National Integrated Water Resources Management Policy 2022.

The National Integrated Water Resources Management Policy is a national policy of Trinidad and Tobago that establishes an integrated and cross-sectoral framework for the sustainable management of water resources and the water environment. It seeks to support socio-economic development while ensuring the efficient, equitable and sustainable use of surface water, groundwater and coastal waters, protecting ecosystems, and reducing risks from water-related disasters. Its objectives include strengthening national planning and environmental management, protecting and restoring watersheds, aquifers, wetlands and coastal areas, ensuring water security, improving water quality and availability, promoting fair allocation among users, strengthening water-sector governance, building data and research capacity, encouraging public awareness, and supporting appropriate technologies for water resources management.
The Policy addresses agricultural water management, public participation and equity. It provides for improved water management for agriculture, including the preparation of a National Irrigation Plan, the development of irrigation and drainage infrastructure, and the use of water-use efficiency techniques such as rainwater harvesting, stormwater use and water reuse. It gives particular attention to small farmers, including the development of water management infrastructure on state lands where small farmers are target beneficiaries, the involvement of farmers and local communities in planning, implementation, operation and maintenance, and the possible use of explicit and targeted subsidies to support capital investment and start-up costs. The Policy also provides for the involvement of men, women, children and vulnerable groups in the sustainable management and sharing of benefits from water resources.
The Policy links water resources management with land-use planning, watershed management, climate resilience, water quality protection and disaster risk management. It requires planning authorities to consider water resources, watershed protection, adequate water and wastewater services, groundwater recharge areas and stormwater drainage in land development decisions. It provides for a watershed management programme covering forest reserves, water reserves, game sanctuaries, environmentally sensitive areas, watershed classification, zoning, agroforestry, soil conservation, reforestation, control of degradation practices and non-point source pollution. It also calls for a National Integrated Water Resources Master Plan, an abstraction licensing system, designated uses for water bodies, ambient water quality criteria, drinking and non-drinking water standards, water demand management, wastewater reuse, agricultural runoff control, integrated flood management, drought planning, climate change adaptation, public access to water-related information, monitoring and evaluation, and the establishment of an autonomous water resources entity to manage, monitor and regulate national water resources.