Comprehensive approaches to water management

For us to have sufficient amounts of good quality fresh water available in the 21st century, it is necessary that we find a different way of dealing with water. Awareness of this fact represents a first step in the right direction. Interactive planning can substantially contribute to this awareness and therewith to the solution of both physical and cultural bottlenecks. Interactive plan processes are complex. The challenge lies in being actively involved in this complexity. The IPEA methodology has been developed to support adequate completion of interactive plan processes. This methodology has already been applied in a number of plan processes, 25 of which were recently evaluated. From this evaluation it appears that applying IPEA helps to increase the clarity and the suitability of both processes and plans. The methodology also makes a positive contribution to levels of communication and interaction between the people and organizations involved in a plan process. Furthermore, IPEA leads to an increased acceptance of the contents of plans.