Socio-hydrological Assessment of Water Security

Socio-hydrological assessment of water security in canal irrigation systems: A conjoint quantitative analysis of equity and reliability

Afreen Siddiqi, James L. Wescoat Jr. and  Abubakr Muhammad

Abstract

This paper offers a socio-hydrological assessment of water security that compares canal irrigation entitlements with water deliveries using a conjoint analysis of system reliability and equity. We develop a set of definitions and metrics to quantitatively characterize reliability and equity using newly available datasets of 10-daily canal deliveries from 2007–2017 in the Punjab canal command areas in the Indus Basin Irrigation System of Pakistan, where emphasis has shifted from distributing historically-defined volumetric supplies to improving irrigation efficiencies and crop yields in order to achieve greater aggregate water and food security. Our analysis reveals stagnation and oscillation over time in system-level equity and reliability. We reflect on the potential to positively affect canal irrigation performance and water security through a socio-hydrological approach.

Highlights

• Reliability and equity need conjoint socio-hydrologic analysis to improve water security.
• Median reliability of canals in Punjab was 56–97% in summer and 32–96% in winter.
• Irrigation system equity was worse in winter on average by 26% as compared to summer. 
• Equity and reliability of canals was stagnant and oscillatory during 2007–2017.
• Canal system water security can be increased with improved forecasting and management.

Water Security, August–December 2018, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasec.2018.11.001

Source: Science Direct