A recent UN-Water press release outlines preliminary information from a United Nations survey demonstrating how water reform over the past twenty years has had “significant impacts on development, including improvements to drinking water access, human health and water efficiency in agriculture”

The report is based on survey information gathered by the UN from 130 countries across the globe.  Of the countries surveyed, 90 percent reported positive impacts from their water management efforts.

Some of the key findings from the survey include:

• The perception by most countries that water related risks and competition have increased over the past twenty years
• Most countries rank domestic water supply as the highest priority in water resource management
• Increasing trend in financing for water resources development
• Water efficiency lags behind other water management reforms, with less than 50 percent of national reforms addressing water efficiency.

“The survey focuses on progress towards the implementation of internationally-agreed approaches to the management and use of water, known as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).”

“The sustainable management and use of water – due to its vital role in food security, energy or supporting valuable ecosystem services – underpins the transition to a low-carbon, resource efficient green economy,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

To learn more you can read the entire press release here.