Groundwater quota versus tiered groundwater pricing: two cases of groundwater management in north-west China

Difficulties in monitoring groundwater extraction cause groundwater regulations to fail worldwide. In two counties in north-west China local water authorities have installed smart card machines to monitor and regulate farmers’ groundwater use. Data from a household survey and in-depth interviews are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the different regulatory institutions implemented with help of the smart card machines. In the given context, groundwater quota is more effective in curbing farmers’ groundwater use than the tiered groundwater pricing. The study shows that the usefulness of smart card machines depends on their embedding in the societal context and related regulatory institutions.     

Irrigation management transfer in sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of policy implementation across scales

ABSTRACT

This article explores how irrigation management transfer policies were implemented in Mali, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. In Mali and Mozambique, where the irrigation bureaucracy controlled one large irrigation system, state agencies retained control over irrigation management despite reduced state funding. In Malawi and Zimbabwe, where the state irrigation systems and the irrigation bureaucracy were smaller, users have taken over irrigation management, but are having trouble sustaining irrigated agriculture. We show how irrigation management transfer policies were shaped by the interplay between international donors, macro-economic dynamics, national politics and the interactions with (and the nature of) irrigation infrastructure, bureaucracies and organized users.     

中国地下水资源质量评价(Ⅱ)——地下水水质现状和污染分析

对我国平原区浅层地下水水质现状进行了评价。初步评价结果表明,我国地下水水质形势严峻,劣质水分布面积占平原区面积近60%。高矿化度地下水分布比较广泛,总硬度和矿化度成为地下水主要的超标因子。铁、锰、氟等水文地球化学组分对地下水水质也有明显的影响,除天然因素外,地下水受人为污染的程度十分严重,全国有近25%平原区地下水受到不同程度的污染。在人口和社会经济活动密集的流域,地下水污染已经呈现大范围扩散的态势。地下水保护形势十分迫切,指出要客观认识到地下水水质的先天因素和人为污染的区别,有针对性地进行地下水的保护。     

Groundwater pollution from agrochemicals — A dynamic model of externalities and policy options

A dynamic model of groundwater pollution from intensive agrochemical use is developed in this paper to capture the possible externalities and analyze various policy options in protecting groundwater resources. Four different paradigms are used to analyze the externalities involved in groundwater pollution due to excessive use of agrochemicals. The economic threshold levels of agrochemical contents in groundwater resources are derived and related to social discount rates. Conditions under which the nonchemical technologies will be adopted by individual farmers to protect groundwater resources are derived. Policy implications for water quality regulations are discussed based on model results. It is argued that meaningful regulation policies would involve internalizing possible externalities by taking into account costs of groundwater pollution to future generations.     

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.     

River regulation by seasonal groundwater abstraction: The case of the River Itchen

This paper describes the development of groundwater to regulate the flows of the River Itchen in Southern England. The permeable chalk geology of the river catchment makes the use of natural groundwater storage more cost effective than conventional surface reservoirs. The principles of groundwater regulation and the construction and testing of the first two schemes are described. Flow extension and mathematical modelling have been used to assess yields and assist with operational decisions. The paper concludes that groundwater regulation is a viable alternative to reservoirs in permeable catchments and further schemes are planned.     

Conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water to reduce soil salinization in the Yinchuan Plain,North-West China

Abstract

Poor water resource management is an important factor in soil salinization in arid areas. In this study, the status of soil salinization and its controlling factors are summarized for the Yinchuan Plain, North-West China. The conjunctive use of surface water diverted from the Yellow River and groundwater abstracted from a shallow aquifer is proposed to alleviate soil salinization in the plain. Scenarios are designed and simulated to determine the optimal proportions at which groundwater should be exploited for irrigation in the three cities of the plain. Policies and suggestions regarding sustainable water resources and soil salinization research in the plain are recommended.     

华北平原区地下水开采量估算研究

准确获取地下水开采量对于区域地下水资源评价和管理工作具有十分重要的意义。但由于地下水开采活动过于分散,目前管理和计量的手段不足,导致地下水开采量统计数据存在较大误差。通过建立华北平原地下水流区域数值模型,利用模拟水位与实际观测水位相拟合的方法,完成了华北平原开采量的反演估算,最终获得了华北平原2002年-2008年各年的地下水开采量,其平均年开采量为249.20亿m3。     

流域水环境保护政策与法规探讨

针对长江流域水环境保护与农业面源污染防治中存在的主要问题,从流域可持续发展的角度,对流域水环境保护立法、面源污染防治条例及其配套政策和市场机制进行了探讨,提出制定流域性的水环境保护法规和农业面源污染防治条例建议。     

Challenges and prospects of sustainable groundwater management in an agricultural plain along the Silk Road Economic Belt,north-west China

Abstract

As a major challenge in building a new and sustainable Silk Road Economic Belt, threats induced by poor groundwater management have raised stress on the groundwater resources in the Yinchuan Plain, north-west China. In the present article, an overview of groundwater development in the plain, along with the associated negative effects, is provided. A fragmented management framework is found responsible for the poor groundwater management. Efficient and effective groundwater management will require proper attention of the local authorities to the inherent interaction among various water systems. Only with enhanced cooperation, an integrated monitoring network, strengthened scientific support and active public participation can the sustainability of groundwater management of the plain be achieved.     

Eco-compensation for watershed services in China

Eco-compensation for watershed services (EWS), or the more general payments for ecosystem services, is an incentive-based environmental policy instrument. With official documents and first-hand data from fieldwork, we analyze China’s 17 EWS pilot schemes across 16 provinces. Major environmental crises in China can partly be caused by the inadequate incentives for local governments to forcefully implement the environmental laws and policies. EWS schemes in China mainly target local governments in upstream and downstream watersheds, rather than the private entities in normal applications elsewhere, to provide economic incentives and to encourage their enforcement activities.     

我国生态补偿分类及实施案例分析

依据我国生态补偿实施地的空间地域特征及实际开展情况,将我国生态补偿分为自然保护区生态补偿、重要生态功能区生态补偿、流域水资源生态补偿、大气环境保护生态补偿、矿产资源开发区生态补偿、农业生产区生态补偿以及旅游风景开发区生态补偿共7类。通过分析我国已实施及在实施的113例生态补偿案例,对不同生态补偿类型的发展现状进行了归纳总结,认为我国各类生态补偿实施力度差异较大,各类生态补偿的区域分布对比明显,生态补偿的市场手段远未发展成熟,政府引导市场的模式仍是目前的主导方式。建议全面推进我国各类生态补偿工作,国家提供强有力的政策支持和稳定的资金来源,促进生态环境保护与开发的协调发展;探索完善市场补偿手段,积极推进各类生态补偿领域内的市场交易。     

辽河流域平原区地下水生态水位及水量调控研究

对辽河流域平原区地下水生态水位及水量调控进行了初步研究,界定了地下水生态水位概念、分类及其特征,论述了该领域的研究现状。以辽河平原为研究对象,阐述了研究区地下水生态水位的确定原则、依据及地下水生态调控量的计算方法,其中地下水生态调控量采用情景分析方法,通过设置两种情景,构建了两套地下水生态标准,计算出地下水生态调控量。研究结果表明:通过确定地下水的生态水位,并将其与实际地下水水位埋深进行比较,结合水文地质参数,可以计算出地下水生态调控量。     

华北平原地下水中有机物淋溶迁移性及其污染风险评价

根据有机污染物的物理化学性质,估算了91种有机物在土壤中的半衰期和有机碳吸附系数,并分析了这些有机物在土壤中的淋溶迁移性,结果表明：对于所研究的污染物,它们的地下水污染指数与其有机碳吸附系数有着很好的负相关性,这为评价地下水中主要有机污染物的污染指数（淋溶迁移性）提供了简易方法。所评价的91种有机物中,38种具有高淋溶和迁移性,易对含水层造成较大范围的污染。通过分析发现,华北平原区域地下水中主要有机物的检出率与其淋溶迁移性有着一定的相关性。因此,地下水污染指数法的应用将有助于预测有机物对地下水的污染风险。     

中美水库水资源调度策略的研究和进展

从研究我国和美国水库水资源调度的目标演进出发,介绍了与时俱进的调度策略和政策.指出两国均经历了从单纯地以完成多目标开发的水利调度到接受调度策略的演化过程.比较系统地提出了我国考虑生态系统和改善环境的优化调度策略,并举例说明了长江流域水库水资源调度时扩大综合效益的方法,包括:①丹江口水库充分研究洪水特性,利用分期洪水安排库容,使之发挥更大的综合效益;②三峡水库调度除着重解决荆江地区的防洪问题外,还对城陵矶进行补偿调度,以发挥更大的防洪作用;③1998年长江防洪中长江水库群错峰调度削减干流洪水及四川错峰调水冲污.     

河道治理工程水土保持监测方法探讨——以深圳河治理第4期工程为例

江河治理一直是我国生态文明建设的重点,开展河道治理工程的水土保持监测工作是预防其水土流失的重要举措。为提高生产开发建设项目水土保持监测数据的准确性和科学性,以深圳河治理第4期工程为例,探讨了江河治理项目中水土保持监测的内容、方法以及监测体系,并对监测结果进行了讨论。分析结果可为相关江河治理工程水土保持监测项目提供参考和借鉴。     

Groundwater management and protection in Denmark: a review of pre-conditions,advances and challenges

Denmark is making continuous efforts to attain sustainable groundwater management. With groundwater constituting virtually the only resource for all water uses, groundwater management was addressed early on and has progressed over the last century. This article gives an overview of the advances, along with past and present challenges in securing sustainable groundwater utilization. The objective is to document comprehensively the Danish case and to highlight some of the unique conditions and principles that have shaped and facilitated groundwater management in the country.     

Impacts of agricultural policy on irrigation water demand: a case study of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's groundwater resources have been heavily over-exploited to achieve food self-sufficiency. The country enacted a new agricultural policy that discourages the cultivation of wheat and encourages that of vegetables and fruits. This has produced significant reductions in irrigation water demand as well as food self-sufficiency. This paper reviews the performance of the Saudi agricultural sector and presents four scenarios forecasting the new policy's long-term impacts on the use of water for agriculture. The findings show that the new policy does not support sustainable utilization of groundwater resources. Additional policy modifications are needed to optimize the combination of import and domestic production of agricultural products based on a sustainable water utilization strategy.     

Water access in Sucre,Bolivia: a case of governance deficit

Bolivia is one of the countries on the American continent with the lowest rates of access to water, a situation that has caused confrontation between civil society and water utility managers in some cities. This research describes the water access scenario in Sucre, the capital of Bolivia, together with the key challenges faced by the company that manages the water services in the city. The case of Sucre is an example of how poor water governance can generate inefficiencies in the management of the service. Taking this into consideration, policy and institutional reforms are recommended to facilitate decision making aimed at improving the current situation of access to water.     

我国北方区域地下水演化研究综述

基于"六五"至"十二五"期间有关区域地下水演化的国家和省部级重点科技项目主要成果,对近30年来我国地下水演化研究的主要进展进行了综述。我国区域地下水演化研究主要集中在北方地区,项目选题的起源和立项的时代背景具有鲜明的时代性和社会重大需求驱动,包括华北和西北地区流域尺度地下水演化的国家重点项目研究,都是围绕国家目标或区域经济发展重大需求,及时揭示了气候变化和人类活动影响下区域地下水演化的关键科技问题,突显了重大科学研究的时代性和必要性。