Human-Water Harmony Index: A New Approach to Assess the Human Water Relationship

Since the explosive economic and population growth, tensions between human and environment, particularly with regard to water, has never eased but intensified in most parts of the world. The pressing need to examine this relationship further is highlighted by the rapid decline in quantity and degradation of water quality around us every day, especially in developing countries. Simple criterions of water supply and pollution are fall short of the requirement of integrated water resources management. The Human-Water Harmony Index (HWHI) method is based on the concept of harmony and offers a more holistic approach. The index employs 27 indicators from three dimensions (development, coordination, and satisfaction) and was applied to five important cities in China- Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi’an and Nanjing. The results show they are confronted with the disharmony in human-water relationship of varying degrees, and the weaknesses of each city are of distinctly different types according to the dimension scores. The framework provides a common language based on systems thinking, the introduction of subjective indicator surveys, as well as separated evaluation of development and coordination degrees of the human-water system. The HWHI make it possible to point out the weak factors, prioritize the needs for investment, so as to improve the water-related strategies and policies to help built a harmonious human-water relationship. This approach has the potential for application in other areas and scales for monitoring and comparison purposes, and allows for comparison over time.