Water Quality and Quantity

Water is already a scarce resource in many parts of Asia. The problem is likely to worsen, based on current trends in water use coupled with projected increases in demand due to rapid economic growth. Factors contributing to the degradation of water resources include excessive abstractions from surface and groundwater sources; increasing water pollution from untreated/partially treated waste discharges from municipalities, industrial and mining operations; loss and encroachment of sensitive wetlands; unsustainable land use; and loss of aquatic biodiversity due to damaged ecosystems from altered flow regimes. We seek to develop capacity to deal with one or more of these issues.