Enhancing Water Resources Management in CIS Countries : Modern Trends

It took just a few decades for water resources to be classified as a resource whose deficiency poses a serious barrier to sustainable development in many parts of the world, despite being previously seen as being inexhaustible. The depletion of the water resource potential of river systems and subsequent deterioration of water use conditions is one of the key factors of change of attitude towards water: now it is viewed as the most valuable resource of a state.The member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are all located within transboundary river basins, either partially or entirely, and mainly use water from surface sources. These water sources comprise runoff formed locally and inflow from neighbouring countries. The issue of water use in transboundary river basins is common to all CIS countries, with some differences dictated by natural, climatic, economic and political conditions. The increasing levels of human-caused contamination is reducing the natural pollution assimilative capacity of river ecosystems. Transboundary contamination and depletion of water resources lead to fresh water deficiency, thus creating potential risks to sustainable development. Maintaining permissible levels of water withdrawal and river ecosystems transformation and achieving an optimum combination of direct and indirect positive effects associated with the construction and operation of hydraulic, irrigation and hydropower facilities are the key issues of international cooperation in transboundary river basins. Therefore, transboundary resources management requires coordination and integration of political approaches, innovative solutions and a switch from unilateral efforts to multilateral cooperation