Groundwater allocation : managing growing pressures on quantity and quality.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, author, issuing body.

Series:

OECD studies on water.

OECD Studies on Water, 2224-5073

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Groundwater--Management.

Groundwater.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (116 pages).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Paris: OECD, 2017.

Summary:

Groundwater allocation determines who is able to use groundwater resources, how, when and where. It directly affects the value (economic, ecological, socio-cultural) that individuals and society obtain from groundwater, today and in the future. Building on the 2015 OECD publication Water Resources Allocation: Sharing Risks and Opportunities, this report focuses on groundwater and how its allocation can be improved in terms of economic efficiency, environmental effectiveness and social equity. Drawing on an analysis of groundwater©Øє́Ơѕ́Øs distinctive features and nine case studies of groundwater allocation in a range of countries, the report provides practical policy guidance for groundwater allocation in the form of a "health check". This health check can be used to assess the performance of current arrangements and manage the transition towards improved allocation.

Contents:

Cover

Copyright

Foreword

Table of contents

Acronyms

Executive summary

Part I: Key information and guidance for groundwater policy

Chapter 1: Overview of groundwater resources and prevailing trends

Introduction

A valuable natural resource under increasing pressure

The benefits of groundwater: Estimating value

A need for robust groundwater allocation regimes

Distinctive features of groundwater and implications for policy design

Uncertainty about state and use of the resource

Physical characteristics: Stocks, flows and quality

A need for a long term exploitation strategy considering both stocks and flows

Often a common pool resource, difficult to exclude users from access

Decentralised access by users on demand

Acute governance challenges due to fragmented legislation, decentralised use and lack of data

Conclusion

Notes

References

Chapter 2: The OECD health check for water resources allocation: Groundwater guidance

Part II: Case studies of groundwater allocation in practice

Chapter 3: Overview of case studies

Chapter 4: A comprehensive allocation regime in Denmark

Groundwater is the major source of water supply for drinking water, agriculture and industry

Water pricing as an instrument for demand management and financing

Lessons learned

Chapter 5: Managing scarce groundwater resources to ensure long-term supply in Tucson, Arizona

Intensive groundwater pumping has led to depletion and land subsidence

New surface water sources were introduced to reduce the pressure on groundwater

Storage and recovery was implemented as an alternative to direct use of CAP water

The implementation of the S&amp

R programme was facilitated by a number of factors

References.

Chapter 6: Payments for groundwater recharge to ensure groundwater supply in Kumamoto, Japan

Groundwater depletion and declining recharge in Kumamoto, Japan

Promoting groundwater recharge through payments for ecosystem services

An increase in groundwater recharge

Chapter 7: Enforcement challenges and efforts to implement environmental flow requirements in Mexico

Over-allocation of groundwater resources has led to severe depletion

Abstraction bans and attempts to regularise users have failed to limit groundwater pumping

Multi-stakeholder platforms have faced numerous challenges

A national standard for environmental flows, which still needs to be implemented

Chapter 8: Enforcement and budget challenges for groundwater reallocation in the Upper Guadiana Basin, Spain

Groundwater depletion spurred socio-economic development, with negative environmental impacts

Early efforts to stem groundwater depletion

Promoting ecological restoration: The Special Plan for the Upper Guadiana Basin

Chapter 9: Long term abstraction limits to conserve groundwater in Texas

Groundwater conservation districts as a means to control pumping

GCDs have a positive impact on depletion, but can give rise to conflicts

A long-term, flexible approach to limit groundwater abstraction

The groundwater quota scheme has divergent impacts across the district

The adjustable quota scheme offers several advantages

Chapter 10: The collective management approach for irrigation in France

Collective management bodies as an attempt to reduce over-exploitation of groundwater

Modalities of representation may hinder irrigating farmers' influence.

Several aspects of the allocation regime provoke debate

Chapter 11: Co-managing electricity and groundwater allocation in Gujarat, India

Groundwater scarcity and pollution an increasing challenge in India

Groundwater allocation challenges and policy responses: The example of Gujarat

Flat tariffs for electricity to pump groundwater and informal water markets

The Jyotigram Scheme, 2003-06

Chapter 12: Flexibility in allocation through informal water trading in North China

Groundwater resources and use in North China

Extensive pumping has resulted in significant groundwater depletion

Regulation and enforcement constitute key challenges

The privatisation of wells led to the emergence of groundwater markets

Groundwater markets in China are localised and informal

The groundwater markets, access to and depletion of groundwater are strongly interlinked

Glossary.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1-78040-941-9