Dürremanagement

Dürremanagement, or drought management, is the integrated process of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from periods of water shortage. It seeks to protect public health and safety, maintain essential services, support agriculture and industry, protect ecosystems, and minimize economic losses during drought events. Effective drought management combines risk assessment, forecasting, planning, and coordinated action across sectors and levels of government.

Its core components include risk assessment and monitoring, early warning and information systems, water supply planning and risk-based allocation, demand management and water conservation, and the development of drought contingency plans. Infrastructure strategies may involve maintaining and augmenting supplies, reducing leakage, implementing water reuse and groundwater management, and investing in recovery capacity. Governance structures and institutions coordinate policy, finance, and public communication, while stakeholder engagement ensures acceptability and compliance.

Organizations use drought indicators such as the Standardized Precipitation Index or Palmer Drought Severity Index and combine meteorological data with hydrological and agricultural information to trigger alerts and actions. Measures typically include water pricing and restrictions, metering and leakage control, incentive programs for efficiency, crop and irrigation reforms, and, where feasible, diversification of supplies through reservoirs, desalination, or recycled water.

Dürremanagement is an aspect of broader water resources management and climate adaptation. It faces challenges such as data gaps, funding, institutional fragmentation, and public perception, but is supported by international guidance on IWRM, risk-based planning, and disaster risk reduction. Effective drought management emphasizes preparedness, timely decision-making, and transparent communication to build resilience.