The economic unsustainability of the Spanish national hydrological plan

This paper analyses the economic aspects of the Ebro water transfer, which have been overlooked in the Spanish National Hydrological Plan. The questions exam ined are the cost of transferred water, and irrigated agriculture in the Levante and south-eastern regions, which are the main water transfer destinations. Results show that the water transfer is not economically sustainable, because the costs of the diverted water are higher than the current marginal value of water in agriculture, and crop profitability is insufficient to pay for the whole volume of transferred water. A compromise solution between increasing water supply and demand management measures will combine a reasonable water price increase with water desalination in coastal counties. This solution would reduce water demand with a moderate effect on farmers' revenue and net income. Spain could find alternative investment projects to the water transfer, able to improve social welfare.     

The limited success of formal water markets in the Segura River basin,Spain

ABSTRACT

The Segura basin in south-eastern Spain is one of the most water-scarce regions in Europe. Its water economy has characteristics that constitute very favourable conditions for water market activity, and there are significant trading opportunities. However, the traded volumes have been rather small even though most of the water market activity in continental Spain is concentrated there. This paper describes the few formal water market experiences in the Segura basin since water trading was legislated on and regulated in 1999. As a result of this analysis, some hypotheses are made regarding the causes of the limited operation of this economic instrument.     

Definition of Wetland Typology for Hydro-morphological Elements Within the WFD. A Case Study from Southern Spain

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) constitutes a new view of water resources management and provides a challenge in the development of new and accurate methodologies for the classification of water bodies. It is necessary to improve and develop approaches based upon scientific knowledge in order to achieve requirements of comparability throughout European waters. This contribution focuses on the development of a classification typology for a series of wetlands in southern Spain, based on hydromorphological elements. Spanish wetlands and playa-lakes are usually small (<50 ha) and temporary and, for that reason, only indirectly addressed in the WFD with respect to the status of ground water dependent ecosystems. The WFD does not provide any guidance on how to react to significant pressures and impacts on such ecosystems. In order to manage, protect and, if necessary, restore this type of water bodies, it is important to classify them according to the main factors involved in their hydrological functioning. The water balance of the playa-lakes has proved to be a valuable tool to determine the hydrological regime in a semi-arid climate. Surface-groundwater relationships are key elements in determining the water balance, but there are other elements that could indicate or corroborate the hydrological functioning of a playa-lake, such as hydro-chemical markers or morphometric indexes. The present work could constitute the basis for a discussion document for other regions and countries throughout Europe and elsewhere.     

Water Quality in the Future Alcolea Reservoir (Odiel River,SW Spain): A Clear Example of the Inappropriate Management of Water Resources in Spain

The Odiel River is located in southwestern Spain; the greater portion of its basin is composed of materials from the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IBP), an area with numerous massive sulfide deposits that have been highly exploited since the third millennium BC. As sulfides come into contact with the atmosphere due to mining activity, oxidation occurs, generating a highly toxic acidic leachate with large concentrations of sulfates and metals, a process which is known as acid mine drainage (AMD). As a result, the Odiel River and most of its tributaries are severely contaminated. The construction of two large dams in the Odiel River basin is planned. The most advanced project is that of the Alcolea reservoir, with a storage capacity of 274 hm³, whose construction has already begun, with a total budget of around €164 million. There are reasonable doubts about the final quality of the reservoir water, as this dam will regulate a river with a mean pH close to 3.5 and large concentrations of toxic elements. This paper analyzes the data of water quality in the Alcolea reservoir. The results show that the reservoir water will be acidic and not useful at all, although more specific studies are necessary to obtain the exact estimation of its hydrochemical characteristics. It seems unwise to start building the dam, which requires a large economic investment and will have a vast environmental impact, without first conducting these studies. This proves that water management in Spain is still based on political motivation rather than on technical criteria and good management of natural and economic resources.     

Drought Management Plans in the European Union. The Case of Spain

Water is a strategic resource for the economic, social and environmental development. However, water scarcity and droughts are current challenges to this growth, as it is reflected in European Union (EU) water policies, and in national and regional growing initiatives. In addition, these water related issues could worsen by climate change effects, adding pressure to already water stressed areas. This paper presents a general overview of drought management in the European Union, reviews scientific and technical advances, the status of implementation of policy tools and focuses on drought management plans. It analyses the specific case of Spain, a country characterised by presenting a high irregularity in temporal and spatial distribution of water resources and numerous areas affected by water scarcity and droughts. Details are presented on the National Drought Indicator System and drought management plans approved in 2007 in Spain, which represent strategic tools with positive results in drought warning and impact mitigation respectively.     

Regional Differences in the Price Elasticity of Residential Water Demand in Spain

This paper explores the influence of regional climate variability on the elasticity of price for residential water demand in Spain. The data comes from the Spanish Survey of Family Budget (INE 2012), a national based survey of household living conditions including more than 15,000 observations. The econometric analysis included other determinants of residential water demand in Spain such as income and household characteristics. In line with the broad literature, the demand for water in Spain is found to be inelastic, although price elasticity differs notably when accounting for different climatic regions in the territory. The results have noteworthy policy implications as water pricing is considered an efficient means of long term sustainable planning of water resources management. The results imply that policy makers may have reasons to explore differentiating the impacts of water efficiency measures by region.     

Groundwater use in Spain: an overview in light of the EU Water Framework Directive

In semi-arid regions, aquifers provide a series of practical advantages that make them preferential sources of water supply. In Spain, groundwater meets about one-fifth of the total water demand and is used to irrigate over one-third of the total irrigated land. This article examines groundwater use in Spain from the perspective of the EU Water Framework Directive. Analysis of different sector uses suggests that core problems (and solutions) related to groundwater lie in agricultural uses and that the Directive's environmental requirements remain distant from reality on the ground, where economic, political and social reasons prevail on legal obligations set by national and supranational authorities.     

关于长江重大问题的思考

长江流域横跨我国华东、华中、西南三大经济区,地理位置优越,水资源得天独厚,是我国最重要的经济区域之一。新中国成立后,党和政府高度重视长江治理开发工作,组建了流域机构,开展了流域综合利用规划,初步建立了长江防洪、灌溉、水力发电、航运、水土保持和水资源保护体系,在保护     

南水北调中线与东线受水区城市生活节水分析

根据先节水后调水的原则,对南水北调中线与东线受水区的城镇生活用水和节水现状进行分析,总结该地区的生活节水成绩,指出与世界先进节水水平的差距和节水潜力.在现状分析的基础上,根据《中国城市节水2010年技术进步发展规划》,提出该地区2010年和2030年的城市生活节水目标及其相应的节水措施,并进行需水量和节水量估算.最后对节水投资与效益进行估评,证明节水效益巨大,且投资远低于自来水厂供水投资.     

环首都经济圈水资源合理配置与评估

河北省环首都经济圈对于加速形成以首都中心城市带动、区域中心城市支撑、点面协同发展的京津冀一体化有着重要意义,按照环首都经济圈总体规划,实现其跨越式发展,水资源的支撑和保障能力将面临严峻挑战。本文在区域水资源情势分析的基础上,对当地的地表水、地下水和外调水进行多水源的联合调配,从水资源开发利用率及其变异系数对环首都经济圈区县优化配置结果分析表明,研究提出的区域水资源配置方案对于提高环首都区域供水保障程度、支撑环首都经济圈的快速发展可提供科学支撑.     

黄河水市场的建立与水资源的优化配置

1987年国务院批准了黄河可供水理分配方案，1994年黄河水利委员会又向沿黄省（区）颁发了《取水许可证》。随着流域社会经济的发展，黄河水资源供需矛盾愈加突出。目前黄河水资源管理调度体制还存在政府指令配水严重失控、没有引入激励补偿机制、同比例丰增枯减的原则不利于水资源优化配置等问题。在黄河上建立水市场符合市场经济规律，可以促进节水，提高水资源的利用率，改善生态环境，有利于水资源的高效配置和合理利用。     

流域水资源保护补偿标准计算模型

综合考虑了水量和水质2个方面的因素,首先利用环境水力学方法对上下游水环境影响关系进行描述,然后结合下游地区的引水量,对上游地区水环境保护效果影响下游地区的范围和程度进行量化,反映了水环境影响的自然过程。另一方面,采用环境经济学方法对水环境保护成本进行描述,对上游地区水环境保护的直接成本和间接成本进行量化。最后,将上游地区水环境保护影响的自然过程描述与保护成本的经济量化结合起来,建立了流域水资源保护补偿标准的计算模型。采用建立的计算模型,以新安江水库的生态补偿问题作为实例,进行了生态补偿标准的计算和分析。该模型能够更加客观和精细地反映水环境影响和经济补偿关系,能够为我国流域生态保护机制的完善提供理论技术支撑。     

Analysis of Temporal and Spatial Differences in Eco-environmental Carrying Capacity Related to Water in the Haihe River Basins,China

With overly-rapid socio-economic development and population increases, water abstraction for agricultural, industrial and municipal use increases rapidly, while the water left for ecological maintenance decreases greatly. At the same time, large amounts of polluted water are discharged into rivers because purification plants are inadequate or not built in time, causing serious eco-environmental problems in the Haihe river basins which make regional development unsustainable. Estimating eco-environmental carrying capacity related to water is a key to curbing overuse of water and resolving eco-environmental problems. Because of different trends in water resources development and resultant eco-environmental problems in different sub-basins of the Haihe river, there are different water-related eco-environmental carrying capacities (EECCs) in these sub-basins. Time-series and multi-objective optimization methods are used to determine the EECC in various eco-environmental regions of the Haihe river basins, China. The results show that the entirety of the Haihe river basins will not reach a stable, sustainable state until about 2033, through gradual amelioration of eco-environmental problems. The various eco-regions of the sub-basins will need different lengths of time to reach their own stable states because of different available water resources, eco-environmental problems and social and economic development.     

The Evolution of Water Law and Policy in Spain

Spain has old and complex legislation with regard to water, which has recently undergone some modification (the 1999 Act). The water market has been introduced, with emphasis on environmental protection aspects, while continuing traditional management through hydro basins. The current state of evolution in water law is one of vagueness, with contrasting lines of tension; in some, the old type of focus predominates but there are others in which the so-called new water culture can be detected. The National Hydrological Plan (with its proposal for a major inter-basin transfer) and the application of European Community law (water framework directive) are going to set the trail for development over the next few years, and this will resolve the above-mentioned lines of tension.     

Future Water Supply and Demand Management Options in the Athabasca Oil Sands

The Athabasca River Basin, home to Canada's growing oil sands mining industry, faces challenging trade‐offs between energy production and water security. Water demand from the oil sands mining industry is projected to increase as climate change is projected to alter the seasonal freshwater supply. In this study, a range of water management options are developed to investigate the potential trade‐offs between the scale of bitumen production and industry growth, water storage requirements, and environmental protection for the aquatic ecosystems, under projections of mid‐century climate change. It is projected that water storage will be required to supplement river withdrawals to maintain continuous bitumen production under the impacts of future climate warming. If high growth in future bitumen production and water demand is the priority, then building sufficient water storage capacity to meet industry demand will be comparable to a week of lost revenue because of interrupted production. If environmental protection is prioritized instead, it will require over nine times the water storage costs to maintain water demand under a high industry growth trajectory. Future water use decisions will need to first, determine the scale of industry and environmental protection, and second, balance the costs of water storage against lost revenue because of water shortages that limit bitumen production. This physically based assessment of future water trade‐offs can inform water policy, water management decisions, and climate change adaptation plans, with applicability to other regions facing trade‐offs between industrial development and ecosystem water needs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

探讨适合长江流域特点的水量分配研究框架

长江流域水资源相对丰富,但存在降水时空分布不均、自然灾害频繁、城市需水增长快、供求矛盾加剧、水污染加重、用水效率低下等水资源问题.三峡水库的建设运用,外流域调水工程的实施打破了长江原有的水平衡.保证流域水资源的合理开发利用与调配对流域社会经济的发展极其重要,了解流域本身的水资源特点和问题,研究河流生态用水,分析不同功能、不同区域的水量分配额度,提出区域社会经济发展的水量分配方案,是水资源管理的基础,也是保障流域水资源的合理调配和可持续开发利用,维护河流健康发展的需求和根本.对适合长江流域特点的水量分配研究框架进行了探讨.     

Incorporating the Water Footprint and Virtual Water into Policy: Reflections from the Mancha Occidental Region, Spain

Water resource management is often a controversial issue in semiarid regions. Most water resources experts admit that water conflicts are not caused by the physical water scarcity but they are mainly due to inadequate water management. The virtual water concept (the volume of water used in the production of a commodity, good or service) together with the water footprint (indicator of water consumption that looks at both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer), links a large range of sectors and issues, thus providing a potentially appropriate framework to support more optimal water management practices by informing production and trade decisions. This paper provides an analysis of these two concepts within the context of the Mancha Occidental region, Spain, exploring the hydrological and economic aspects of agricultural production. In doing so, this work not only distinguishes between green and blue water but also between surface and groundwater. We conclude by discussing the practical implications of the results, as well as their potential limitations from the policy standpoint.     

South-to-north Water Transfer Schemes for China

South-to-north water transfer schemes are considered a strategic and ambitious approach to resolving water shortage problems in the north of China. This paper discusses the proposed south-to-north water transfer schemes, which would deliver water from the south of China to the water-short north of China. The three potential water transfer routes are discussed in detail, emphasizing the different water regimens of the water export and water import regions, political and institutional implications, and environmental protection. A water balance study conducted according to the principle of integrated water resources planning and management has shown that, without water transfer, the water deficit in the north of China will continue to be an obstacle to sustainable development from now to 2050. Also, the analysis on the asynchronism-synchronism for the two regions concerned has implicated the uncertainty of future water resource availability in the water transfer regions.     

A Shared Vision on the Transboundary Water Management Challenges of the Tagus River Basin

The Tagus River basin faces a growing water management challenge, as water demand and river regulation by large multi-purpose reservoirs lead to situations of water scarcity and mediocre conditions in some water bodies. The current situation and the impacts of increasing water demands are evaluated by a detailed river basin model which covers the whole river basin and includes the main hydraulic infrastructures and water uses of Spain and Portugal. Several indicators are computed from the model results to assess water demand satisfaction and the alteration of the hydrological regime, offering a better understanding of current hydro-climatic conditions in the basin. Results show that current water management practices have significantly altered the natural river flow conditions in the entire Tagus River basin. Water managers struggle to satisfy existing waters uses and increasing water demands will further accentuate these problems. The enforcement of new and planned environmental flow requirements may alleviate the conditions of some water bodies but will decrease the level of satisfaction of non-priority water demands. As additional measures are needed to improve water bodies status, water management and allocation policies must be revised at the river basin scale to improve the balance between water consumptive uses and environmental needs. A shared knowledge base and a common vision on the basin challenges will be required to achieve these goals and the datasets and tools applied in this study contribute to this needed transboundary cooperation.

     

Management Implications to Water Resources Constraint Force on Socio-economic System in Rapid Urbanization: A Case Study of the Hexi Corridor,NW China

As water has become the shortest resources in arid, semi-arid and rapid urbanization areas when the water resources utilization has approached or exceeded its threshold, water resources system slows down the socio-economic growth rate and destroys the projected targets to eradicate poverty and realize sustainable development. We put forward the concept of Water Resources Constraint Force (WRCF) and constructed a conceptual framework on it. Conceptual models on the interactions and feedbacks between water resources and socio-economic systems in water scarce regions or river basins indicate that, if the socio-economic system always aims at sustainable development, WRCF will vary with a normal distribution curve. Rational water resources management plays an important role on this optimistic variation law. Specifically, Water Demand Management (WDM) and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) are considered as an important perspective and approach to alleviate WRCF. A case study in the Hexi Corridor of NW China indicates that, water resources management has great impact on WRCF both in Zhangye and Wuwei Region, and also the river basins where they are located. The drastic transformation of water resources management pattern and the experimental project – Building Water-saving Society in Zhangye Region alleviated the WRCF to some extent. However, from a water resources management view, WRCF in Zhangye Region still belongs to the severe constraint type. It will soon step into the very severe constraint type. In order to shorten the periods from the very severe constraint type finally to the slight constraint type, WDM and IWRM in the Hei River Basin should be improved as soon as possible. However, in the Shiyang River Basin, WRCF belongs to the very severe constraint type at present due to poor water resources management in the past. Though the socio-economic system adapted itself and alleviated the WRCF to some extent, the Shiyang River Basin had to transform the water supply management pattern to WDM, and seek IWRM in recent years. It is concluded that WDM and IWRM is a natural selection to alleviate the WRCF on the socio-economic system and realize sustainable development.