7. 7.1 WATER RESOURCES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Data and Information Acquisition and Management 7.1.1. Policy: Member States shall establish water resources data and information acquisition and management systems in their territories in an integrated manner at regional, river basin and national levels to meet all water resources management needs. Good quality data is essential for water resource planning and management. Therefore Member States should establish and/or cooperate in establishment of efficient hydrological, hydrogeological and meteorological data acquisition and dissemination systems at regional, river basin and national levels, and also strengthen the capacity of national and regional hydrological agencies capacities for data analysis and information management. Given the high variability of hydrological and climatic conditions in the region, the collection, storage, processing and management of hydrometeorological data (quantity and quality as appropriate), as well as socio-economic, demographic and water use data is essential for monitoring and assessment of the water resource base. Data collection and management is a continuous activity, and any discontinuities in the process compromise future water resources planning as well as the prediction and management of floods and droughts. 7.1.2. Policy: Member States shall adopt compatible systems for data and information acquisition and management. Member States are encouraged to exchange data and information and use such data and information for the purpose of decision making in water resources management. It is therefore, important that such data and information is of the same or compatible standards. Thus, Member States should collectively develop and agree on minimum standards for infrastructure and user-friendly technology for the collection and processing of data and information on hydrometeorology (meteorology, hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality, etc.) and water use (abstraction, irrigation schemes, hydropower plants, dams, in-stream demands and other water resources developments). 7.2 Information Sharing 7.2.1. Policy: Member States shall share timeously relevant available information and data regarding the hydrological, hydro-geological, water quality, meteorological and environmental condition of shared watercourses. In order to manage and utilise water resources in the region in an equitable, sustainable and integrated manner and advance regional integration, Member States need to share data and information on available water resources in the region. This should include data and information on planned and existing projects as well as emergency situations such as floods, droughts and pollution. - 35 -