ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a description of how to analyze the water management situation in a basin based on, among others, policy documents, inventories and existing legislation. Information needs are generally based on the water policy; the policy objectives determine what information is needed. The water management analysis as described in this chapter provides an overview of the water policy and the related elements. The analysis is needed to ensure that the proper elements are targeted in the information needs analysis. In some cases, the information is already available in the form of an elaborated policy document. The water management analysis in such cases can be limited to checking if all the necessary information is there; this chapter can in such a situation act as a check list. In other cases, much of the information is spread over several documents or institutions or may be not available at all. An extensive water management analysis is in such cases needed to make a comprehensive overview of the available information and it also enables identification of information gaps. Depending on the level of elaboration of the water policy and the policy objectives, the water management analysis will consequently need more or less attention.
