Role of Virtual Water in Optimizing Water Resources Management in Jordan

Role of virtual water (VW) in optimizing water resources management in Jordan, a far water-short country, was explored by calculating VW content of imported commodities and their costs. Feasibility of farming and water required to produce all crops growing in Jordan were evaluated using net return per unit volume of water and VW embedded in unit mass of production. The results of these analyses showed that there were regional differences in crop profitability and thus net return from unit volume of irrigation water. This was attributed to variations in agro-climatic zones punctuated by production and irrigation technologies and access to water resources. In this regard, opportunity cost of water should be considered when allocating water to different consumption sectors. Agricultural systems generating net profits less than an arbitrary limit of $1.0?m^?3 of irrigation water and producing yield at water use efficiency of 50?C60?m³?ton^?1 or more were viewed not feasible. The key challenge facing decision makers would be to ensure that the opportunity cost of water was incorporated into the analysis process when determining future cropping pattern. Such a cost of water should be combined with crop-embedded VW analysis and expected net return from unit volume of irrigation water. Therefore, water allocation mechanism (e.g. water market) need to be developed for more efficient water use than the commonly practiced farm quota. Optimization of the usage of the limited water resources can be envisaged by continuous imports of VW, especially that embedded in cereal, oil, meat, live animals and sugar. Appropriate amendment of water legislations and concerned institutions are encouraged to provide better guidelines to policy makers, water managers, extension and advisory services, water use associations and farmers. Optimization of water resources management could be based on contract farming to ensure that water allocation and cropping pattern respond to water scarcity. Furthermore, Jordan should concentrate on production and export of crops having low VW contents and high return per m³.     

Water Resources Management and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Cameroon

Cameroon is blessed with abundant water resources. Rapid population increase, unplanned urbanisation, intensive industrial and socio-economic development have led to poor and unsustainable management of these resources. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a promising approach in ensuring sustainable management of Cameroon’s water resources. It entails management of water for various purposes and not for a single purpose which therefore involves different stake holders aiming at achieving sustainable water resources management. This paper seeks to evaluate recent efforts to implement in IWRM in Cameroon by examining the institutional framework for IWRM in Cameroon, conditions for the implementation of IWRM and proposes reforms for improving IWRM in Cameroon. The paper concludes that reforms such as public participation at local council levels, recognition of water as both an economic and a social good, putting IWRM within the larger context of Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) and the exploitation of mathematical models within hydrological basins will improve IWRM in Cameroon.     

Islamic Water Management

Abstract

Islam offers its followers extensive guidelines on all aspects of life including how they should use and manage the natural environment. This religion's teachings on matters related to, for example, family affairs and inheritance are well developed and widely applied in the Islamic World. However, the hydrological dimensions of Islam are underdeveloped. This paper is a small step towards the development of Islamically-inspired water management principles. It illustrates that the Koran and hadith have relatively elaborate strategies for water conservation and pollution-prevention. The rationale that water management policies need to fit the cultural norms of the affected people guided the approach to this paper. It hence argues that a carefully-calibrated, Islamically-grounded water management policy is likely to lead to wider acceptability and broader compliance by Muslims because it reflects their value system.     

Water Resources Management under Competitive Sectoral Demand A Case Study from Jordan

Abstract

Jordan is a country plagued with water scarcity. The annual per capita share of water is currently estimated at 170 m³ and the figure is expected to drop to 90 m³ in the year 2020 as a result of the disproportional increase in population relative to water resources development. Moreover, about 70 percent of the country's water resources are consumed in irrigated agriculture. For most crops growing in all areas and seasons and managed with different production technologies, analysis of net return from unit volume of irrigation water showed, with few exceptions, low values pertaining to production under protected agriculture. Such a result indicated unjustified waste of water in the agricultural sector at the expense of the domestic sector. This paper reviews current challenges facing water management in the country and proposes short- and long-term alternative solutions.     

Participatory Optimization Scenario for Water Resources Management: A Case from Jordan

Participatory optimization scenario process was developed for water resources management of the Zarqa River Basin in Jordan. The basin was selected to represent a case study of semi-arid area in the Mediterranean because of its entire range of prototypical water management problems. The nature of the institutional framework, the severity of the water related problems and concentration of population in the basin have required the need for stakeholders’ involvement in the optimization process. The paper demonstrates a Water Resources Model (WRM) consisting of integrated cascade of modules, embedded in a framework of a participatory approach in water resources optimization. The system includes baseline scenario, identification of constrains and instruments, the optimization scenario and analysis of results. In a participatory approach, stakeholders identified the optimization criteria (constraints) and the management interventions (instruments). Constraints were set to securing high supply/demand ratio of 0.98 and improving reliability of supply to 75 %, while specific eight instruments were suggested and manipulated by the model to achieve the above criteria. The results of the WRM optimization scenario showed that the specified constraints were met so that the supply/demand ratio increased from 0.90 to 0.996 and the reliability of supply improved from 58 % to 84 %. The benefit/cost ratio, water shortfall, and the economic efficiency had responded effectively. The model proved its efficiency in using the full featured basin characteristics towards baseline and optimization scenarios with the support of stakeholders in simulating the basin behavior over time using the model parameters.     

世界水能资源和水电开发

文章分析了英国《国际水电与大坝》季刊出版的《2 0 0 0年水电地图集》与世界能源会议 1974 ,1980年的统计数字对比 ,说明 2 0世纪后半叶对水电开发的认识和规划有了变化。中国目前正在进行水能资源的复查 ,本文对这次水能资源复查提出了意见和建议     

水资源管理学初探

随着人口的增加和经济社会的发展。水资源短缺已成为世界关注的重大资源问题。为了适应以水资源可持续利用保障和支撑经济社会发展的需要,开展水资源管理系统研究,构建水资源管理学已经十分必要。在分析水资源管理与水资源管理学两个概念的基础上,探讨了水资源管理学研究内容及其与相关学科的关系。