National Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Policy.

This Policy aims at better conservation and management of the water resources of Dominica through an integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach. Water is recognized by the Government as one of the most crucial elements in developmental planning: water is a precious national resource to be planned, developed and conserved for optimal and sustainable use on a holistic, integrated and participatory basis, keeping in view the needs of Dominica. Planning and development of water resources need to be governed by national perspectives.
The Policy sets out, among other things, its goals, objectives and guiding principles, and implementing instruments and water policy issues. It also concerns implementation of Policy. The main objectives of such a policy are to: ensure long term sustainability of the country’s water resources for the benefit of all; promote the adoption of integrated water resources management; develop and manage the country’s water resources wisely and efficiently to ensure the availability of a continuous supply of water to meet all needs and uses including that of the ecosystems; implement measures to protect and enhance the water systems so that the water quality is adequate for all designated uses; ensure that the present and future generations have access to a proper standard of sanitation; minimize and protect against water crises whether caused by climate change and climate variability, man-made or other natural causes; foster joint ownership and partnerships among the Government, private sector and the people of Dominica in managing the country’s water resources; enhance education, awareness and knowledge of Dominica’s water resources.
Guiding principles include, among other things: ownership by the Commonwealth of Dominica of all water resources; participatory approach in planning and management; integrated watershed management and coastal zone management taking into account the Cartagena Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol); polluter pays principle; water should be priced in order to encourage judicious use. Implementing instruments concern: legislative reform; good governance (including an administrative reform and re(assignment) of duties; economic instruments such as pricing and rates (including pollution charges or effluent discharge rates); integrated approach to the planning and development of water resources; information management; environmental and social impact assessment; participatory instruments (including community participation).
Water policies issues taken into account by the Policy include: climate change and island vulnerability; flooding; water supply; water abstraction and allocation; monitoring and assessment to support effective water management; water quality management (protection of water resources); wastewater management (including sewerage); water valuing (recognize the real economic value of water also for exportation purposes); watershed and coastal area management (an integrated approach to watershed management and coastal area management including adoption of the LBS Protocol and establishment of Watershed and Coastal Area Management Plans based on prioritization of watersheds); sensitive ecosystems management (including the management of wetlands; water use conflicts; public education and awareness; and national security.
As for implementation of this Policy, the Government shall establish a separate Water Resources Organization (WRO). This WRO will have responsibility for coordination, planning and implementing integrated development and management of the water resources. The WRO will be responsible for overall inter-agency/inter-sectoral coordination and wider stakeholder participation for water resources management. This is to ensure the coordination of water management activities across sectors. A comprehensive review and policy revision will be undertaken once every five years. In addition, to ensure that the policy remains relevant, the Government will, among other things: undertake a regular review of water related policies and programmes; reconcile the water related policies’ positions to promote a coordinated approach; establish functional units as outlined in the water resources policy; apply environmental impact assessment and the review process to examine water related developments and projects.