ABSTRACT
Inevitable increases in human needs and wants leading to mounting water stress necessitate that each unit of water is used as efficiently as possible. Excessive use of water cannot be accepted. Similarly, the least possible impact on water quality is a must. Yet, regional development and urgent social and environmental objectives may motivate an allocation of scarce water resources where the output is lower as compared to what could have been accomplished with an alternative allocation. In essence, the effective use of water presumes a broad and long-term perspective on societal development and environmental sustainability. Presentations illuminated that technical and institutional arrangements must be applied to reach an effective use. In practice, although not ncessarily in policy statements, technical arrangements continue to have a pivotal position in this regard.
