GROUP 4: HOW WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING
SATISFIES WATER ETHICS?
DE GUZMAN, JONNIEL
ASTILLO, JANA PATRISHA
RAMIREZ, MA. JANELLA
GABRIEL, ROANNA MARIE
MONTOJO, CLARISSE
GLEAN, KASSANDRA XAVIER
GALANG, KIM
TOMAS, RENVEMARK
Sustainability has become a central keyword in
water resources engineering and projects. The concept
of sustainability is concerned with not only human
beings but also a whole ecosystem that involves human
beings as a part.
Execution of big projects in recent decades
impacted on wide areas. The managers of such projects
needed to consider the many stakeholders related to
the project. As projects became bigger and bigger in
size, budgets and the complexity of the execution
process, the equity among the stakeholders was a
fundamental factor in the project implementation. In
order to ensure integrity and comprehensiveness of
projects, water ethics is necessary for sound
management of water resources engineering.
The philosophical influence of global
environmental problems is stated symbolically through
environmental ethics. The following are the principles
advocated by environmental ethics.
1. An equal right for all creatures including insects,
germs, trees, human beings, and so on.
2. The restriction that the present generation shall
not consume all natural resources.
3. The recognition that we are playing a zero-sum
game.
“A victory for human beings may be a loss for other
species in an ecosystem and it does not necessarily
contribute to the enhancement of sustainability of a
whole ecosystem.”
Water ethics will be met by setting the following three
design principles:
1. Each project should be compatible with
ecosystems of the project area.
 Eco-compatible projects preserve biological
diversity and equal rights for the survival of
biological organisms.
2. Each project should not disturb dynamic
equilibrium system of the project area.
 A dynamic equilibrium system may be able to
provide a similar situation for the future generation
which assures equity in the future.
3. Each project should accomplish a principle of
zero-emission of bad elements.
 A zero-emission project is suitable for a zero-sum
game.
Problems in Current Water Engineering – The Need for
Water Ethics
Water resource engineering can be defined as the
implementation of best practices for effective
quantitative and qualitative planning, development,
distribution and utilization of water.
However, water resource management problems can be
seen at every stage of the development, utilization and
management of water resources.
1) Physical Problems
Physical problems still exist in Asia and the
Pacific region, for example, poorly developed
water supply and wastewater treatment
facilities, and incomplete water
metering/monitoring systems.
2) Water Pricing Problems
Low water prices are one of the leading factors
contributing to excessive water use in
agriculture.
3) Organizational Problems
Most of the water conflicts are caused by
organizational problems. “Integrated Water
Resources Management” has not been fully
implemented in most of Asia and the Pacific.
 The Roles of Experts, Stakeholders and
Decision Makers

Experts in different water related fields should

work jointly and combine social and human
sciences with natural sciences during the
constructing of water ethics.

All stakeholders play an important role in the

construction of the actual water ethics and the
ideal water ethics, especially the major water
users. If they take their social and
environmental responsibility, adopt water
saving technologies, recycle water resources,
follow and respect natural rules and protect the
environment (water resources) self-consciously,
then the construction of water ethics will be
easier.

The role of decision makers is essential in the

design of water institutions and water policies.
Decision makers have the responsibility to
combine the ethical institutional considerations
into the policy making, and design water
institutions, which are both economically
efficient and compatible with the ethical
principles. Scientists, stakeholders and decision
makers can play important roles in alleviating
water scarcity based on ethical judgment,
instead of being driven by economic benefits
only.