River Water Quality Trend ( Source : Environmental Quality Report , 2019 )
of design criteria . Engineering facilities such as wastewater treatment plants , interceptors and gross pollutant traps require upkeep and upgrades , which create a maintenance challenge sustainable only with ample funds . The damage to rivers imparted by development is reflected in water quality whilst water scarcity is the result of poor management of water quantity . The strength of IRBM plans is in presenting a comprehensive view of the river basin and how its water resources are affected by the current land use and its projected changes . While engineering can solve some physical threats , development , once implemented , is almost irreversible . When land use is managed in tandem with water resources management , the success is multi-dimensional ; one sector ’ s development sustainability and its relationship to other sectors can be determined at the outset . Threats to rivers can be realised earlier and reduced .
Current IRBM plans are complete with both structural and non-structural measures to promote water security and environmental sustainability . The main success criterion is adherence to its recommendations which cannot be legally imposed unless gazetted as law .
Lost in Translation Some of the best laid plans fail because of a literacy divide between the planners and the implementers . Very often , management plans reside in documents that require commitment from administrators and frontline officers to study and understand . IRBM plans cannot be seen to be effective if they are not translated into workable action plans that specifically guide the frontliners — those responsible for approving and enforcing the stipulations of the development plans . Even the language of IRBM plans must be crafted based on the technical level of the readers . IRBM plans are information-rich and must not only be a high-level document for planners and strategists . The plans must therefore be translated or scaled down to the operational language of frontliners in the districts where not everyone is expected to be water engineers or scientists . IRBM plans must be owned and understood by all . Early plans were misconstrued to be relevant only to the DID when it was meant for all agencies involved in development . In retrospect , a wholeof-Government approach was lacking . Frontline agencies will fail to realise what their roles are and how to improve their functions if IRBM plans are
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