels, and ensuring that industries adhere to environmental standards.

The role of IDRA

Members of IDRA are at the forefront of global efforts to combat water scarcity through innovative technologies like desalination and reuse. By fostering collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders, IDRA drives advancements that make these solutions more efficient, affordable, and environmentally responsible. 

Desalination and water reuse represent a paradigm shift in viewing water as a renewable resource. By embracing these approaches alongside robust regulatory frameworks, decarbonisation efforts and strengthened international cooperation, nations can secure reliable access to clean water for future generations while mitigating the far-reaching impacts of climate change.

The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) is hosting two pivotal events in 2025 to drive innovation and modernization in the water sector. Join the conversation at the Seville Colloquium on June 1–2 or the Reykjavik Summit on Water and Climate Change on October 12–14. Share your insights and help shape a sustainable water future! Learn more about the Events at https://idrawater.org.