Losing the watershed focus: a look at complex community-managed irrigation systems in Bolivia

Water policies tend to misrecognize the complexity of community-managed irrigation systems. This paper focuses on water allocation practices in peasant communities of the Bolivian interandean valleys. These communities manage complex irrigation systems, and tap water from several surface sources, many of them located outside the watershed boundaries, resulting in complex hydro-social networks. Historical claims, organizational capacity, resources availability, and geographical position and infrastructure are identified as the main factors influencing current water allocation. Examining the historical background and context-based conceptualizations of space, place and water system development are crucial to understanding local management practices and to improving water policies.     

Cascade vulnerability for risk analysis of water infrastructure

One of the major tasks in urban water management is failure-free operation for at least most of the time. Accordingly, the reliability of the network systems in urban water management has a crucial role. The failure of a component in these systems impacts potable water distribution and urban drainage. Therefore, water distribution and urban drainage systems are categorized as critical infrastructure. Vulnerability is the degree to which a system is likely to experience harm induced by perturbation or stress. However, for risk assessment, we usually assume that events and failures are singular and independent, i.e. several simultaneous events and cascading events are unconsidered. Although failures can be causally linked, a simultaneous consideration in risk analysis is hardly considered. To close this gap, this work introduces the term cascade vulnerability for water infrastructure. Cascade vulnerability accounts for cascading and simultaneous events. Following this definition, cascade risk maps are a merger of hazard and cascade vulnerability maps. In this work cascade vulnerability maps for water distribution systems and urban drainage systems based on the 'Achilles-Approach' are introduced and discussed. It is shown, that neglecting cascading effects results in significant underestimation of risk scenarios.     

长江流域水资源监测实践及认识

为了落实最严格的水资源管理制度,加快国家水资源监控能力建设项目的建设,提高对水资源监测管理工作的服务能力,长江水利委员会水文局通过采取一系列的措施,夯实了长江流域水资源监测工作的基础,大大提高了水资源监测方面的能力。以长江流域水资源监测管理为例,分析了长江流域水资源监测现状及存在的问题。面对实行最严格水资源管理制度要求下的水资源监测管理,通过实施技术装备、基础设施的建设管理,省界等重要控制断面的监测管理,取水户的监督管理,水资源监测信息发布等信息管理,制度、规范等技术文件的管理,建立了长江流域水资源监测一体化管理体系,从而加强了水资源监测管理工作,满足了长江流域实施最严格水资源管理的需要。同时还总结了利用管理体系对水资源实施有效管理所取得的成效,这些对我国水资源监测管理而言,可谓是一个成功的范例。     

Shifting Paradigms in Water Provisioning Policies: A Trinidad Case Study

In most developing countries, planning was initially concerned with economic growth. Upon gaining political independence, post-colonial countries set about addressing the unmet backlog of physical and social infrastructure problems, low rates of economic growth, and poverty. Since the post-independence era, development in non-industrialized countries has undergone significant changes in both scope and approach and has arisen from shifts in international agency policies as well as from local factors. These transformations are reflected in issues such as the provision of infrastructure, of which water supply is a prime example. The aim here is first to provide a schematic presentation of five periods of shifting paradigms in water provisioning policies globally and give their impact on Trinidad's water policies. Second, it seeks to analyse the genesis of government ideology of water as a public good. Finally, it identifies the new concepts in water supply that have emerged since the 1990s and gives their impacts internationally and locally.     

Reconciling Hydropower and Environmental Water Uses in the Leishui River Basin

Today's water systems require integrated water resource management to improve the water supply for conflicting water uses. This research explores alternative policies to improve the water supply for two conflicting uses, hydropower and environmental, using the Leishui River basin and Dongjiang reservoir as a case study. First, the natural flow regime prior to reservoir construction (pre‐1992) was estimated by performing a statistical analysis of 41 years of daily streamflow data (March 1952–February 1993). This natural flow regime was used as a template for proposing environmental flow (e‐flow) requirements. The post‐reservoir flow regime (post‐1992) (March 1993–February 2011) was analysed to estimate the streamflow alteration. Results show that the natural flow regime has been completely transformed; post‐1992 winter normal flows are greater, and summer flows are smaller than pre‐1992 conditions. Also, the occurrence of natural floods has been prevented. Second, a planning model was built of the current operation of the Dongjiang reservoir and used for comparison of four alternative water management policies that considered e‐flow releases from the Dongjiang reservoir. The scenarios that considered combinations of the current operational policy and e‐flow releases performed better in terms of hydropower generation than the current operation. Different volumes of e‐flow requirements were tested, and an annual e‐flow volume of 75% of the pre‐1992 hydrograph was determined to generate the most hydropower while providing for environmental water needs. Trade‐offs are essential to balance these two water management objectives, and compromises have to be made for both water uses to obtain benefits. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using a Cognitive Mapping Approach to Frame the Perceptions of Water Users About Managing Water Resources: A Case Study in the Australian Capital Territory

In complex socio-ecological systems, such as managing natural resources, human frames and mental models play a central role in deriving the system’s behaviour. Differences in stakeholder views and perceptions may impede the design and implementation of collective policies. Understanding stakeholder views and mental models is a pre-requisite for understanding decision making, improving communication, and eventually developing management policies that cater to the diversity of values and interests. Motivated by this premise, this research uses a cognitive mapping approach to examine the frames used by a group of water users with regard to managing available water resources. We focus on the Australian Capital Territory as a case study. Two different frames have emerged from the results: hard and soft. Differences in frames embody various perceptions about the problem definition, its causes, effective management strategies, and hence, responsibility attribution. The paper describes both frames and highlights those perceptions that may stand as barriers against sustainable management. These findings can be transferred to other arid and semi-arid areas.     

按可持续发展和西部大开发的要求进一步搞好长江治理开发

进一步搞好长江治理开发,要按可持续发展和西部大开发战略的要求在更高的层次上修订长江流域综合利用规划,进一步加强和完善防洪减灾体系建设,把长江水资源的合理利用和保护摆在突出的位置,充分利用长江流域水能资源丰富和内河航运发达的优势,加大长江上游治理开发力度,加强流域水资源统一管理,并按基础设施建设和西部大开发的需要给予政策支持。     

Basin Scale Water Resources Systems Modeling Under Cascading Uncertainties

Global change in climate and consequent large impacts on regional hydrologic systems have, in recent years, motivated significant research efforts in water resources modeling under climate change. In an integrated future hydrologic scenario, it is likely that water availability and demands will change significantly due to modifications in hydro-climatic variables such as rainfall, reservoir inflows, temperature, net radiation, wind speed and humidity. An integrated regional water resources management model should capture the likely impacts of climate change on water demands and water availability along with uncertainties associated with climate change impacts and with management goals and objectives under non-stationary conditions. Uncertainties in an integrated regional water resources management model, accumulating from various stages of decision making include climate model and scenario uncertainty in the hydro-climatic impact assessment, uncertainty due to conflicting interests of the water users and uncertainty due to inherent variability of the reservoir inflows. This paper presents an integrated regional water resources management modeling approach considering uncertainties at various stages of decision making by an integration of a hydro-climatic variable projection model, a water demand quantification model, a water quantity management model and a water quality control model. Modeling tools of canonical correlation analysis, stochastic dynamic programming and fuzzy optimization are used in an integrated framework, in the approach presented here. The proposed modeling approach is demonstrated with the case study of the Bhadra Reservoir system in Karnataka, India.     

探索21世纪松辽流域现代水利发展之路

在建立与可持续发展相适应的防洪减灾、水资源供给和水生态保护三大保障体系中，松辽流域水利应搞好洪减洪灾保障体系、人给保障体系、水生态和环境保护体系的规划和实施，同时要按照“依法管水，统一管理，规划先行，科技第一”的原则做好流域水利管理工作。     

Impact of water source management practices in residential areas on sewer networks - a review

Prolonged drought which has occurred everywhere around the world has caused water shortages, leading many countries to consider more sustainable practices, which are called source management practices (SMPs) to ensure water availability for the future. SMPs include the practices of water use reduction, potable water substitution and wastewater volume reduction such as water demand management, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling and sewer mining. Besides the well known advantages from SMPs, they also contribute to the alteration of wastewater characteristics which finally affect the process in downstream infrastructure such as sewerage networks. Several studies have shown that the implementation of SMPs decreases the wastewater flow, whilst increasing its strength. High-strength wastewater can cause sewer problems such as sewer blockage, odour and corrosion. Yet, not all SMPs and their impact on existing sewer networks have been investigated. Therefore, this study reviews some examples of four common SMPs, the wastewater characteristics and the physical and biochemical transformation processes in sewers and the problems that might caused by them, and finally the potential impacts of those SMPs on wastewater characteristics and sewer networks are discussed. This paper provides sewer system managers with an overview of potential impacts on the sewer network due to the implementation of some SMPs. Potential research opportunities for the impact of SMPs on existing sewers are also identified.     

Irrigation, Productivity and Poverty Linkages in Irrigation Systems in Java, Indonesia

This paper analyzes irrigation-poverty linkages, and determines how and to what extent irrigation contributes to poverty alleviation, and whether there are any spatial patterns in poverty in irrigation systems. It also identifies conditions under which irrigation has greater anti-poverty impacts. The analysis is based on primary data collected during the 2000--2001 agricultural year, from four selected irrigation systems and rainfed areas in Java. The results indicate that irrigation has significant poverty reducing impacts. Poverty varies across irrigation systems and across locations within the systems. In general, crop productivity is relatively higher and poverty is lower in middle parts of the systems compared to head and tail parts. Further, locational differences in poverty are more pronounced in larger systems where locational inequities in water distribution and productivity differences are also high. Crop productivity, the size of landholdings and location of households are important determinants of poverty, in addition to demographic factors such as family size. The smaller the systems with well managed infrastructure, relatively equitable water distribution and diversified cropping patterns supported with market infrastructure, the greater the poverty reducing impacts of irrigation. Overall, the study findings suggest that improving the performance of irrigation systems by enhancing land and water productivity, diversifying cropping patterns and improving water distribution across locations would help reduce poverty in presently low productivity-high poverty parts of the systems.     

Post-1980 water policy in China

This article reviews water policy in China since 1980. Four periods are considered: the 1980s, 1990–1998, 1998–2009 and after 2009. Based on an introduction of the broader context and the main water issues in each period, the key water policies are discussed and analyzed. Since 1980, China's water policies have experienced dramatic changes: trying to improve benefits in the face of criticism for low efficiency in the 1980s; allocating large investments acknowledging the important role of water for the economy of the country during 1990–1998; redefining the water–human relationship during 1998–2008; and providing the strictest water resources management as the definitive solution after 2009. The article presents a full range of policy solutions from infrastructure construction to non-structural instruments and from water resources development to water resources management.     

Environmental impact assessment for Subarnarekha irrigation project

This paper deals with EIA for construction of three reservoirs, namely Haldia, Jambhira and Baura in Mayurbhanj district, Orissa. The gross command area of the project is about 170 000 ha while the culturable command area is 110 000 ha. The baseline data for parameters such as water quality, population, meteorology, phys‐iograhpy, geology, ecology, soil, land use, etc. were collected to assess the impacts. The positive as well as negative impacts were ascertained and management plans were formulated for critically affected parameters. Management measures such as compensatory afforestation, rehabilitation of oustees, plantation of village woodlots, realignment of canals etc. have been prepared. A post‐project monitoring plan is being suggested for water quality, soil, public health and growth of aquatic weeds. The costs for management measures and post‐project monitoring programmes have been computed. A checklist of positive and negative impacts has also been prepared which highlights that the project is eco‐friendly.     

Mathematical Tools for Irrigation Water Management

Abstract

Irrigation water management has significant economic implications in developing countries like India. While the structural infrastructure has been created with a huge financial investment in these countries, it is vital that appropriate non-structural measures be adopted for efficient water management. Scientific policies of operation of irrigation reservoir systems need to be developed with the aid of mathematical tools and implemented in practice. In this paper, a brief overview of some mathematical tools for irrigation system operation, crop water allocations and performance evaluation is presented, with a discussion on the work carried out in India by the author's team. Recent tools and techniques of fuzzy optimization and fuzzy inference systems that incorporate imprecision in management goals and constraints and that address the interests of stakeholders are also discussed. Perceptions on issues relating to applicability of the tools to real-life problems, existing gaps between theory and practice and possible hurdles in narrowing such gaps in developing countries are presented.     

Antifragility and the development of urban water infrastructure

Abstract

Antifragility is a system property that results in systems becoming increasingly resistant to external shocks by being exposed to them. These systems have the counter-intuitive property of benefiting from uncertain conditions. This paper presents one of the first known applications of antifragility to water infrastructure systems and outlines the development of antifragility at the city scale through the use of local governance, data collection and a bimodal strategy for infrastructure development. The systems architecture presented results in a management paradigm that can deliver reliable water systems in the face of highly uncertain future conditions.     

Diagnosing Causes of Water Scarcity in Complex Water Resources Systems and Identifying Risk Management Actions

From the water management perspective, water scarcity is an unacceptable risk of facing water shortages to serve water demands in the near future. Water scarcity may be temporary and related to drought conditions or other accidental situation, or may be permanent and due to deeper causes such as excessive demand growth, lack of infrastructure for water storage or transport, or constraints in water management. Diagnosing the causes of water scarcity in complex water resources systems is a precondition to adopt effective drought risk management actions. In this paper we present four indices which have been developed to evaluate water scarcity. We propose a methodology for interpretation of index values that can lead to conclusions about the reliability and vulnerability of systems to water scarcity, as well as to diagnose their possible causes and to propose solutions. The described methodology was applied to the Ebro river basin, identifying existing and expected problems and possible solutions. System diagnostics, based exclusively on the analysis of index values, were compared with the known reality as perceived by system managers, validating the conclusions in all cases.     

Games to Create Awareness and Design Policies for Transboundary Cooperation in River Basins: Lessons from the Shariva Game of the Mekong River Commission

International river basins cover a vast majority of the land surface, international cooperation is therefore important for the proper management, and to assure equitable and effective use in the basins. Key elements to improve international cooperation are common understanding of the issues in the basin, understanding upstream-downstream impacts and sharing a common vision for the future. This article focuses on the role of games in international basin cooperation to create awareness and to support policy development. The paper analysed the effects of the game in creating awareness and upgrading knowledge amongst water and related professionals and in designing procedures for cooperation in transboundary river basins. This was analysed during the implementation of the game with 28 participants from the four Lower Mekong countries. The impact on creating awareness and upgrading knowledge was evaluated through the use of questionnaires and pre- and post evaluation questions and for the design of policies, a SWOT analysis was used to evaluate the usefulness of the policies and frameworks as well as to identify possible improvements to the framework. The game implementation proved to be an appropriate tool to provide a practical way for stakeholders to become acquainted with the administrative and technical tools available in the Lower Mekong Basin. Pre- and post test shows that participants gained substantial knowledge on transboundary cooperation and use of tools. The game was part of a longer training programme addressing all the issues, however, the participants gained additional knowledge and insight by playing the game, well above what they had learned during the earlier training workshops. Playing the game proved an important aspect in training and education of such complex systems. The study also shows the role games can play in policy analysis, in particular the way the game provided insight in the design of the policy and the development of procedures, and their function to review and update policies and procedures. A number of recommendations have been made to strengthen the role in both training and education as well as in design of procedures.     

山洪灾害监测预警系统运行维护对策

近年来,江西省通过山洪灾害防治项目建设了大量的山洪灾害监测站点、监测预警平台及预警系统等,这些非工程措施在山洪灾害防御中发挥了显著的作用.但随着这些设施设备及平台进入运维期,运行维护管理问题日益凸显.基于山洪灾害监测预警系统运行维护点多面广、专业性强、运维经费难落实的特点,本文探讨了政府购买服务模式在山洪灾害监测预警系统运行维护中的可能性,并提出基于物联网的监控技术,实现对各设施设备的有效监控、远程诊断、远程维护,减少外出巡查工作量.     

水库与山洪灾害防治协同预警模式

山洪灾害防治工程措施与非工程措施是山洪灾害防治相辅相成的两大支撑,作为传统意义上工程措施的水库工程,近年来通过除险加固、法规建设、管理体制改革等一系列途径,其水情、雨情、工情监测技术不断完善,监测预警系统日趋优化,风险管理意识与应急预案的可操作性逐步加强,已具备了相当的非工程措施功能。在充分发挥水库工程非工程措施功能与优势的基础上,通过水库工程水雨情测报系统及大坝安全监测系统与山洪灾害防治非工程措施的对比分析,尝试将水库重要信息与山洪灾害防治非工程措施实施关键环节进行共享与融合,提出了水库工程安全监测系统与山洪灾害防治预警系统的协同预警模式,为实现水库工程与山洪灾害非工程措施的信息共享和协同预报奠定基础。     

Optimization of Exclusive Release Policies for Hydropower Reservoir Operation by Using Genetic Algorithm

The efficient utilization of hydropower resources play an important role in the economic sector of power systems, where the hydroelectric plants constitute a significant portion of the installed capacity. Determination of daily optimal hydroelectric generation scheduling is a crucial task in water resource management. By utilizing the limited water resource, the purpose of hydroelectric generation scheduling is to specify the amount of water releases from a reservoir in order to produce maximum power, while the various physical and operational constraints are satisfied. Hence, new forms of release policies namely, BSOPHP, CSOPHP, and SHPHP are proposed and tested in this research. These policies could only use in hydropower reservoir systems. Meanwhile, to determine the optimal operation of each policy, real coded genetic algorithm is applied as an optimization technique and maximizing the total power generation over the operational periods is chosen as an objective function. The developed models have been applied to the Cameron Highland hydropower system, Malaysia. The results declared that by using optimal release policies, the output of power generation is increased, while these policies also increase the stability of reservoir system. In order to compare the efficiency of these policies, some reservoir performance indices such as reliability, resilience, vulnerability, and sustainability are used. The results demonstrated that SHPHP policy had the highest performance among the tested release policies.