http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Water Strategies and Policies [The Source: - ] Water Strategies and Policies Due to the acute shortage of water resources in Yemen leading to a level that threatens a water crisis, all relevant agencies have sought to prepare a strategy on the water sector.  The task was entrusted upon the Water Resources Public Authority in collaboration with other relevant agencies.  The strategy has incorporated several objectives headed by safeguarding water resources against depletion and pollution, the ideal optimization of available water resources and making water available for society for all purposes.  In 1997, the government decreed urban water reforms.  Such reforms outline the government’s policies and priorities on urban water connections, the creation of local institutions and the introduction of community participation in such entities.  The first local institution was established in Sana’a on March 2000. Further institutional measures have been adopted including the drafting of some legislation on water management.  For example, there is an irrigation policy, water projection policy and the draft water resources bill.  Relevant agencies have also conducted several studies in the field, most importantly the completion of water well drilling works, a geophysical study of regions adjacent to Taiz, and the start of phase two of a water well inventory in the Sana’a basin.  There is also a water resource study on Lahj and Abyan in a bid to safeguard water resources for the population in Aden, Lahj and Abyan.  Specifications of water used for drinking, irrigation and bottled water have been prepared along with control measures to implement such specifications.  Water authorities have also divided the Republic into water zones to be used for preparing water budgets and control and monitoring over water use and depletion.