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Groundwater management and the role of Water User Associations (WUAs) in northern China

Groundwater management and the role of Water User Associations (WUAs) in northern China. Experiences from WRDMAP Project Catherine Watts and Simon Howarth. simon.howarth@mottmac.com. Water Resources in China . Water scarce – particularly in the north: groundwater levels declining.

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Groundwater management and the role of Water User Associations (WUAs) in northern China

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  1. Groundwater management and the role of Water User Associations (WUAs) in northern China Experiences from WRDMAP Project Catherine Watts and Simon Howarth simon.howarth@mottmac.com

  2. Water Resources in China • Water scarce – particularly in the north: groundwater levels declining • Water owned by state, managed by water resources departments • BUT: groundwater pumped by numerous locally owned tubewells, abstraction often exceeds recharge • SO: Government is promoting water saving society as one of many responses • Shiyang River Basin

  3. Shiyang River Basin, Gansu Province Qilian mountains Wuwei • Inland river - from the Qilian Mountains towards Gobi desert • Surface and groundwater used separately or managed conjunctively • Very low rainfall, aquifer recharge from irrigation return flows (and historically through flood spills which are now rare) Shiyang River N • Water Resources Demand Management Assistance Project (WRDMAP) • Implemented by Ministry of Water Resources, funded by DFID, advised by Mott MacDonald • Case Studies - establishing “water saving societies” and participatory water management in pilot communities of the basin

  4. Enforced by IC card to avoid over-use of resource Enforced by IC card Well Well Specify Specify permitted permitted permit permit volume volume Household Household Household Household Specify Specify Water Rights Water Rights quota quota Water Rights Water Rights volume volume Certificate Certificate Certificate Certificate Based on Based on crop norm crop norm abstraction well abstraction well New tools for groundwater management Strong administrative control: • crop norms and rules • water rights (of sorts) • abstraction permits • IC Card control on pumps • And economic measures • water resource fees • full cost recovery • Impact of less water mitigated by: • technological improvements • assistance with crop diversification, use of greenhouses, etc • in extremes, resettlement with compensation

  5. Key challenges for groundwater management in China • Administrative burden of issuing and managing household rights, permits, IC cards etc ? • Enforcement of rights and permits? • Cost recovery for the new systems – who should pay? • How will farmers cope with the reduced volume of water? Example of water rights certificate

  6. Alternative approaches • Traditional approach: top down control, with economic incentives • New approach: Water Saving Society development • Establish water rights • Promote awareness of water resources issues and need for water savings • Encourage community participation (through WUAs) in water resource management (and water use)

  7. Role of WUAs for GW management Dual Role • WUAs can help local government in administrative systems, ensuring compliance with abstraction permits • More importantly, WUAs also help farmers, in ensuring access to water and in coping better with limited water supplies But financial arrangements are critical

  8. Flow diagram for administration of groundwater controls County Water Affairs Bureau (WAB) Water Management Division (WMD) Water User Association (WUA) Issue crop water norms Planning Inform WUA of norms Estimate crop water needs Request household water rights Water resources assessment water allocation for irrigation district Review application for permit and household water rights Prepare permit application Annual allocation for for wells (IC cards) Issue well permits (5 year validity) Receive permit and water rights certificates authorise water rights Monitoring Monitor actual abstraction and compare with rights/permits Compile total abstraction and report to RBMB Compare allocated and actual for district Review crop water norms Monitor GW level Verify abstraction and GW levels Adjust irrigation to match permit

  9. Final Messages • Permits should be based on an accurate assessment of water resources which should continuously be refined • WUAs are important for successful groundwater management and implementation of water saving measures. BUT: • they will only be sustainable if there are clear incentives for farmers to participate • representative WUAs needed – important that they reflect the interests and rights of the whole community • there must be sound financial arrangements for new WUAs • there must be technical support for farmers through the WUA (training, demonstrations) • There is a need for greater participation by stakeholders, and more feedback from field data. • The new techniques are still at an early stage; many details are still being worked out, and there is some resistance to the changes required • China has made good progress; there is still a reliance on top-down control but the prospects for real reform are encouraging

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