Ethics : making it the heart of water supply

Water ethics is an important but frequently ignored aspect of water resource planning and infrastructure management. This paper sets out seven basic concerns for the water sector in developed and developing countries. These concerns are the water cycle, quality of life, equity, sustainability, human rights, externalities and governance. They are then used to develop ten ethical principals that should be taken into account by water professionals and decision makers if they are to achieve effective, efficient and ethically acceptable water resource management. Points for discussion are also raised on how ethics can play a more prominent role in ensuring water provision for all.