scholarly journals An Overview of Water Markets in Southern Africa: An Option for Water Management in Times of Scarcity

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greenwell Matchaya ◽  
Luxon Nhamo ◽  
Sibusiso Nhlengethwa ◽  
Charles Nhemachena
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Imperfect Competition ◽  
Water Markets ◽  
Water Transfers ◽  
The Impact

Southern Africa faces acute water scarcity challenges due to drought recurrence, degradation of surface water resources, and the increasing demand of water from agriculture, which has to meet the growing food demands of an increasing population. These stressors require innovative solutions that ensure the sustainability of water resources, without which the consequences could be dire for a region exposed to a host of vulnerabilities, including climate change. This review outlines the role of water markets in water management in times of water scarcity, highlighting the drivers of water markets in southern Africa, such as water scarcity, transboundary nature of water resources, and their uneven distribution. The review further discusses the role of water markets in climate change adaptation. Related institutional and legal frameworks as well as water allocation mechanisms are explored, aiming at improving water markets governance. The impact of adaptation to new water regimes in the face of scarcity are assessed by considering characteristics of current markets as related to future opportunities. In a diverse region such as southern Africa with unevenly distributed water resources, advancing the concept of water markets could play an important role in mitigating water scarcity challenges and promoting regional integration through coordinated transboundary water transfers. The emergence of water markets in the region is influenced by the continued depletion of water resources, which is resulting in the adoption of innovative water marketing strategies, such as inter-farm sharing or farm joint venture systems and inter-basin and intra-basin water transfers. As the concept is new in the region, it still has challenges that include general market inefficiencies, high transaction costs, market information asymmetries, imperfect competition, and weak or absent robust institutional frameworks that can facilitate market development.

Urban water demand assessment for sustainable water resources management, under climate change and socioeconomic changes

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 679-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelos Alamanos ◽  
Stamatis Sfyris ◽  
Chrysostomos Fafoutis ◽  
Nikitas Mylopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

Abstract The relationship between water abstraction and water availability has turned into a major stress factor in the urban exploitation of water resources. The situation is expected to be sharpened in the future due to the intensity of extreme meteorological phenomena, and socio-economic changes affecting water demand. In the city of Volos, Greece, the number of water counters has been tripled during the last four decades. This study attempts to simulate the city's network, supply system and water demand through a forecasting model. The forecast was examined under several situations, based on climate change and socio-economic observations of the city, using meteorological, water pricing, users' income, level of education, family members, floor and residence size variables. The most interesting outputs are: (a) the impact of each variable in the water consumption and (b) water balance under four management scenarios, indicating the future water management conditions of the broader area, including demand and supply management. The results proved that rational water management can lead to remarkable water conservation. The simulation of real scenarios and future situations in the city's water demand and balance, is the innovative element of the study, making it capable of supporting the local water utility.

scholarly journals Innovation Issues in Water, Agriculture and Food

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria do Rosário Cameira ◽  
Luís Santos Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Agriculture And Food ◽  
The Impact

The main challenge faced by agriculture is to produce enough food for a continued increase in population, however in the context of ever-growing competition for water and land, climate change, droughts and anthropic water scarcity, and less-participatory water governance. Such a context implies innovative issues in agricultural water management and practices, at both the field and the system or the basin scales, mainly in irrigation to cope with water scarcity, environmental friendliness, and rural society welfare. Therefore, this special issue was set to present and discuss recent achievements in water, agriculture, and food nexus at different scales, thus to promote sustainable development of irrigated agriculture and to develop integrated approaches to water and food. Papers cover various domains including: (a) evapotranspiration and crop water use; (b) improving water management in irrigated agriculture, particularly irrigation scheduling; (c) adaptation of agricultural systems to enhance water use and water productivity to face water scarcity and climate change; (d) improving irrigation systems design and management adopting multi-criteria and risk approaches; (e) ensuring sustainable management for anthropic ecosystems favoring safe and high-quality food production, as well as the conservation of natural ecosystems; (f) assessing the impact of water scarcity and, mainly, droughts; (g) conservation of water quality resources, namely by preventing contamination with nitrates; (h) use of modern mapping technologies and remote sensing information; and (i) fostering a participative and inclusive governance of water for food security and population welfare.

scholarly journals Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for the Impact of Climate Change and Variation in the Water Management Sector of Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Bhabishya Khaniya ◽  
Miyuru B. Gunathilake ◽  
Upaka Rathnayake
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Impact Of Climate Change ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

The climate of Sri Lanka has been fluctuating at an alarming rate during the recent past. These changes are reported to have pronounced impacts on the livelihoods of the people in the country. Water is central to the sustainable functioning of ecosystems and wellbeing of mankind. It is evident that pronounced variations in the climate will negatively impact the availability and the quality of water resources. The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) approach has proved to be an effective strategy to address the impact of climate change on water resources in many parts of the world. The key aim of this paper is to elaborate the wide range of benefits received through implementation of EbAs in field level, watershed scale, and urban and coastal environments in the context of Sri Lanka. In addition, this paper discusses the benefits of utilizing EbA solutions over grey infrastructure-based solutions to address the issues related to water management. The wide range of benefits received through implementation of EbAs can be broadly classified into three categories: water supply regulation, water quality regulation, and moderation of extreme events. This paper recommends the utilization of EbAs over grey infrastructure-based solutions in adaptation to climate change in the water management sector for the developing region due its cost effectiveness, ecofriendliness, and multiple benefits received on long-term scales. The findings of this study will unequivocally contribute to filling existing knowledge and research gaps in the context of EbAs to future climate change in Sri Lanka. The suggestions and opinions of this study can be taken into account by decision makers and water resources planning agencies for future planning of actions related to climate change adaptation in Sri Lanka.

scholarly journals Assessing the Effectiveness of the WFD as a Tool to Address Different Levels of Water Scarcity Based on Two Case Studies of the Mediterranean Region

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella Apostolaki ◽  
Ebun Akinsete ◽  
Stella Tsani ◽  
Phoebe Koundouri ◽  
Nikittas Pittis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Natural Phenomenon ◽  
Holistic Approaches ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
The Impact

Despite being a natural phenomenon, water scarcity is, to a great extent, human-induced, particularly affected by climate change and by the increased water resources vulnerability. The Water Framework Directive (WFD), an ‘umbrella’ directive that aims to provide holistic approaches to the management of water resources and is supported by a number of Communication documents on water scarcity, requires for prompt responses to ensure ‘healthy’ water bodies of good ecological status. The current paper presents a multidisciplinary approach, developed and engaged within the Globaqua Project, to provide an assessment of the main challenges towards addressing water scarcity with emphasis on the climate change projections, in two Mediterranean regions. The current paper attempts to critically assess the effectiveness of the WFD as a tool to address water scarcity and increase sustainability in resource use. Criticism lies on the fact that the WFD does not directly refer to it, still, water scarcity is recognized as a factor that increases stress on water resources and deteriorates their status. In addition, the Program of Measures (PoMs) within the WFD clearly contribute to reducing vulnerability of water resources and to ensure current and future water use, also under the impact of the projected climate change.

Ending the Underpricing of Water

2019 ◽  
pp. 134-186
Author(s):  
Edward B. Barbier
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Pricing ◽  
Water Markets ◽  
Global Crisis

This chapter addresses the challenge of the chronic underpricing of water resources. In a world of rising water scarcity, the underpricing of water is anathema to good water management. There is growing recognition that this needs to change. Nearly all countries are embarking on pricing reforms and encouraging water markets to emerge. However, most of these efforts are still not confronting the main management paradigm of the modern era's “hydraulic mission,” which is that lack of water can always be met by new sources of supply. As long as this view persists, water pricing and markets will remain peripheral and will have little impact on reducing water scarcity. In short, the lack of appropriate water markets, pricing, and policies is a key symptom of the global crisis in water management.

scholarly journals Water Scarcity: Problems and Possible solutions

2020 ◽  
pp. 243-312
Author(s):  
Nadhir Nadhir Al-Ansari ◽  
Nahla Abbas ◽  
Jan Laue ◽  
Sven Knutsson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Water Quantity ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Water Management Planning

Iraq relies in its water resources on the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates and their tributaries. It used to be considered rich in its water resources until 1970. Then, the water quantity started to decrease due to the construction of hydrological projects within the riparian countries as well as the effect of climate change. In addition, water management planning in Iraq requires number of strategies that can help to overcome the water shortage problem. In this work, the negative problems are discussed and solutions are given to solve the water shortage problem. Keywords: Water Scarcity, Tigris, Euphrates, Climate Change, Iraq.

scholarly journals Historien om en kanal: Klimaforandringer og vandpolitik i det peruanske højland

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattias Borg Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Local Politics ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Irrigation Canal ◽  
Peruvian Andes ◽  
The Impact

Klimaforandringerne øger presset på vandressourcerne i det peruanske Andes. Artiklens forfatter følger i tid og rum en vandingskanal i provinsen Recuay i Perus højland. Historisk følges kanalen før, under og efter jordbrugsreformerne. Med inspiration fra Norman Longs Encounters at the Interface (2002) er det muligt at lokalisere et antal interfaces langs kanalen. Gennem en analyse af interfaces og kanalens forløb bliver det muligt at konkludere, at vandmanglen er et resultat af et samspil mellem økologiske og sociale relationer. Til slut fremføres det, at samtidig med at klimaforandringerne øger presset på vandressourcerne, skabes der også nye muligheder for dialog mellem den lokale befolkning og eksperterne. Søgeord: klimaforandring, vand, lokalpolitik, Andes, Peru English: The Story of a Canal. Climate Change and the Politics of Water in the Peruvian HighlandClimate change increases pressure upon water resources in the Peruvian Andes, and the issue of water scarcity may become even more pertinent. The exploration of the problematic of water is about the relationship between water and social organization, and the impact of climate change upon that relationship. “The story of a canal” traces the course of an irrigation canal in the Peruvian highland province of Recuay in time and space. The history of the canal is followed through different phases of before, under and after the agrarian reform up until the establishment of the present day peasant communities, thus inserting the course of the canal into historical land tenure dynamics. Following the analytical framework set up by Norman Long in Encounters at the Interface (2001), a number of interfaces of interaction is located along the course. Through an analysis of the interfaces and the course of the canal it is argued that water scarcity is the result of a complex interplay between ecological and social relations. Finally it is argued, that while climate change increases pressure upon water resources, it also can produce new openings through renewed dialogue between the local population and experts. Keywords: Climate change, water, local politics, Andes, Peru 

scholarly journals A decision support model to improve water resources management in agriculture: evaluation of the drip irrigation efficiency in the Ait Ben Yacoub region, East of Morocco

2020 ◽  
Vol 183 ◽  
pp. 02006
Author(s):  
Ihssan Elouadi ◽  
Driss Ouazar ◽  
Lahcen El Youssfi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Economic Modeling ◽  
Irrigation Efficiency ◽  
Sustainable Water Management ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
The Impact

Globally, climate change is projected to exacerbate water scarcity and increase the recurrence and intensity of droughts. These circumstances call for methodologies that can support the design of sustainable water management policies. Improved irrigation efficiency has been cited as an important way to adapt to climate change. This paper illustrates the potential of hydro-economic modeling for integrating the multiple dimensions of water resources, becoming a valuable tool in the empowerment of sustainable water management policies. The modelling framework is used also to analyze the impacts of climate change-induced drought on water uses in the Ait Ben Yacoub region (the East of Morocco). The evaluation of the conversion process from flurrow irrigation systems into drip irrigation by using the model showed that this policy has some positive effects on the agricultural gross margin and contributes to slightly moderating the impact of climate change on farmer’s incomes. Moreover, aoptimal efficiency of drip irrigation will inevitably result in a decrease in the volume of infiltrated water and therefore a very likely drawdown of the groundwater level. This result demonstrates the limitation of this policy and the necessity to accompany this irrigation system by measures of improvement of water supply. It concerns rainwater storage basins that should be covered by the polyethylene geo-membrane as example of promising measures.

scholarly journals Analysing the Impact of Climate Change on Hydrological Ecosystem Services in Laguna del Sauce (Uruguay) Using the SWAT Model and Remote Sensing Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2014
Author(s):  
Celina Aznarez ◽  
Patricia Jimeno-Sáez ◽  
Adrián López-Ballesteros ◽  
Juan Pablo Pacheco ◽  
Javier Senent-Aparicio
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Erosion Control ◽  
Sensing Data ◽  
Extreme Precipitation Events ◽  
The Impact

Assessing how climate change will affect hydrological ecosystem services (HES) provision is necessary for long-term planning and requires local comprehensive climate information. In this study, we used SWAT to evaluate the impacts on four HES, natural hazard protection, erosion control regulation and water supply and flow regulation for the Laguna del Sauce catchment in Uruguay. We used downscaled CMIP-5 global climate models for Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5 projections. We calibrated and validated our SWAT model for the periods 2005–2009 and 2010–2013 based on remote sensed ET data. Monthly NSE and R2 values for calibration and validation were 0.74, 0.64 and 0.79, 0.84, respectively. Our results suggest that climate change will likely negatively affect the water resources of the Laguna del Sauce catchment, especially in the RCP 8.5 scenario. In all RCP scenarios, the catchment is likely to experience a wetting trend, higher temperatures, seasonality shifts and an increase in extreme precipitation events, particularly in frequency and magnitude. This will likely affect water quality provision through runoff and sediment yield inputs, reducing the erosion control HES and likely aggravating eutrophication. Although the amount of water will increase, changes to the hydrological cycle might jeopardize the stability of freshwater supplies and HES on which many people in the south-eastern region of Uruguay depend. Despite streamflow monitoring capacities need to be enhanced to reduce the uncertainty of model results, our findings provide valuable insights for water resources planning in the study area. Hence, water management and monitoring capacities need to be enhanced to reduce the potential negative climate change impacts on HES. The methodological approach presented here, based on satellite ET data can be replicated and adapted to any other place in the world since we employed open-access software and remote sensing data for all the phases of hydrological modelling and HES provision assessment.

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