A Comprehensive Perspective on Inter-basin Water Transfer Projects

Access to reliable and sustainable water resources is increasingly threatened by increased needs of developing community in a region. The inter-basin water transfer option is considered as an “uncommon” alternative to overcome limitations of fresh water. The purpose of this study is to investigate various aspects in decision making and planning of inter-basin water transfer projects. At the same time, positive and negative challenges, implications and limitations of the economic, social, environmental, hydrological, technical, and political aspects of such decisions in the origin and destination basins are being discussed and compared. According to projects considered in this study composition and role of various aspects in the evaluation and justification of water transfer plans vary with every specific situation. The complexity of the problem is that the contribution and effectiveness of these factors are not necessarily coordinated and cannot be generalized for other situations. Negative feedbacks from an inter-basin water transfer project can end up to be positive for another project. In general, the efficiency of inter-basin water transfer projects depends on a comprehensive approach based on integrated water resources management. A detailed understanding of the needs of the target basin should be coordinated with identifying the existing conditions and predicting future and long-term consequences of the project in the origin basin. All economic, social, cultural, hydrological, environmental, political and technical aspects of a project rely on the concept of sustainable development.