Barriers to sustainable water resources management : Case study in Omnogovi province, Mongolia

Abstract: This study examines the barriers to sustainable water resources management in water vulnerable, yet a mining booming area. The case study is conducted in Omnogovi province of Mongolia in Nov-Dec 2016. This study presents how the Omnogovi province manages its water with increased mining and examines what hinders the province from practicing sustainable water resources management and examines the involvement of residents in the water resources management of Omnogovi province. Qualitative approaches such as semi-structured interviews, participatory observation and literature review were used in this study. This study demonstrates that the water resources management of Omnogovi province is unsustainable in this time period, yet the implementation of IWRM approach has improved the water resources management of the province. The barriers to sustainable water resources management in Omnogovi province are inefficient governance and poor enforcement of law, today. Despite it, data-scarcity and transboundary water issues might become barriers to practice efficient water resources management in the province. The involvement of residents in water resources management of Omnogovi province is deficient, yet the implementation of participatory approach and establishment of RBC might improve the participatory governance. The study shows IWRM can improve the water resources management of a developing country, yet it can be time-consuming, costly and challenging to implement in a country, which is still in socio-economic and political transition.