Web Based Meta-database and its Role in Improving Water Resources Management in the Mediterranean Basin

Water is a very crucial natural resource in the world and because of its selective availability among different countries; it will be the most precious commodity in the future. In the Mediterranean basin one can find a mosaic of countries rich in water and others poor. However, the common issue for all these countries is how to improve water resources management. NOSTRUM-DSS [Network on Governance, Science and Technology for Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Mediterranean. The role of DSS (Decision Support System) tools. Contract 509158. August 2004–August 2007], which is a co-ordination action funded by the European Commission under the Sixth Framework Program, aims to contribute to the achievement of improved governance and planning in the field of sustainable water management. In order to achieve this goal, DSS tools which can ease the problem of accessing information about an Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) for decision makers, scientific community, and other organizations must be created. An online database is one of these tools which can help in creating an IWRM. This tool can reduce information redundancy, eliminate unneeded expenses, and create regional cooperation in the area of water resources management. In this paper a new Web based meta-database about climate, remote sensing, and Geographic Information System (GIS) related to water resources management is introduced, and its role in improving water resources management is discussed.     

Editorial Comments on the World Commission on Water for the 21stCentury

Abstract

In this study, in order to create a decision-making model on water resources projects, a hierarchy of criteria has been developed by public participation. The Value Management methodology has been used for extraction of the effective criteria and attributes in the scope of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The hierarchy is generic for water resources management in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Since the evaluations of alternatives with respect to some attributes are uncertain and vague, fuzzy set theory has been used. By merging fuzzy set theory and multi-attribute decision-making a new Decision Support System (DSS), namely FDM, has been developed to compare different alternatives. As an innovation, FDM accepts evaluations of alternatives with respect to the attributes as crisp variables, fuzzy variables, and linguistic variables. FDM embodies an expert system whose duty is to choose an appropriate method among the SAW, Fuzzy SAW, TOPSIS or Fuzzy TOPSIS based on the characteristics of the problem.

The central and Southeastern regions of Iran are considered arid regions, suffering from water shortages. In this paper, water transfers to the Zayanderud basin in Iran have been modeled by FDM. Successful application of this DSS in this study allows for its application by water authorities in other case studies.     

Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Lake Poopo Basin, Bolivia

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a relatively new approach in Bolivia. However, it is now generally accepted that this approach needs to be established in order to find sustainable solutions for development and is actively promoted by the Water Ministry, especially in environmentally fragile regions, such as the Lake Poopo basin. The Lake Poopo basin is one of the poorest regions in the Bolivian Altiplano. It is confronted with severe water scarcity during the dry season, leading to low water quality, a high water-poverty index and low values of the watershed sustainability index. Furthermore, salinization and environmental degradation of soil and water are forcing people to migrate to urban areas. These are some of the factors underlying an ever-increasing complexity in integrated water resources management in the region. This paper proposes and develops a Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in the Lake Poopo basin, based on economic, social and environmental criteria in an uncertain decision environment in order to support stakeholders in managing their water resources. Saaty’s analytical hierarchy process (AHP) theory is applied here to solve the MCDA and to identify the alternatives using the highest expected utility value. The paper identifies the best solutions for existing conflicts, while promoting interaction with stakeholders and instruments in order to reach a sustainable strategy for water resources management in this water-scarce region.     

Decision Support Systems for Sustainable Management of Water Resources: 2. Case Studies

ABSTRACT

The new ethic of sustainable development extends the main principles of water resources management. Computer-based decision support systems are explored in order to identify their role in the implementation of these principles into water resource management practice. The first part of this research (see the previous article in this issue) has demonstrated that sustainable development is a global concept that needs to be made reality in any component of every decision support system to be developed for successful management of water resources. This article presents four successful case studies of decision support systems (DSSs) for sustainable management of water resources. Development of a DSS for sustainable water resource management is seen as a process, and while the issues covered in these four examples are the priorities in their respective domains, it is certain that new issues will emerge in different fields of application. So, what is presented here is thus a snapshot of current best efforts     

DSS Application to the Development of Water Management Strategies in Ribeiras do Algarve River Basin

Within the Project – “Developing Strategies for Regulating and Managing Water Resources and Demand in Water Deficient Regions (WSM)” funded by the EU in fifth Research Framework Program, the Ribeiras do Algarve River Basin was chosen as a case study to develop a DSS for planning purposes. Located in the southern stretch of the Portuguese territory, crucial conflicts do exist between tourist and agricultural water uses within the river basin. Additionally, there are important deficiencies in urban secondary water supply. Also inadequate irrigation methods and poor quality of water existing in some areas urge the implementation of management measures. Different ways to improve the water management situation were analysed: (a) structural options, (b) demand management options and (c) socio-economic measures. These options were analysed using a range of combinations of extreme demand and availability scenarios and ranked based on indicators reflecting the perception of the local stakeholders towards economic development and social and environmental sustainability. On a second phase, the formulation of strategies using the available options was addressed and two different strategies, resulting from a tentative timeframe of water management options combination, were applied aiming to achieve goals defined with regional stakeholders, namely: (a) on a first stage, the optimization of the domestic and irrigation water demand coverage and aquifer’s groundwater exploitation use ratio; (b) on a second stage, the determination of the water pricing increase necessary to achieve economical sustainability, aiming at cost recovery goals in accordance with the Water Framework Directive compliance.     

Application of Decision Support System for Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the Azraq Basin—Jordan

Abstract

Water scarcity in Jordan is a significant constraint to development, with limited available water and financial resources. As population and economic activity increase, it will be necessary to implement national strategies that seek to balance the present needs and those of future generations. Multiple variables associated with agricultural crops, industries, and the impact of climate change, were incorporated into a Decision Support System (DSS). The DSS utilized Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which resulted in the prioritization of sustainable water policies for management in the Azraq Basin. The inputs to the DSS were generated through application of Modflow (groundwater), stochastic, and Penman Montieth models and through calculations of water productivity for agricultural and industrial sectors. The results of the DSS make recommendations as to how to enhance long-term sustainability of water resources in Azraq, while allowing for water utilization and economic growth. It is recommended for future planning that further research of the impacts to water resources must be conducted at local and national levels and linked to regional and global climate change prediction. It can be concluded that the DSS tool and AHP are potentially positive contributions to the process of decision- making for selection and ranking of alternatives and policies and for help in solving problems that include conflicting criteria.     

Federal reserved rights and California's Groundwater Management Act: resolving groundwater rights tensions in California and the western United States

California introduced its first comprehensive groundwater legislation (the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act) in 2014 to address the overuse of the state’s groundwater resources and to establish a pathway for sustainable groundwater use. However, a recent decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declaring the existence of federal reserved rights to groundwater could complicate the future implementation of California’s new groundwater legislation. This article explores the impact of the case and offers recommendations on how the tensions between the court’s decision and the existing legal framework for groundwater management in California could be reduced.     

Multi-Criteria Analysis of Water Allocation Scenarios in a Water Scarce Basin

In 2015, a “Post-2015 Development Agenda” is defined for future global developments in water management. The proposed goal is referred to as SDG’s or Sustainable Development Goals, which will balance the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development with a strong linkage between environment and socio-economic goals. One of the major concepts of SDG’s is water security, which is the basic element of the Global Goal on Water, now defined as: “Securing Sustainable Water for All”. The proposal for a Global Goal for Water is associated with targets and indicators to help countries reach the goal by 2030. Among the five main targets specified, two major ones emphasize “water allocation” as an important support of water security, particularly in conditions of water security. This paper focuses on this latter issue in the case of water scarce Gediz Basin along the Aegean coast of Turkey, where irrigation is the major water consuming activity. In addition to allocation of water among other water use sectors and irrigation, it is important in the basin how irrigation water is allocated to various crops, as previous droughts struck crop yields the most. Thus, 16 alternative allocation scenarios are developed to assess the crop yield produced by each scenario. These alternatives are represented by social, economic and environmental indicators as criteria for selection the most favorable alternative. The selection is realized by Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) methodology, using the Reference Point Approach (RPA). In terms of methodology, presented paper shows that RPA is a powerful tool to guide engineers and decision makers to rationally select among several possible alternatives in water allocation.     

A Hybrid ANFIS-GA Approach for Estimation of Hydrological Time Series

Water Resources Management - River flow modeling plays a leading role in the management of water resources and ensuring sustainability. The complex nature of hydrological systems and the difficulty...     

Flavia Rocha Loures and Alistair Rieu-Clarke (eds), The UN Watercourses Convention in force: strengthening international law for transboundary water management

Abstract

The MODSIM 8.0 decision support system (DSS) for integrated river basin management (IRBM) has been adapted from a prior appropriation rights-based system to one found in Korea and in much of Asia where water deficits are shared among water use sectors, taking into account priorities established by water policy and institutional frameworks. The Korean version called KModSim is applied to the Geum River basin for evaluation of long-term sustainability of existing and new water infrastructure and facilities under integrated, basin-wide water resources management. KModSim is calibrated to the physical and hydrologic characteristics of the basin, as well as to operational and administrative water allocation policies for municipal and industrial water supply, irrigation, hydropower, transbasin diversions, and low-flow augmentation for environmental purposes. Conditional reservoir operational rules that adapt to changing river basin hydrologic conditions are developed from an implicit stochastic optimization algorithm and incorporated using the extensive user-customization capabilities of KModSim. Results demonstrate that decision guidance under KModSim enhances beneficial water uses in the Geum River system through fully integrated, basin-wide management.     

Application of an Optimization Model for the Sustainable Water Resource Management of River Basins

Water Resources Management - An optimization model for the sustainable water resource management that maximizes sustainable net economic benefit over a long-term planning horizon is applied to the...     

A Fuzzy Group Decision Making Framework Based on ISM-FANP-FTOPSIS for Evaluating Watershed Management Strategies

Water Resources Management - Watershed planning and management is a complex process due to existing different influential criteria in social, economic and environmental sectors as well as...     

Roles of Levies for Sustainable Domestic Water Consumption

Sustainable development is the modern rhetoric to guide environmental or natural resources management. There are many ways to do this and one is the wider utilization of economic instruments, such as taxes and levies. Although such levies are becoming common in Australia and worldwide, the role of the taxes or levies is still limited. In many cases, these taxes/levies -although environmentally related- have a fiscal rather than a purely environmental motive, for example, the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Levy in South Australia. This study evaluates the NRM levy policy using one NRM region and focussing on the Adelaide urban community. Data was collected through a web-based survey with 770 respondents who answered 59 questions. The research found that community strongly prefers a levy calculated on the volume of water consumed. Respondents also indicated that they would use less water if the levy were calculated on the volume of water consumed. The clear implications of the results suggest that if a tax or levy aims to change water consumption behaviour then it should be based on the volume of water consumed not on property value.     

Attaining Sustainable Water Resource Utilization in Lake Basins Using Progressive Operational Scenario Analysis

Water Resources Management - There is a severe conflict between water resource exploitation and protection of the aquatic environment of lakes with rapid urbanization. Sustainable water resource...     

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.     

Decision Support System Based on Queuing Theory to Optimize Canal Management

Water Resources Management - Uncertainties of groundwater utilization are usually neglected in decision support systems for irrigation system management. In this study, an irrigation water...     

Scale Effects of the Monthly Streamflow Prediction Using a State-of-the-art Deep Learning Model

Water Resources Management - The accurate prediction of monthly streamflow is important in sustainable water resources planning and management. There is a growing interest in the development of...     

Optimal Sizing of Rainwater Harvesting Tanks for Domestic Use in Greece

Water Resources Management - Rainwater harvesting gains more and more ground as a modern, relatively inexpensive and simple water-saving technology, and as a sustainable water management practice,...     

Optimization Model for the Sustainable Water Resource Management of River Basins

Water Resources Management - This paper presents a new methodology for the sustainable and optimal allocation of water for a river basin management area. The model distinguishes between short and...     

Rainfall Trends over a Small Island Teleconnected to the North Atlantic Oscillation - the Case of Madeira Island,Portugal

Water Resources Management - For improving sustainable water resources management and planning at local and regional scales, specifically in small islands, long-term and recent rainfall trends due...