Water management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world, water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands. Much effort in water management is directed at optimizing the use of water and minimizing the environmental impact of water use on the natural environment. Successful management of any resource requires accurate knowledge of the resources available, the uses to which it may be put, the competing demands for the resource, measures and processes to evaluate the significance and worth of competing demands and mechanisms to translate policy decisions into actions on the ground. MWRA has five water management districts as active members.