What is a core goal of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in water planning?

• A. Irrigation efficiency means using more water.
• B. IWRM focuses only on water supply and ignores ecosystems.
• C. Governance has no role in water sustainability.
• D. Integrated Water Resources Management integrates supply, demand, ecosystems, and governance.

Answer: (D)

Integrated water resources management treats water as a system to be planned and governed across all parts of society and the environment. Its main goal is to balance where water comes from (supply), how it is used (demand), the health of aquatic ecosystems, and the rules and institutions that guide decisions (governance). By bringing these pieces together, IWRM aims for water that is sustainable, equitable, and resilient to change, while protecting rivers, wetlands, and other ecosystems that depend on adequate flows and quality.

This is why the best choice explicitly states the integration of supply, demand, ecosystems, and governance. The other ideas miss the holistic nature: focusing only on efficiency can mislead about water use, ignoring ecosystems undermines long-term sustainability, and excluding governance overlooks the rules and institutions essential for coordinating actions and enforcing outcomes.