Definicija: A conscious process of decision-making whereby natural and cultural resources are allocated over time and space to optimize the attainment of stated objectives of a society, within the framework of its technology, political and social institutions, and legal and administrative arrangements. An important objective is the conservation of resources, implying a close and integrated relationship between the ecological basis and the socio-economic system.

Definicija: Zavesten proces odločanja, kjer se naravna in kulturna sredstva razporedijo po času in prostoru, da bi izboljšali dosegljivost določenih družbenih ciljev znotraj okvira tehnologije, političnih in socialnih institucij, pravnih in administrativnih sporazumov. Pomemben cilj je ohranitev virov, iz česar sledi prepleten odnos med okoljsko bazo in družbeno-ekonomski sistemom.

Definicija: Measures and activities concerning the supply of water, the improvement of efficiency in its use, the reduction of losses and waste, water-saving practices to reduce costs and to slow the depletion of the water supply to ensure future water availability.

Definicija: Ukrepi za zagotavljanje zadostnih vodnih količin, ne da bi pri tem ogrožali naravno ravnotežje okolja, z namenom, da se izboljša kakovost življenja in omogoči trajnostni razvoj.

Definicija: Planned use of natural resources, in particular of non-renewable resources, in accordance with principles that assure their optimum long-term economic and social benefits.

Definicija: Načrtovana uporaba naravnih virov, posebej neobnovljivih, v skladu z načeli, ki zagotavljajo dolgotrajne ekonomske in socialne koristi.