Changes in the water regime due to climate change has made water systems more complicated. Climate change and climate variability is affecting water availability in both quantity and quality, and this can be felt through variations in precipitation as well as occurrence of more extreme weather events. Water is a key driver of social and economic development and water issues cannot be managed in isolation.

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) encompasses a broad and interconnected approach to water management, and is a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment.