International Learning Workshop on Demand-side Management of Groundwater 30 July - 10 August 2007

1. Date : 3 August 2007Time : 14.00 to 15.30 hrs.Venue : BIRDS Training Center, MuthyalapaduTopic : Participatory Hydrological MonitoringFaculty :Dr. S. V. Govardhan Das International Learning Workshop on Demand-side Management of Groundwater 30 July - 10 August 2007

2. Scheme of Presentation Definition The Concept The Need Opportunities Objectives Key Strategies Key Stakeholders Steps in PHM Process Lessons

3. Definition • Participatory Hydrological Monitoring or PHM refers to a set of activities carried out to keep track of thechanges in a hydrological cycleby the users themselveswith little input from outsiders

4. The concept • People should be encouraged to monitor and manage their own groundwater system • People managed groundwater system is possible with interface of scientific know how and indigenous wisdom • Introduction of simple tools and skills would enable people to manage their groundwater systems

5. The need • Floods, droughts, migration, starvation deaths • Who is affected? • Who should understand the hydrology? • Who is capable of taking remedial action?

6. Opportunities • Initial support of scientists • Putting up the monitoring system • Community capacity building • Scientist can estimate water balance • Users can understand the aquifer system within which they are operating • Tag up annual water balance estimation with crop planning exercise • Government can provide enabling environment

7. People managed groundwater systems Discussion triggered at the community level about rainfall - draft - water level relationship Water use plans are evolved by the community based on utilizable groundwater resources Objectives

8. Interface between scientist and farmer Multi-disciplinary Teams Farmer monitoring of groundwater Scientific assessment of groundwater resource Initial handholding by Multi-disciplinary Teams Presentation of scientific facts to the farmers Participatory tools for presentation Kalajatha On-farm demonstrations Key Strategies

9. Groundwater Users (men and women) Multi-disciplinary Teams Non Governmental Organizations Technical Support Organizations Government Departments Similar projects/agencies Elected representatives of people Peer groups Funding Agencies Key Stakeholders

10. 1. Staff training/orientation 2. Reconnaissance/meeting with opinion leaders 3. Delineation of Hydrological Unit/aquifer system 4. Resource Inventory 5. Base Document 6. Site identification: RG stations and observation wells 7. Social feasibility study 8. Procurement of equipment/material 9. Establishing Hydrological Monitoring Network 10. Supply of equipment to community Steps in PHM process

11. 11. Farmer training: PHM Module 1 12. Farmer data collection/handholding 13. Farmer training: PHM Module 2 14. Farmer data recording/handholding 15. Erection of Display boards/data display 16. Formation of Groundwater Monitoring Committee 17. GMC training: PHM Module 3 18. Crop Water Budgeting exercise 19. GMC training: PHM Module 4 20. Handing over/withdrawal phase Steps in PHM process

12. Lessons • Trainings are best timed before actual grounding of an activity • Kalajatha is very effective, if the troupe understood the concept thoroughly • Groundwater surplus villages need to be exposed to the villages where depletion is a recent phenomenon • Usage of flip-charts, audio-visuals, stories, live models is more effective in training, apart from demonstration and practice method • It is essential to fix the responsibility of PHM tasks on individual members of the community

13. Lessons • Display boards trigger lot of discussion around the status of groundwater • Farmer Resource Teams are more effective than Professional teams • Farmer Melas serve as good platform for farmer-to-farmer interaction • Data gaps result from seasonal observation wells • Hand Pumps and other wells can be converted as Observation Wells • Local support system need to be developed in depleting aquifers to ensure safe re-lowering of HDPE pipe • Additional stocks of equipment, including HDPE pipe and Water Level Indicators is needed to avoid data gaps

14. Lessons • Ground Water Quality need to be part of Hydrological Monitoring, at least in problem areas • Base Document should be ready before physical intervention, lest we lose the opportunity to compare the pre and post intervention scenario • GIS can play a major role in visual data display • Data analysis and sharing could be effective in NFE mode • Linkages with Govt. Departments could help the farmers in getting support for similar activities • Invite Government Officers for workshops/trainings and other occasions for building up functional linkages

15. Lessons • A Quarterly Newsletter could be of great help in cross learning and sharing of successes and failures • Command Areas where groundwater is used in conjunction with surface water could be useful to compare with totally groundwater dependent areas • Motivating School Children could prepare the future citizens in a better way to cope up with challenges in groundwater management. There is a need to encourage competition, all levels, for better motivation to work • In future the focus should be changed from Facilitator training to Farmer to farmer training • Identify and train local skilled people in operation and maintenance of infrastructure created as part of project implementation