Abstract
AbstractIn the Mediterranean countries, agriculture poses challenges in terms of its production expectations, resources availability, pollution, general management and implementation of economic tools (e.g. full cost of irrigation water, according to the Water Framework Directive). This study attempts to provide useful approaches for small water supply agencies facing multiple management, funding, environmental, and practical issues. A representative case in Central Greece is examined, in order to describe the situation in understandable terms supporting sustainable management. Simple hydro-economic tools were used to address these challenges; water balance, profits from agriculture, water value, water quality, management strategies, and full cost of irrigation water were simulated and incorporated into a decision support system (DSS), using Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA), involving experts on water resources management and local policymakers. This is the first hydro-economic study designed for a Greek rural agency, aiming to improve and encourage integrated monitoring and management at multiple levels, communicating more efficient water use approaches to local irrigation management communities.
Highlights
Most European countries are facing several environmental, technical, and socioeconomic issues, concerning sustainable and efficient water resources management
An integrated hydro-economic model was developed for Pinios Local Administrations of Land Reclamation (LALRs), based on the following key components: water balance, agricultural profits, water value, water quality, and full cost of irrigation water
Summarizing the above, the model results in the following outputs: Water balance Three pumping stations are used for watering Pinios LALR’s surface network and one pumping station is used for transferring water from Pinios to Karla reservoir
Summary
Most European countries are facing several environmental, technical, and socioeconomic issues, concerning sustainable and efficient water resources management. Irrational rural management and intensification of agriculture have caused many environmental problems in Greek catchments, such as water scarcity and quality issues (Varouchakis et al 2019). Local Administrations of Land Reclamation (LALRs) are responsible for catchment management and the use of irrigation water (allocation, pricing, works, investments, etc.). LALRs is maintained by farmers and facing several management problems (e.g. lack of records, monitoring, water underpricing, poor maintenance of the existing infrastructure, losses and cooperation difficulties). Losses and funding issues combined with the stakeholders’ mindset contribute to the many illegal wells that attempt to cover the increased water demand
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