Groundwater Management: Lessons from Global and Regional Experiences

1. Groundwater Management: Lessons from Global and Regional Experiences The 3rd World Water Forum The Middle East and Mediterranean Regional Day Kyoto, Japan March 20, 2003 Dr Rashid Al-Hmoud, Texas Tech University and Josefina Maestu, Ministry of Environment, Spain

2. Towards a groundwater management kit • For policymakers, groundwater specialists, and the general public, in MNA countries. • For formulating groundwater strategies and reforming existing policies. • Based on case studies from Jordan, Spain, Tunisia, and the United States (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas). • FOCUS ON SYSTEMS OF PROPERTY RIGHTS, MANAGEMENT APPROACHES, PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR CONTROLING ABTRACTIONS, ECONOMIC AND IMPLEMENTATION aspects of groundwater management.

3. 1.- PROPERTY RIGHTS SYSTEMS

4. GROUNDWATER PROPERTY RIGHTS SYSTEMS

5. EVALUATION OF GROUNDWATER PROPERTY RIGHTS SYSTEMS

6. 2.- MANAGEMENT APPROACHES

7. GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT APPROACHES IN CASE STUDIES

8. Summary--GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT APPROACHES IN CASE STUDIES

9. GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT APPROACHES IN CASE STUDIES • JORDAN • Groundwater is publicly owned by the public. • The Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) is in charge of all groundwater-related issues. • All irrigation wells must have a permit from MWI. • Early 1990s, the MWI banned the construction of new wells. • Excellent enforceability—small number of wells. • Abstraction charges were imposed in 1998 (US $0.37/m3) on all uses, except irrigation. • New legislation is expected to levy abstraction charges on irrigators. • All wells are metered. • SPAIN • As of 1985, groundwater became public property. • River Basin Authorities (RBAs) have the power on all groundwater issues. • All applications for new drilling must be authorized by RBAs. • The 1985 Law required local residents to form Groundwater User Associations (GUAs) IN OEVREXPLOITED AQUIEFRS. • GUAs execute policies and regulations set by RBAs in a decentralized fashion. • RBAs committees are elected by users. • TUNISIA • Groundwater is publicly owned. • The General Department of Water Resources is the central water authority. Monitor groundwater. • Users are represented by the Collective Interest Associations (CIAs). They are established for many reasons. Not in GW. • Permits (issued by the Ministry of Agriculture) are only required from wells in “deep aquifers” (or abstractions below 50 meters). • Wells are not metered. • Farmers using water in overexploited aquifers do not get subsidies.

10. (Cont’d) GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT APPROACHES IN CASE STUDIES • ARIZONA • Landowners own groundwater. • Groundwater use is subject to strict regulations. • Over exploitation has caused serious land subsidence in Phoenix. • The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) is in charge of setting policies. • Public participation is limited. • In AMAs, property rights are quantified on a per hectare basis. • Property rights holders may sell/lease their rights subject to ADWR’s regulations. • Various programs to encourage users to use surface water via CAP. • The Arizona Water Banking is active in reallocating water. • NEW MEXICO • Groundwater is publicly owned. • The Office of State Engineer (OSE) is the central water authority. • Public participation is limited. • The OSE divides the State into townships to estimate available groundwater. • Users must apply to “appropriate” groundwater. • If groundwater underneath a township is available, a permit is granted. • In the case of shortages, junior rights are first eliminated. • If users do not use all their permitted water, they lose it!. • TEXAS • Groundwater is privately owned by landowners. • General groundwater policy is set central authorities (TNRCC and TWDB). • Specific policies, regulations, and laws are designed by Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCD) based on particular needs. • GCD are initiated by the public or required by the TNRCC. • GCD directors are elected by local residents/farmers. • Amendments to policies, and approval of programs, must get voters approval. • Groundwater marketing is very active via the Texas Water Bank.

11. POTENTIAL Decentralisation may be essential where there are overexploitation and many users. Operational role but also participate in olicy decisions. Effective in establishing agreements among users to control abstractions, monitoring individual water use. Act vis a vis RBA. Interactive relatioship. Peer pressure foundamental in enforciong controls BARRIERS Controls enforced in coordination of RBAs. Need for technical support and common perception of aquifer problems. Coordination requirements with RBAs. PARTICIPATORY WATER MANAGEMENT

12. 3.- REDUCING WATER ABSTRACTIONS

13. INSTRUMENTS USED TO REDUCE GROUNDWATER ABSTRACTIONS • Limit groundwater abstraction - Well permits - Closure of wells in critical areas - Well Spacing - Control Pump size • Technical support - Irrigation technologies - Drought-tolerant crops - Soil moisture surveys • Awareness campaigns and public educational programs - Schools - Media (T.V., radio, newspaper) - Face-to-face interaction • Monitoring and Policing. • Subsidies for improving irrigation equipment and install water saving devices - Low interest loans - Cost sharing - Income compensation • Reduction/elimination of farm subsidies - Energy - Fertilizers - Price support

14. 4.- ECONOMIC ASPECTS

15. Economic incentives to control water use and promote conservation. - Phased volume based fees (Jordan). - Shares based management of common resources as common property (Mula). • Provisions to allow water marketing - Users have the incentive to reduce their abstractions if they are allowed to sell/lease the groundwater they save (establishing property rights is a prerequisite) (Western U.S.) • Abstraction charges - Used as a cost recovery mechanism - Not used to “manipulate” abstraction quantity

16. 6.- IMPLEMENTATION LESSONS

17. CHARACTERISTICS GW management is about dealing with people: interests, traditions, awareness of problems. Support needed from RBA for generating knowledge about the geophysical characteristics and monitoring of water use (quality and quantity). Pressures come from sectoral interests. So need to coordinate. Need for clear enforcement powers (Jordan). Aquifer management does not have to be expensive. GW is facilitated by putting differential user´s capacities at work. Tailor actions to existing capacities (Barcelona). PROCESS LESSONS The importance of the trigger for organised action. Problems and perceptions (Jordan, Spain). Long process. Need to demonstrate benefits along the process (Barcelona). The importance of demonstrative actions (Jordan). The power of piloting (Barcelona and Mula).

18. CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS • Worldwide experiences contain rich information and examples on groundwater management policy. • Public participation is KEY to the success of policy reforms. Decentralisation and decision making at lowest level. • Planning for groundwater policy should take into consideration BASIN-WIDE characteristics and needs. • Groundwater management policies tackle a COMPLEX and EVOLVING issue with many dimensions. Thus, the reform process must be DYNAMIC and CONTINUOUS…… NEED TO FOCUS ON PROCESS ISSUES…….