Editor’s choice
The efforts to couple water management tools are often made by implementing a modular approach. The operability of the ensembled tools is made considering two-way feedback between them, i.e., the tools are not fully integrated. A tool called Comprehensive Participatory Decision-Making (CPDM) was developed as the integration center to support the institutional framework of watershed management in Bolivia.
However, it is scalable and can be applied elsewhere. The CPDM integrates four analytical and simulation tools, the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP), the Resource Value Mapping (REVAMP), the Watershed Topology (WaTT), and, the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) – flows. WEAP is the main component to which the other tools are coupled. The coupling has a dynamic functionality controlled by the CPDM’s Graphical User Interface (GUI), where water management strategies are evaluated comprehensively and consider a basin and participatory approach. The stakeholders only need to interact with the GUI, allowing them to analyze the results visually without dealing with the complexity of the models but supported by them. The CPDM aims to provide stakeholders with practical and easy-to-use tools to ensure that science plays a leading role in decision-making.
Project / Bolivia WATCH works to arm the country's institutions with the information and capacity to connect two spheres: safe sanitation and watershed management.
Feature / SEI experts explain how a new project will help Bolivia connect sanitation with watershed management.
SEI report / Additional solutions, capacity development and strengthening of governance systems are needed to allow for increased sustainability of the city's sanitation.
