Large sections of civil society are opposed to the current paradigm propagated by the international water establishment. This paradigm, through its promotion of multinational led privatization and supply oriented water management strategies in general, will further worsen the conditions of water poor peoples and ecosystems.

The need to use available water equitably, efficiently and sustainably raises five fundamental issues: a) allocation efficiency (the allocation of water between competing needs and demands), b) water use efficiency (how to accomplish a given purpose using 'reasonable' amounts of water), c) demand management, d) community-based water augmentation, and e) institutional mechanisms to support such use. Each of these issues is explored here.