How to develop a Groundwater governance model for efficient water use

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We are trying to develop a good Groundwater Governance model for efficient use of water, using crop water budgeting. If you have any experience in dealing with groundwater budgeting and its correlation with crop water budgeting, please share study papers, reference material. Thanking you in advance,

Best, Subrata Singh

 

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13 Answers

  1. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) in USA is a watershed management commission formed by treaty between the federal government and 4 states and it has authority for issuing permit to large water users.  For a sub-urban region within of the large watershed where groundwater is the major source of public and private water supply, excessive ground-water withdrawals have had degrading effects on water availability, and indirectly water quality.  It calls this area the South-Eastern Pennsylvania Ground-water Management Area (SEPGWMA).  I am attaching a paper of mine which refers to this scheme.

    DRBC developed a hydrologic based governance approach that integrates surface-water and ground-water systems--hard to imagine otherwise, right?  which works well for managing ground-water in relation to surface water basin and sub-basin scales.  This approach incorporates the trans-political issues in governance and ties in with natural flow system boundaries.  What is most commendable about the approach is it is workable at the regional scale and the small municipal scale; it is based on significant scales and dismissive of de minimis issues; it is built on a framework of understanding local hydrogeological and hydrologic conditions and land-use knowledge.

    In my attached publication I demonstrate how the flexibility in the scheme made it possible to objectively refine constraints on regional ground-water flow within a part of the SEPGWMA.

  2. Dear Subrata I think that the first thing necessary is to reset the costs of lifting, perhaps producing energy with water recycling. The second is to reduce costs purifying by means of overlapping biological ponds that consume the nutrients, such as nitrates, by means of photosynthesis, while the water rises versom upwards. My soluziioni seek lenders because I'm just a pensioner. You can find lots of information on the web site http://www.spawhe.eu

  3. Dear Subrata I think that the first thing necessary is to reset the costs of lifting, perhaps producing energy with water recycling. The second is to reduce costs purifying by means of overlapping biological ponds that consume the nutrients, such as nitrates, by means of photosynthesis, while the water rises versom upwards. My soluziioni seek lenders because I'm just a pensioner. You can find lots of information on the web site http://www.spawhe.eu

  4. Dear Subrata,

    based on groundwater balance studies, i can send you copy of the publication for ref. and also based on MODFLOW some work has been done and will send you copy of the same.

    pl send your e-mail id

    ak jain  (akjain@pau.edU) 

  6. Hello, for reference you can take a look at the chapter I co-wrote in this UNESCO publication:

    unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002330/233031m.pdf

    It shows some scenarios of crop water budgeting in relation to groundwater budget. The study was developed with WEAP and Modflow.

  7. Dear  Subrata Singh,

    Groundwater plays an essential and increasing role in global drinking water supply and food security. The early stages of the groundwater revolution saw little conflict. there are many potential sources of conflict now emerging due to over-abstraction, pollution, or changes in land use. Owners are often also in conflict with public agencies (for example, over regulation). India’s groundwater dependence and the crises of depletion and contamination of groundwater resources require the development of a robust groundwater dependence framework. Understanding the challenges of developing a groundwater governance framework for regions of extensive groundwater development versus relatively less-developed areas of groundwater development is important. The groundwater typology is a function of both, the hydrogeological aspects of groundwater and the socio-economic milieu that defines dependency on the groundwater resource, which is significant across users and uses in India. An interdisciplinary perspective is important while managing groundwater resources in India and helping establish groundwater governance.

    The various steps include:

    Strengthen local institutions at the habitation and hydrologic unit level to bring on center stage discussions on emerging water crisis especially on groundwater Demystify the science of hydrology through Farmer Water Schools (FWS) and train the farmers to take over all data collection leading to proper understanding of local water resource availability Change perception of groundwater from private property to that of a “common good” ( individual farmers take decisions for collective good) Articulate and share information across hydrological units through Crop Water Budgeting Workshops for evolving common strategies that limit damage to the groundwater system without sacrificing individual interest. Establish new relationship between farmers and groundwater by reducing stress on the aquifer Adopt numerous steps at the farm level in improving crop water efficiency, implement water saving techniques and reduce chemical pollution Implement local groundwater governance transgressing beyond individual holdings and habitations, without being coercive Enable farmers voluntarily take painful decisions (reduce pumping, prevent construction of new wells, crop diversification, reduced application of chemical fertilizer/pesticides)

    1. ENHANCING FARMERS KNOWLEDGE,INFORMATION KNOWLEDGE & COMMUNICATION
    2. PARTICIPATORY HYDROLOGIC MONITORING (PHM).
    3. FARMER WATER SCHOOLS.
    4. CROPWATER BUDGETING .
    5. REDUCTION IN GROUNDWATER PUMPING.
    6. CROPDIVERSIFICATION.
    7. FOOD SECURITYAND NUTRITION.
    8. USE OF WATER SAVING DEVICES.
    9. EMERGENCE OF LOCAL GROUNDWATER GOVERNANC.
    10. CREATION OF TRAINED MANPOWER.
    11. GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS.).
    12. DATABASE

    IMPACT OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION (HRIS)

    1. Integrated scientific technology with social transformation and general change issues (non  technology)
    2. Change in perception of groundwater as private property to that of a “common good ( individual farmers take decisions for collective good)
    3. Farmers have internalized all learning's to apply in decision making
    4. Risks associated with crop failures have been fully eliminated.
    5. Increased profits from diversified cropping
    6. Farmers ownership of technical data and information
    7. Reduced migration
    8. Opportunities for emerging leadership among women
    9. Government agencies, Funding agencies acknowledge the project impact and new proposals incorporate the project concept

    Regards,

    Prem Baboo

  8. Dear Subrata,

    One way to define the Groundwater Governance Structure is to base it on a cost benefit framework. This framework assumes water extraction permits can be given upto 80% annual recharge rate and then defines a higher associated cost for any use above the annual recharge rate for the users. The reasoning being that fossil water has a higher cost/value - both environmental and incremental risk of non-availability for critical uses such as human consumption. I would be happy to discuss this directly, my email is gagan.khurana@maxiterra.org

    Regards

    Gagan Khurana

     

  9. Groundwater monitoring should be done w.r.t. precipitation. Geology also need to be considered. Type of crops, type of soil, social behaviour all plays important role in Crop water budgeting. For further assistance plz write to pradnyaghag@gmail.com 

  10. Using weap as a conceptual model and you can Google for " groundwater study using weap" for different papers of case studies (e.g Iran , Lebanon and more ) 

    Regards 

     

  11. Ground Water is generally Oxygen Deficit and contaminated. We have developed a new technology where in you can increase the DO level to 100% (ideal for crops and soil) and simultaneously disinfect it using only 50% lesser energy compared to older technologies. 

    Here is the link for more details; https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/megat-multistage-energy-generation-aeration-dilip-bhanushali

  13. For closing a water balance in watersheds and long-term planning, you can use the WEAP model.

    If you have more questions you can email me: gilad@dhvmed.com