Applying Methodologies to determine Water Use Efficiency. Case Study in the Region of Coquimbo
From January 2005 to December 2006 CAZALAC developed the FNDR study: Applying Methodologies to determine Water Use Efficiency, Case Study in the Region of Coquimbo. This activity was focused in the three main water basins of the region (Elqui, Limarí & Choapa). |
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General Objective
The project’s main objective was
to research and learn on the efficient use of water resources, current use techniques,
use efficiency and from this basis, to prepare specific proposals aimed at improving
water use and formulate recommendations that will support users to make more
informed decisions on issues involving water resources in the Region.
Specific objectives
a) To assess water use efficiency at a
local level.
b) To assess water use efficiency at a global level.
c) To assess the current status through interviews with relevant actors.
d) Prepare specific proposals to improve water use by formulating an hydrological
simulation model that will make it possible to simulate several situations and
scenarios in the main water basins in the region.
e) Formulate recommendations or guidelines to assist users in making duly informed
decisions regarding water resources.
Beneficiaries
Public organizations related to water
research, knowledge and planning and private entities related to this issue,
agricultures in general, water users’ organizations, Water Utilities,
industries, among others are potential users of the information to be generated
by this study.
Methodology
The methodology included formulating approximations
that will allow assessing water use at three levels:
- Local level or micro properties: At this level, it is interesting to
know how water is used, to assess efficiency from two points of view: physical
use efficiency and economic use efficiency as currently applied. A survey
of irrigated water use and a survey of other uses may be highlighted among
the main outputs.
- Middle level: At this level, where the use systems are included (irrigation
systems, for example), it is interesting to assess water use efficiency,
both regarding management and handling, in order to detect any inefficiencies
that may be improved. As a result of this project, an assessment both of
physical and management efficiency of the systems forming up the intermediate
level of water basins will be available. Information on physical efficiencies
will be useful to feed the hydrological operation model and to estimate
the water savings expected from improvements. Together with the economic
assessment, it will finally be determined what improvements will be cost-effective.
- Global level: the global level is formed up by the entire basin and represents
the level for which efficiency results are finally interesting, and a at
which an efficiency optimization is required, both regarding water use as
a physical good and as an economic good. Efficiency studies will be carried
out to evaluate water allocation, the presence of any negative environmental
impacts and control capacity.
Hydrological Simulation Model
A hydrological simulation model (MAGIC
model) was also configured, which allows working with several situations and
scenarios in the main water basins located in the region, by modifying the system’s
most significant variables. Based on these results, the measures required to
optimize use efficiency at a basin level will be recommended. Both domestic
and international experiences in arid zones will be taken into account to present
the above mentioned improvements.
Work Scope
The work scope was aimed at optimizing
water use efficiency in the three water basins of the IV Region. A thorough
knowledge on the physical use of water resources, knowledge on the conditions
under which water is managed, knowledge on what is happening with water rights,
knowledge on the problems related to water resources at an individual, middle
and global level, the knowledge on interactions obtained from the model, knowledge
on economic water efficiency, the knowledge on the ways to improve efficiency
that have shown good results in arid zones, are all aspects that will be considered
to deliver recommendations aimed at improving water use efficiency in this region
where the resource is scarce.
Expected results
Recommendations generated by this study
are of a structural and non-structural kind: from technical proposals for water
use at a property or individual user level, to management and control recommendations
and recommendations related to policies, adapting institutions or revising legislation.
The proposal of structural steps will likely include measures
like the following:
- Improving local agriculture operation
- Improving irrigation techniques
- Improving water attraction and conduction systems, and
- Global improvements at a basin level.
In addition, several informative workshops
on regulation aspects, like those related to rights, management, conflicts and
financing, have been developed, as well as workshops to inform on the results
obtained from this study. Dissemination material has also been prepared, consisting
in a video, an educational publication and a poster including elements to create
awareness on the importance of making an appropriate use of water resources
for the quality of life of the population living in zones showing water shortage.
This study was developed in 7 phases, including the following
aspects:
- Data compilation
- Methodology definition
- Diagnosis of current status in the Elgui basin
- Diagnosis of current status in the Choapa basin
- Diagnosis of current status in the Elgui basin
- Preparation of proposals and recommendations
- Preparation of Final Report
Current Status
This project is currently complete, and
the relevant output was handed over to the Region government of the IV Region
of Coquimbo and the General Water Directorate.
The material generated with the results
of the study can be requested in digital format from our executive director
by contacting:
Guido Soto
Executive Director
CAZALAC
Cisternas s/n, Esq. A. Muñoz
La Serena - Chile
Phone Nº: 56 - 51 - 204493
Fax: 56 - 51 - 204494
E-mail: gsoto@cazalac.org
