Water User Associations Research Articles

Water and energy demand forecasting in large-scale water distribution networks for irrigation using open data and machine learning algorithms

In a world where the availability of water is decreasing, its use must be thoroughly optimized. Irrigated agricultural systems, as the main user of the planet's fresh water, must improve its management and save as much of this scarce resource as possible. However, the heterogeneity of these complex systems that are frequently organized in water user associations makes the daily management of this resource difficult. The new information and communication technologies as well as artificial intelligence techniques help to understand the heterogeneity of these complex systems, making it possible to better manage them. However, the implementation of a tool with these characteristics requires a large and heterogeneous amount of data from different sources. Thus, in this work, a new tool for managers based on water demand forecasting at the field scale for the week ahead has been developed. This tool, WatergyForecaster, combines artificial intelligence techniques, satellite remote sensing (Sentinel 2) and open source climate data to automatically build a water forecasting model at the farm scale for a week in advance. WatergyForecaster, developed in Python, was applied to a real water user association (WUA), obtaining a set of optimum models with an accuracy that ranged from 17% to 19% and representativeness higher than 80%.

Forecasting of applied irrigation depths at farm level for energy tariff periods using Coactive neuro-genetic fuzzy system

Nowadays, water scarcity and the increase in energy demand and their associated costs in pressurized irrigation systems are causing serious challenges. In addition, most of these pressurized irrigation systems has been designed to be operated on-demand where irrigation water is continuously available to farmers complexing the daily decision-making process of the water user association’ managers. Know in advance how much water will be applied by each farmer and its distribution during the day would facilitate the management of the system and would help to optimize the water use and energy costs. In this work, a new hybrid methodology (CANGENFIS) combining Multiple input -Multiple output, fuzzy logic, artificial neural networks and multiobjective genetic algorithms was developed to model farmer behaviour and short-term forecasting the distribution by tariff period of the irrigation depth applied at farm level. CANGENFIS which was developed in Matlab was applied to a real water user association located in Southwest Spain. Three optimal models for the main crops in the water user association were obtained. The average for all tariff periods of the representability (R2) and accuracy of the forecasts (standard error prediction, SEP) were 0.70, 0.76% and 0.85% and 19.9%, 22.9% and 19.5%, for rice, maize and tomato crops models, respectively.

Water users’ associations: an effective approach for conflicts resolution among water users in Punjab, Pakistan

This study aimed at assessing the role of water users’ associations (WUAs) in conflicts resolution among water users. A sample of 100 executive members of WUAs was selected purposefully from twenty randomly selected registered and improved watercourses. The data was collected through a detailed, validated and pre-tested interview schedule and analysed through SPSS. Findings showed that social conflicts (x̄=2.00), repair and maintenances of watercourse (x̄=1.91) and disputes on watercourse design, route and section to be lined (x̄=1.81) were the top most causes of conflicts among the water users. Uprooting of trees (86.0%), payment of farmers’ share (79.0%), quality of materials used (73.0%), section of watercourses to be lined (71.0%), working of farmers’ labor (70.0%) and provision of labour (69.0%) were the important reasons for differences among water users. Satisfaction level of water users regarding contribution of WUAs in conflict resolution (x̄=3.98) was lying between medium to high tending towards high while, effectiveness of WUAs in conflict resolution (x̄=4.17) was lying between high and very high tending towards very high. There exist a stronger association between the role of WUAs as dependent and strategy to resolve the conflicts as independent variables while, the role of WUAs was strongly dependent on their response to the complaints and it was also dependent on determining the causes of these conflicts. Thus, WUAs must be promoted at every level for enhancing their role for conflicts resolution through regular trainings to improve their conflicts resolution abilities on modern lines and must be made more powerful in terms of authority to decide common conflicts at the spot.

A framework to evaluate the factors influencing groundwater management in Water User Associations: The case study of Tafresh County (Iran)

In recent decades, due to the water shortage around the world and the importance of groundwater in agriculture, the role of Water User Associations (WUAs) – well-known farmer associations that manage collective irrigation in agricultural districts – in groundwater management has received much attention. To ensure sustainable groundwater management in these organizations, it is imperative to analyze the effects of the driving mechanisms, such as the “legal and institutional”, “socio-cultural”, “social capital”, “economic”, “infrastructure” and “farmers’ participation” factors, on the collective management of agricultural water. This study proposes a theoretical framework to analyze how and to what extent these factors influence agricultural water management in a case study of WUAs of Tafresh County (Iran), where irrigated agriculture strongly relies on groundwater. To validate this framework, questionnaires with 53 questions/indicators related to these factors have been supplied to 264 associated farmers and then statistically processed using Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) methods. The measurement model has confirmed the validity of the questionnaire. The structural model has demonstrated that all the identified factors are significantly effective in driving the WUAs performance. This effectiveness was shown by the high indexes of reliability (over 0.821 against an acceptance limit of 0.7) and convergent validity (over 0.511 against a limit of 0.5). Socio-cultural and social capital factors had a higher impact (confirmed by path coefficients of about 0.80), while the economic factors played a lower effect on groundwater management (path coefficient of 0.534). Moreover, the Pearson matrix showed statistically significant (p < 0.01) and positive (R2 = from 0.238 to 0.804) correlations among all the evaluated factors. Based on this framework, some actions for improving the groundwater management at the collective level are suggested, such as: (i) the implementation of new water management technologies to increase the efficiency in extraction, distribution, and consumption of irrigation water; ii) strengthening the importance of social and cultural participation in the management of WUAs, in order to create formal and informal contexts for enhancing individual participation in the short and long-term; iii) designing appropriate financing factors and diversification of the sources of revenue to execute projects on shared water resources.

Common-pool community resource use: Governance and management of community irrigation schemes in rural Ghana

ABSTRACT The Hardian solutions to the excessive abuses of common-pool resources are still being contested. However, studies on governance and management of community irrigation facilities as a “common” in developing countries is limited. Contributing to literature on irrigation water management in the Global South, this paper examines the role of communities in the governance and management of small-scale irrigation dams in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study employs a qualitative approach to research with 25 interviews and seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Using a thematic approach to analysis, the study reveals that smallholder farmers through the Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) have defined user boundaries and instituted ground rules and regulations to enable them to sustainably manage these water resources for their activities of agriculture. Further results revealed that irrigable land for dry season gardening was equitably shared among farmers who are members of WUA, and as a result, minimized possible conflicts among the resource users. The study recommends the need for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ghana Irrigation Authority to provide more technical support to WUAs in the Upper East Region of Ghana to enable them to better manage these water resources.

Influence of Service Levels and COVID-19 on Water Supply Inequalities of Community-Managed Service Providers in Nepal

In Nepal, there are three types of water service providers; two types of government-managed service providers covering urban and municipal areas, and community-managed service providers called Water Users and Sanitation Associations (WUSAs). This study aims to assess the current water supply service levels and water supply inequalities of WUSAs in terms of water consumption, supply hours, and customer satisfaction. Among the three types of water service providers, WUSAs offered the best performance in terms of their low non-revenue water (NRW) rates and production costs, high bill collection rates, and long supply hours. During the COVID-19 lockdown, water consumption increased, but bill payment notably decreased, possibly due to restricted movement and hesitation by customers to make payments. The multiple-year water consumption variations illustrated the uneven water consumption behavior of customers. Despite the variation in water supply hours, Lorenz curves, Gini coefficients (G), and water consumption analysis depicted low inequalities (G ≈ 0.20–0.28) and adequate water consumption among WUSAs even in 2019–2020. In the three WUSAs, more than 90%, 74%, and 38% of customers consumed water above the basic, medium, and high levels, respectively. Thus, maintaining high service levels of WUSAs is instrumental in achieving Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nepal.

PARTISIPASI PETANI ANGGOTA PERKUMPULAN PETANI PEMAKAI AIR (P3A) DALAM PENGELOLAAN AIR IRIGASI DI KECAMATAN PALAS KABUPATEN LAMPUNG SELATAN

Rice farmers uses irrigation water managed through Water User Association (P3A). This study aims to analyze rice farming income, the level of participation, and factors related to the participation of farmers members of the P3A. Research data were collected in Palas Subdistrict, South Lampung Regency in November - December 2019. The number of respondents was 68 rice farmers members who were randomly selected. Primary data were obtained by interviewing the respondents and secondary data were obtained from several related institutions. The data were analyzed descriptively and using Rank Spearman correlation test. The results showed that rice farming in planting season 1 and 2 are profitable to cultivate. The levels of participation of P3A members in planning activities, implementing activities, monitoring and evaluating activities, and utilizing the results are in high category. The factors related to the participation of P3A members on irrigation management were the intensity of farmer interaction, the level of motivation, and land size. Key words: participation, Water User Association

Farmers’ Participation in Irrigation Management in the Punggur Utara Irrigation Area, Indonesia

Farmers’ participation in water resource management in Indonesia has been accommodated through Law No. 7/2004 and Government Regulation No. 20/2006 regarding irrigation. In government regulations, farmers’ participation in irrigation water management has been described in detail, with one of the components of irrigation network management being operations and maintenance. Most irrigation system problems are related to irrigation networks. Farmers’ participation in the Water Users Association (WUA), a farmer institution responsible for managing and developing irrigation networks at the tertiary level, determines how irrigation network management activities are carried out. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and of group participation of a WUA in carrying out irrigation management activities in operations and maintenance activities. The result is connected to the physical condition of the irrigation network. The research took place in the village of Sumber Rejo in the Punggur Utara irrigation area, which is in Lampung Province, Indonesia, and is where WUA Harapan Maju is active. Samples were determined based on a random sampling method, which found that the sample size required for the study was 80 farmers. The results show that of socio-economic factors, the most influential is the number of farmers’ dependents, followed by the land area owned by each farmer. It was also found that group participation of WUA Harapan Maju was categorised as “barely” adequate. This result was confirmed by the condition of the irrigation system in the Punggur Utara irrigation area, which was also “barely” adequate, and the system’s operations and maintenance needed to be improved.

The Cost of a Sustainable Water Supply at Network Kiosks in Peri-Urban Blantyre, Malawi

Empirical insights were made into the challenges of supplying water to communities within low-income areas of peri-urban Blantyre, Malawi. A networked public water supply is provided to those without a domestic tap via communal water kiosks managed by community-based Water User Associations (WUAs) under a government mandate. There has been considerable debate surrounding the tariff charged for water supplied to such vulnerable communities. However, research has largely failed to consider the costs of WUAs operating the kiosks and the impact on the kiosk tariff. The determination of kiosk tariffs is critical to ensuring lifeline access to a sustainable water supply under Sustainable Development Goal 6. We provide evidence of this from our experience in the field in Blantyre. In particular, we argue that sustainable kiosk running costs cannot be born solely by the end user. A number of reforms are needed to help reduce the kiosk tariff. To reduce WUA costs and the kiosk tariffs, WUAs need more training in financial record keeping and cost management, WUAs should not inherit outstanding kiosk debt upon taking over their operations, and water boards should build kiosk costs over which they have fiscal responsibility into integrated block tariff calculations and subsidize them accordingly.

Farmer Evaluation of Irrigation Services. Collective or Self-Supplied?

Economic evaluation of farmland is an important issue in the agricultural sector. The aim of this study was to quantify the economic value of land in the farmland area of the Reclamation and Irrigation Board of Capitanata (Apulia region), differentiating by irrigation water service type (collective or self-supplied). The analysis involved a heuristic evaluation using the hedonic pricing method of the sales comparison approach. The data was gathered through a survey on a group of 75 farmers. The results showed higher capitalization values in the case of lands served by self-supplied sources from groundwater. Actually, in the long-term, an enhanced reliability was found for the self-supplied rather than collective services. The findings highlight the importance for collective water associations of differentiating water rights allocations on the basis of a volume guarantee. In future, water user associations of collective services could consider a different water right system along with price discrimination to efficiently allocate the resource among farmers and improve the sustainability of current water management.

Challenges to Water Management in Ecuador: Legal Authorization, Quality Parameters, and Socio-Political Responses

Ecuador has historically had a unique experience with water law, management, and policy as a result of its constitutional declaration of water access as a human right. In this paper, the legal, environmental, economic, and social aspects related to water management in Ecuador are analyzed. In doing so, the incorporation of local governance structures such as water users’ associations (WUAs) are characterized within a national model of authorization under SENAGUA, Ecuador’s former water agency, highlighting the importance of integrated management for meeting the country’s geographically and environmentally diverse needs. Additionally, the role of anthropogenic activities such as crude oil production, artisanal and small-scale gold (ASGM) mining, agriculture, sewage discharge, and domestic practices are evaluated in the context of policy implementation and environmental quality concerns. Finally, individual and community-level responses are explored, highlighting the importance of geographically specific perceptions of water rights and quality in the adoption of coping strategies. In these ways, a multi-faceted analysis of Ecuadorian water policy shaped by community-level engagement, geographic diversity, and influential economic sectors is developed. This study highlights the need for increased financial and legislative support around extractive and polluting industries such as agriculture, ASGM, and sewage treatment for long-term safety and sustainability of water access in Ecuador. Additionally, increased efforts to educate industry-specific workers, local management boards, and individuals about potential solutions to water-related challenges will help improve the efficiency of current legislation. Finally, this study underscores a need for additional research related to water quality and sustainability in Ecuador, as well as for the social, economic, and environmentally specific factors that influence water security outcomes in the country.

Water users associations and irrigation water use efficiency in costal oases areas of Gabes, South-eastern Tunisia

The objective of this study was to measure the efficiency level of Water Users Associations (WUAs) in the coastal oases of Gabès (South-Est of Tunisia) and assessing its main determinants. First, an input-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to measure the relative efficiency scores of WUAs and to evaluate the management and maintenance costs sub-vectors efficiencies separately through a mathematical modification in the initial DEA specification. In a second stage, critical determinants of sub-vector efficiency are determined by applying a Tobit model. A key finding of the study is that WUAs are clearly inefficient. Results show that on average, 38% of the used inputs could be saved if the WUAs operated on the frontier. The inefficiency found can be mainly attributed to the number of water pumping stations managed, the ratio of water losses and WUAs' age. The results also show a discrepancy between the technical efficiency values calculated under the CRS and VRS assumptions, resulting in a 20% scale inefficiency. The study also revealed that the sub-vector inefficiency of WUAs is more linked with engineering inefficiencies than to their management inefficiencies.

Irrigation Post-Modernization. Farmers Envisioning Irrigation Policy in the Region of Valencia (Spain)

During the last three decades, like many other Mediterranean states, Spain has intensively promoted the modernization of irrigation, focusing mainly on the introduction of pressurized irrigation systems. Following 30 years of investment, a shift in irrigation policies is needed to solve some of the deficiencies in this modernization process and to incorporate new measures to cope with upcoming challenges generated by international markets, climate change and other social and economic processes. This paper describes and analyses the results of participatory research carried out with the water user associations in the autonomous region of Valencia, in order to define post-modernization irrigation policies. A survey and 24 local workshops involving 304 water user associations were conducted during the irrigation season of 2018 in order to form an assessment of the sector and design new irrigation policies. The results show that after 30 years of important investment, the obsolescence of the infrastructure has become the current main priority, making farmers dependent on public subsidies. New necessities have also emerged, such as renewable energies and nonconventional water resources, which farmers consider indispensable in order to reduce operating costs and guarantee water supply.

A Study of Irrigation Performance Index and Real Cost Value of Irrigation Operations and Maintenance in Surak Irrigation Area

Irrigation Asset Management is required to maintain the value of irrigation asset function and condition. Surak Irrigation Area is located in Lawang Sub-District, Malang Regency. After resurveying in 2020, 21 points of damage were found in Surak Irrigation Area. Irrigation performance index was found to be 77.56% (moderate condition) for which the physical infrastructure aspect is 39.1%, the water availability aspect is 5.4%, the planting index aspect is 4.4%, the supporting facilities for operation and management aspect is 7.8%, the organizational and personnel aspect is 10.8%, the documentation aspect is 3.8%, and the Water User Association aspect is 6.3%. Priority calculation utilized the ranking method, which ranks asset values from the lowest to the highest. The result was that 24 assets are in moderate condition, 43 assets are in good condition, and 146 are in very good condition. The real cost value of irrigation operations and maintenance was calculated to be IDR 1,561,741,648, with IDR 208,506,890 for operating costs and IDR 1,353,234,758 for maintenance costs. For rehabilitation, it was found that 24 assets need regular maintenance and repair, 24 assets need regular maintenance, and 146 assets need routine maintenance

Irrigation Water Management Practices in Upper West Region of Ghana: Prospects, Challenges and Mitigation Measures

Water is vital for agricultural production especially in arid areas like the Upper West Region (UWR) in Ghana. The management of water resources for irrigation is therefore paramount. Irrigation Water Management practices (IWM) and their potential for boosting agricultural productivity and food security in UWR are examined in this paper with focus on three purposively sampled irrigation schemes at Sankana, Busa and Yelayiri. Thirty sampled members of Water User Associations (WUAs) and leaders from each of the schemes were interviewed for their views on IWM practices and challenges. Additionally, 10 agricultural experts also provided their views. The quantitative data were analysed with SPSS whiles the qualitative information was subjected to content and discourse analyses. Crosstab correlation helped to determine the relationship between WUAs/farmers’ IWM practices and the performance of the schemes whiles pairwise ranking helped to reveal the severity of IWM challenges and appropriate measures recommended for fixing them.

Groundwater resource exploration & development – Focus on groundwater to support surface water supply in the Lower Olifants River, South Africa

Many South-African towns in the Western Cape Province are dependent on surface water resources to satisfy the ever-increasing water demand. In recent years, the effects of climate change on the environment has challenged these areas continually and recently led to calls for major changes in water management. The Lower Olifants River Water Management Area experienced an extreme drought that persisted from 2016 to 2018, which led to the need for development of groundwater resources. The local economy of the Lower Olifants River is dependent on water releases from the Clanwilliam and Bulshoek Dams, located within the Olifants River Syncline (ORS), where ‘megafault’ zones form preferred flowpaths for groundwater in the Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifers. The Lower Olifants River Water User Association (LORWUA) was mandated to proceed with the exploration and development of these aquifers to supplement the existing water use of the LORWUA. This will be available during periods of less rainfall and therefore increase the security of the water supplied. The groundwater project aimed at exploring and developing the fractured rock aquifers of the Peninsula (Op) and Skurweberg (Ss) Formations contained within the TMG. Through a high-level desktop assessment, remote sensing investigations and geophysical ground surveys, several target areas and drilling priorities were identified to obtain high borehole yields that access the resource in proximity to existing surface infrastructure. The projected water need from the groundwater resource was 8.6 million cubic metres per annum (Mm3/a). Faults/structure zones were the main hydrogeological targets, with drill target depths of structures planned for intersection deeper than 100 m below ground level (mbgl). Down-hole camera work and initial aquifer testing concluded that deep geological contact zones are prone to collapse when flow is induced in water-bearing fractures. This indicated the need for production borehole construction, even prior to aquifer testing for yield estimates. A major concern still to be resolved is the availability of water in storage and the realistic expectations of the well field over time. Although individual borehole testing provided information on the properties of specific water-bearing structures, long-term monitoring will provide a better understanding of the aquifer in response to abstraction and recovery in times of rest. The operating rules for the conjunctive use of the well field developed, with the existing surface water scheme, is still to be defined and modelled for optimisation, pending long-term monitoring.

From Private Company to Water User Association and Natural Park over a Century: The Case of Riegos de Levante, Izquierda del Segura (Spain)

This work examines the transformations occurred with the shift from private company to water user association and natural park, looking at one collective irrigation system located in Alicante province (Spain): Riegos de Levante, Izquierda del Segura, one of the most extensive irrigation areas in Europe. Between 1918 and 2018, a process of change and transformation of both landscape and institutions occurred, considering: infrastructure expansion and its operation, the transfer of irrigation management responsibilities to water user association, after years of financial operations with water, thanks to state intervention, the coexistence of traditional agriculture with the modernisation of the irrigation systems, the history of an irrigation reservoir which was transformed into a natural site in 1988, or the evolution of the composition of water resources, taking into account the arrival of the Tajo-Segura transfer waters from the year 1979. The general objective is to understand key factors driving these changes, by means of a paradigmatic case study, as well as to identify policymaking and context-relevant dynamics that could enable it.

English

English

From raising alarms to sound practices: The impacts of water sector reforms on communities in Tanzania

ABSTRACT This article examines the process of institutional reforms in the water sector in Tanzania and its impact on the ground. Information for this article was obtained through in-depth interviews, observation and focus group discussions. The findings revealed that although the system of water permits has improved water accessibility to the owners of water use permits, on the other hand the system has failed to guarantee water accessibility to the poor- non holders of water use permits. Water User associations (WUAs) to a large extent, are operating through the formalization of traditional rules and practices. Though WUAs are promising to be good vehicles for attracting and mobilizing resources for expansion and maintenance of water systems, the process is very gradual such that it fails to cater for the needs of the expanding population. This article recommends that the current institutional arrangements for water governance at the community level need to be given a new impetus such that they fairly accommodate all members of the community.

Irrigation management transfer: The experience of the Río Dulce Irrigation Scheme, Argentina*

AbstractMany governments and international agencies have promoted irrigation management transfer (IMT) in order to reduce operations and maintenance costs and satisfy farmers' willingness to improve their irrigation service by self‐management. However, IMT has produced both satisfactory and unsatisfactory results. This paper presents a participatory research‐based assessment of IMT in a case study in Northwest Argentina. The study combined conventional irrigation performance assessment and a survey of farmers' perception of the water delivery service and willingness to participate in water users associations. The assessment compared two subsystems in the Río Dulce Irrigation District with different levels of management transfer. Water service in the subsystem where management had been transferred allowed flexible delivery schedules that facilitated a diversified cropping pattern, greater irrigation intensity, and resulted in more water use. Farmers in the transferred subsystem were more aware of the problems of the irrigation service than farmers in the non‐transferred subsystem. The perception of problems in the non‐transferred subsystem increased with the level of the farmer's professionalism and technical knowledge. The transmission of requests and complaints from farmers to managers was more transparent in the transferred subsystem than in the non‐transferred one.