Environment as competitor for water
In a sectoral approach, water assigned for ecosystem protection is not available for other uses.

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Well functioning ecosystems provide benefits downstream
Examples of benefits downstream are flood attenuation by a floodplain wetland, or the cleansing of limited amounts of pollution. Protection of upper-catchments is also known to provide benefits for flood peak reduction, especially at local scales.

Ecosystems can provide good quality water for other uses
Ecosystems maintained in a healthy state can provide good quality water that can be used by any other user.
Clean rivers, non-polluted groundwater sources, fresh mountain springs are easily disrupted by inappropriate water and land-use.