Showing papers in "Water International in 2017"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the nature of water conflict and water cooperation and discuss how water conflicts can be resolved, how water can be seen as a vehicle for change between states, and future directions that can be taken in transboundary water conflict research.
Abstract: Though awareness of the nature of water conflict and cooperation has improved over time, the likelihood of water conflicts could increase as populations continue to grow and climate change continues to manifest. This article details the nature of water conflict and water cooperation. We discuss how water conflicts can be resolved, how water can be seen as a vehicle for change between states, and future directions that can be taken in transboundary water conflict research.
114 citations
TL;DR: In the absence of regulations over groundwater abstraction, farmers acquire drip irrigation to intensify production rather than to conserve water, which occurs in a political and economic context where farmers are incentivized to do so, further exacerbating groundwater overdraft.
Abstract: This article draws on a case from the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan to examine whether drip irrigation saves water. Drip irrigation is being promoted to preserve groundwater and enhance resilience to climate change. However, the article finds that in the absence of regulations over groundwater abstraction, farmers acquire drip irrigation to intensify production rather than to conserve water. This occurs in a political and economic context where farmers are incentivized to do so, further exacerbating groundwater overdraft. The article concludes with a discussion of drip irrigation’s impact on farmers’ livelihoods and its implications for groundwater policy.
46 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a method for applying the water-food-energy nexus approach to propose an optimal cropping pattern was presented. But the proposed cropping patterns were not optimized to maximize economic water and energy productivity and minimise water and power use.
Abstract: This article illustrates a method for applying the water-food-energy nexus approach to propose an optimal cropping pattern. The proposed cropping pattern maximizes economic water and energy productivity and minimizes water and energy use. Through this method a water-food-energy nexus index is applied. A case study from Egypt is applied to illustrate the method.
32 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore how the idea of a canal connecting the Dead Sea with either the Red Sea or the Mediterranean Sea has evolved and analyze the proposals, the official interests, and the undeclared reasons.
Abstract: This article explores how the idea of a canal connecting the Dead Sea with either the Red Sea or the Mediterranean Sea has evolved. It analyzes the proposals, the official interests, and the undeclared reasons. It provides a critical understanding of the discourses behind the complex hydro-political dynamics in a changing and contested topography within the context of a wider geopolitical conflict. This study sheds lights on the relations between interests, discourses, and the canal project. This study contributes to the literature on water history by shedding light on the evolving relations between interests, discourses, and the canal project.
32 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors employ a hydropower optimization model to analyze the effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the distribution and magnitude of benefits in the Eastern Nile, based on plausible institutional arrangements that span varying levels of cooperation, as well as changes in hydrological conditions (water availability).
Abstract: This article employs a hydro-economic optimization model to analyze the effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the distribution and magnitude of benefits in the Eastern Nile. Scenarios are considered based on plausible institutional arrangements that span varying levels of cooperation, as well as changes in hydrological conditions (water availability). The results show that the dam can increase Ethiopia’s economic benefits by a factor of 5–6, without significantly affecting or compromising irrigation and hydropower production downstream. However, increasing GERD water storage during a drought could lead to high costs not only for Egypt and Sudan, but also for Ethiopia.
32 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that China's relatively higher level of institutionalized cooperation with Kazakhstan on transboundary water issues is due to the interdependence between the two countries, which facilitates linkages between water issues and a cluster of political, economic, security and strategic issues.
Abstract: A significant aspect of China’s power is its position as upstream riparian on many of Asia’s international rivers. China participates in creating and building institutions with riparians of some of these rivers more than others. This article argues that China’s relatively higher level of institutionalized cooperation with Kazakhstan on transboundary water issues is due to the interdependence between the two countries, which facilitates linkages between water issues and a cluster of political, economic, security and strategic issues. China is incentivized to cooperate and accommodates Kazakhstan’s concerns over their shared waters because a reciprocal relationship exists between them.
30 citations
TL;DR: The beliefs underlying the water supply management, demand management, and soft-path paradigms are examined in this paper, where mortality salience helps explain why individuals and societies seek to control water supply and deny their connection to nature and limit consciousness of physical vulnerability.
Abstract: The beliefs underlying the water supply-management, demand-management, and soft-path paradigms are examined Two questions are considered First, can social psychology’s insights on mortality salience help explain the desire to control water and the dominant water supply-management paradigm? Second, can those insights also help explain the limited progress of demand management and water soft paths? We propose that mortality salience helps explain why individuals and societies seek to control water supply and, by extension, deny their connection to nature and limit consciousness of physical vulnerability We briefly consider the implications of this perspective for water research, advocacy and policy
28 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce the river-border complex (RBC) as a new framework for reconceptualizing international rivers and borders as synergistic, co-constitutive and interdependent.
Abstract: International rivers are conventionally understood as watercourses that cross national boundaries, while borders themselves are taken to be static and given – passive features over and across which riparian processes unfold Employing such straightforward framings of international rivers and borders, academic studies and policy analyses of transboundary water governance perpetuate problematic ideas about the relevant scales and actors involved in international river conflicts and crises Through a historical examination of the Ganges River and the Indo-Bangladeshi border, I introduce the ‘river-border complex’ as a new framework for reconceptualizing international rivers and borders as synergistic, co-constitutive and interdependent
28 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines the various definitions of, and analytical approaches to, collaborative water governance (CWG) and argues that contemporary approaches to CWG risk emptying the concept of its utility and coherence.
Abstract: This article examines the various definitions of, and analytical approaches to, collaborative water governance (CWG). While the concept’s usage has increased over the past decade, there lacks any deep engagement with the concept of the political at the heart of CWG. This article argues that contemporary approaches to CWG risk emptying the concept of its utility and coherence. Correcting this deficiency requires a focus on the social and ideational constructions of water. This will strengthen future collaborative water arrangements and enable deeper appreciation of the ways the political makes and remakes what is possible in water governance.
28 citations
TL;DR: Stakeholder analysis and social network analysis were used to analyze stakeholders' social and structural characteristics based on their interests, influence, and interactions in Lake Naivasha basin, Kenya as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Stakeholder analysis and social network analysis were used to analyze stakeholders’ social and structural characteristics based on their interests, influence and interactions in Lake Naivasha basin, Kenya. Even though the Kenyan government and its agencies seem to command higher influence and interest in water resource management, the presence of influential and central stakeholders from non-government sectors plays a key role in strengthening partnership in a governance environment with multiple sectors, complex issues and competing interests. Interactions in the basin are guided by stakeholders’ interest and sphere of influence, which have both promoted participation in implementing a collaborative water governance framework.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the current status of small-scale desalination (produced water capacity 100m3/day or less) is reviewed to provide an overview of the market segment, and the use of energy-recovery devices in this market segment is also reviewed.
Abstract: The current status of small-scale desalination (produced water capacity 100 m3/day or less) is reviewed to provide an overview of the market segment. The use of energy-recovery devices in this market segment is also reviewed. We find that the Middle East accounts for the largest market share worldwide at present, and reverse osmosis is overwhelmingly dominant among the desalination technologies adopted. Implementation of energy-recovery devices at small scale is rare, which leads to relatively high energy consumption for small-scale seawater reverse osmosis desalination systems.
TL;DR: The recent history of groundwater use in North Africa provides a cautionary tale for climate change adaptation as mentioned in this paper, where the short-term threats of groundwater overexploitation are clear, and territorially bounded, and involve comparatively few players.
Abstract: The recent history of groundwater use in North Africa provides a cautionary tale for climate change adaptation. Even though the short-term threats of groundwater overexploitation are clear, and territorially bounded, and involve comparatively few players, in recent decades, agricultural intensification has consistently increased pressure on the available resources. Groundwater has been governed through a dynamic interplay between formal rules and informal practices that focused more on maintaining fragile socio-political compromises than on ensuring environmental sustainability. If it is to be effective, climate change adaptation will need to muster the sort of political legitimacy that sustainable groundwater management is currently lacking.
TL;DR: For the past several years we have engaged with Erik Swyngedouw in a productive discussion about the role seawater desalination plays in Spanish hydropolitics as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: For the past several years we have engaged with Erik Swyngedouw in a productive discussion about the role seawater desalination plays in Spanish hydropolitics. The 2016 publication of his most rece...
TL;DR: The authors developed a framework for understanding the role of subnational states in water politics in decentralized federal systems and applied it to the case of the Colorado River basin to help explain a long-term shift towards more cooperative relationships between the riparian states.
Abstract: This article develops a framework for understanding the role of subnational states in water politics in decentralized federal systems. First, that role has increased worldwide as a result of decentralization. Second, the quest for autonomy sometimes leads subnational officials to prefer weak forms of cooperation. Third, the interaction of subnational states, central governments and non-governmental actors largely explains interjurisdictional conflict and cooperation in shared river basins. This framework is applied to the case of the Colorado River basin to help explain a long-term shift towards more cooperative relationships between the riparian states.
TL;DR: The role of the cap, the Living Murray (TLM) and the National Action Plan for Water Security/Water for the Future (MDB) in the Murray-Darling Basin over a 20-year period is examined in this paper.
Abstract: This paper examines three actions by national and state governments – the role of the Cap, the Living Murray (TLM) and the National Action Plan for Water Security/Water for the Future, embodying the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) Plan – in the Murray–Darling Basin over a 20-year period. The three actions sought to address declining environmental conditions through water policy reform. All were significant in their own way, but only the third offers the prospect of improving environmental outcomes. Taken together, the case studies illustrate that in real life and in complex, multilevelled policy-making, politics is central to water policy decision-making.
TL;DR: This article addresses the following and related questions: What is water security, and is it related to food security, energy security, health security and ecological security?
Abstract: This article addresses the following and related questions: (1) What is water security, and is it related to food security, energy security, health security and ecological security? (2) What factors impact water security? (3) What are the challenges in meeting water security? (4) What can be done to ensure water security? (5) Is water security entirely a technical problem? (6) What systems need to be engineered to help ensure water security? It further offers a personal perspective on water security and engineering solutions
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assess the legitimacy of flood risk governance arrangements in six European countries through cross-disciplinary and comparative research methods, and present recommendations to enhance the legitimacy in Europe.
Abstract: Legitimacy has received comparatively less attention than societal resilience in the context of flooding, thus methods for assessing and monitoring the legitimacy of flood risk governance arrangements are noticeably lacking. This study attempts to address this gap by assessing the legitimacy of flood risk governance arrangements in six European countries through cross-disciplinary and comparative research methods. On the basis of this assessment, recommendations to enhance the legitimacy of flood risk governance in Europe are presented.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors use data from 139 household surveys from 13 villages in rural Malawi and Petrifilm quality testing of 27 drinking water sources to highlight areas where the sustainable development goals might not fully capture water quality.
Abstract: The Sustainable Development Goals offer an ambitious plan to achieve universal access to water that is safe and affordable. This article uses data from 139 household surveys from 13 villages in rural Malawi and Petrifilm quality testing of 27 drinking water sources to highlight areas where the goals’ proposed monitoring framework might not fully capture water quality. Households make complex water decisions and sometimes choose to use unsafe sources. Households generally do not use water treatment but universally practise water storage. This article argues for improved monitoring to more effectively and accurately measure sustainable water access.
TL;DR: In this paper, the viability of increasing block tariffs to achieve the right balance between efficiency, financial requirements and equity, and compares them to alternative pricing schemes is examined using numerical examples, and analyzes the IBT structure of two water utilities in Yemen.
Abstract: This study examines the viability of increasing block tariffs (IBTs) to achieve the right balance between efficiency, financial requirements and equity, and compares them to alternative pricing schemes. Using numerical examples, it analyzes the IBT structure of two water utilities in Yemen. The main conclusion is that IBTs exhibit remnants of old thinking among policy makers to promote cheap water for people. In view of similar results from other regions, the current practice of IBTs in developing countries has significant deficiencies and could be replaced by simpler pricing schemes such as a uniform price with a rebate or a discount.
TL;DR: The restoration of the Rhine basin is widely viewed as an exemplary case of international water protection as discussed by the authors. But the river clean-up has been characterized by a number of puzzling developments, such as:
Abstract: The restoration of the Rhine basin is widely viewed as an exemplary case of international water protection. The river’s clean-up has been characterized by a number of puzzling developments. These i...
TL;DR: In this paper, the relation between water utility ownership structure and price of water is explored, along with other factors such as water source, water size, population density, population g...
Abstract: The relation between water utility ownership structure and price of water is explored in this study, along with other factors such as water source, population size, population density, population g...
TL;DR: In this article, the European Union Water Initiative, a transnational, multi-actor partnership established in 2002 by the European Commission to support water governance reforms around the world, is examined with a focus on organizational structures, activities, policies and achievements.
Abstract: This article examines the activities and achievements of the European Union Water Initiative, a transnational, multi-actor partnership established in 2002 by the European Commission to support water governance reforms around the world. Two regional components of the initiative – (a) Africa and (b) Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia – are studied with a focus on their organizational structures, activities, policies and achievements. The analysis provides evidence for improved regional dialogue and cooperation in the water sector, but also points to persistent weaknesses, in particular a lack of resources, ownership and mutual understanding as to the overall aims of the Initiative.
TL;DR: The authors examined the role of non-state actors in the management of major transboundary rivers in Asia, focusing on unresolved disputes over the utilization of the water resources of the Mekong, Nu-Salween and Brahmaputra Rivers.
Abstract: This article examines the role of non-state actors – namely, ‘river activists’ – in the management of major transboundary rivers in Asia. Focusing on unresolved disputes over the utilization of the water resources of the Mekong, Nu-Salween and Brahmaputra Rivers, it argues that aside from riparian governments, these activists have contributed considerably to shaping the nature of socio-political contestation in these cases. Drawing upon a ‘policy entrepreneurship’ framework for analysis, civil society actors are revealed to play an important, if not leading, role in catalyzing and framing water disputes at the national and transnational levels, with cascading consequences for regional water governance.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a general overview of Floods Directive implementation in eight European countries, highlighting the differences between them, with particular attention to flood hazard maps, and propose a minimization of such differences in order to manage flood risk in a better and more integrated way.
Abstract: The implementation of the EU Floods Directive by water authorities across Europe has generated a lack of consistency in the present situation, especially regarding the scales adopted, the hydrological scenarios and the elements represented on flood hazard and risk maps. From the EU-funded project HYTECH, this article presents a general overview of Floods Directive implementation in eight European countries, highlighting the differences between them, with particular attention to flood hazard maps. For the implementation cycle that started at the beginning of 2016, a minimization of such differences is necessary in order to manage flood risk in a better and more integrated way.
TL;DR: A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) conducted in the Al-Mujaylis area, Tihama Coastal Plain, Yemen provided a contribution, as a bottom-up approach, to the assessment of the needs of communities and their views on how to avoid groundwater degradation as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) conducted in the Al-Mujaylis area, Tihama Coastal Plain, Yemen provided a contribution, as a bottom-up approach, to the assessment of the needs of communities and their views on how to avoid groundwater degradation. It was found that PRA tools could be applied usefully in an area with data scarcity and a culturally different context. It is concluded that adopting a research approach between top down and bottom up is most valuable and effective.
TL;DR: This paper examined whether the Chinese state has transformed state dam-construction firms engaged abroad into agents of "hydro-diplomacy" to reflect larger diplomatic initiatives to improve relations with neighbouring countries.
Abstract: This analysis examines whether the Chinese state has transformed state dam-construction firms engaged abroad into agents of ‘hydro-diplomacy’ to reflect larger diplomatic initiatives to improve relations with neighbouring countries. It concludes that there is little evidence of strengthened direct oversight over Chinese dam-building companies in the region, which remain principally profit-seeking actors. In implementing projects, they prioritize the standards of host countries over the strategic concerns of the Chinese state. This suggests that either the ‘agency costs’ of hydropower firms’ behaviour remain acceptable to Beijing or there are other impediments to policy change.
TL;DR: Health policy and programming need to pay greater attention to the interplay of the structural, social and individual dimensions of unique contextual environments that influence habitual behaviours in order to improve habitual hand washing.
Abstract: Despite its simplicity and efficacy, the promotion of hand washing for disease prevention remains a challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. This article reports on a quasi-experimental school-based study that aimed to improve habitual hand washing. Significant increases in hand washing occurred following improvements in hygiene and sanitation facilities (School A: t = 13.86, p = 0.0052). Smaller increases in hand washing occurred following education (School A: t = 2.63; p = 0.012; School B, no infrastructure improvements: t = 1.66, p = 0.239). Health policy and programming need to pay greater attention to the interplay of the structural, social and individual dimensions of unique contextual environments that influence habitual behaviours.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an assessment of the project after five years of implementation and identify the main strengths to be technical viability, since it is simple and manageable by communities, and reasonable in areas where conventional water delivery systems are not feasible.
Abstract: Fog can be considered a potential water resource for certain semi-arid and arid countries. In Eritrea, a fog-water collection project was implemented in 2007 in the villages of Arborobue and Nefasit. This study presents an assessment of the project after five years of implementation and identifies the main strengths to be technical viability, since it is simple and manageable by communities, and reasonable in areas where conventional water delivery systems are not feasible. The main limitations are that it is not economically viable unless its initial cost is subsidized; moreover, fog capture is seasonal, and net damage occurs during strong winds.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that if Bangladesh and India approach the proposed Tipaimukh Dam on the trans-boundary Barak River from a cooperative security angle, they will be successful in making a significant deviation from the sovereignty-based approach that has been a prevailing feature of negotiations on water issues in South Asia.
Abstract: Using the historical trends in Bangladesh–India water disputes as a background, this article argues that if Bangladesh and India approach the proposed Tipaimukh Dam on the trans-boundary Barak River from a cooperative security angle, they will be successful in making a significant deviation from the sovereignty-based approach that has been a prevailing feature of negotiations on water issues in South Asia. By emphasizing the benefit from a ‘share the resources’ model, as opposed to a ‘divide the resources’ model, such an approach will be mutually beneficial and may have significant ‘spill-over’ repercussions for multilateral cooperation on rivers in South Asia.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the nexus of transboundary flood events and future social vulnerability using global data, and highlighted trans-boundary basins that merit further investigation and possibly additional institution building to reduce urban flood risk.
Abstract: Using global data, this article examines the nexus of transboundary flood events and future social vulnerability. Which international river basins are forecast to experience an increase in both hydrological variability and population in the future, but currently lack institutional provisions to deal with these shared events? Concentrations of elevated risk are found in several basins in Central Asia, Central America and Central Africa. The article ends by highlighting transboundary basins that merit further investigation and possibly additional institution building to reduce urban flood risk.