An Introduction to Water Risk Assessments
The Water Risk Assessment is a comprehensive framework that is designed to assess the risks to a particular area or project of a water body. This framework is implemented by all water bodies in order to mitigate the risk to natural resources and the natural environment. In order for a water resource to meet its intended purposes, and be sustainable, it has to be free from any kind of water risk, which includes damage due to water, spills, and the effects of natural events such as earthquakes, floods and landslides.
The Water Risk Assessment framework can easily be adapted and tailored specifically to an organization’s unique geographical, cultural and operational context. It takes into account the physical differences among every water body included in the assessment, and includes the internal differences among all the sites included in the assessment within that body. It also takes into consideration the existing management systems at each site and the existing trends in those management systems in order to identify the possible adaptation to water challenges and the resulting mitigation strategies.
The application of a water risk assessment methodology is carried out through a series of case studies along with a systematic survey of existing practices and procedures at each site. These surveys provide data on current water security issues and challenges, the present state of the existing water security solutions and the status of new technology that might be implemented to improve water security. This survey also identifies the current gaps in water security technology and suggests areas for improvement of water security. The results of this research will then be used to derive a framework, the basis for creating a comprehensive water security plan, from which recommendations for future improvements in water security will be developed. One important aspect of incorporating a water risk assessment methodology into a value chain water management plan is that all information provided should be validated. This allows managers to make informed decisions on projects and implement those decisions in the most effective manner.