The role of collective groundwater institutions in the implementation of direct groundwater regulation measures in Minqin County, China

Direct groundwater regulation (e.g. registration of abstraction points, permits and concessions) has been much advocated world-wide; however, few successful cases have been reported. The development of groundwater use in Minqin County, Gansu Province, China, is described, with analyses of the situation before and after the implementation of direct groundwater regulation measures in 2007. Based on a survey carried out in 2010, it is argued that the regulation measures, which were part of a broader water-policy reform, were successfully implemented due to their integration with pre-existing collective groundwater institutions. In addition to the regulation measures—the closure of wells and per capita water use restriction—all villages had to form water users’ associations (WUAs) which were assigned to implement the new regulations. These WUAs were found to have the same structure as the existing collective groundwater institutions. Through the water-policy reform, the function of the pre-existing groundwater institutions was transformed from managing “water exploitation” to managing “water conservation”.     

甘肃河西走廊内陆河流域节水战略选择——地表水与地下水联合管理

过去20多年甘肃河西走廊内陆河流域的水资源管理经历了各类制度改革,不同程度地推动了地表水和地下水的联合管理。但是,由于机构设置及其权限制约以及改革目标差异,河西走廊地区的3个内陆河流域水资源管理效率差异化越来越显著,与石羊河流域相比,黑河和疏勒河流域的监管制度和管理办法并未完全跳出多头管理体制的窠臼,地表水和地下水没有形成有效的联合管理。通过梳理3个流域的水资源管理机构设置和管理模式,总结农业灌溉用水监管的经验教训,对比分析地表水和地下水联合管理措施在实践操作中的利弊,进一步探讨流域联合管理的实践意义和实现路径,寻求普遍适用于内陆河流域水资源的管理办法,保障内陆河流域节水战略的顺利实施。近10 a的实践经验表明：地表水和地下水联合管理是内陆河流域提高水资源利用效率、促进水资源可持续利用最为有效的路径,更是实现区域生态环境绿色发展的必由之路。     

河西走廊内陆河流域农户地下水使用的影响因素分析

在农业与生态系统用水相矛盾的干旱内陆区,地下水过度开采导致生态环境急剧恶化。以往对地下水的管理,以政府直接控制地下水使用为主,但效果并不十分理想,或管理成本较大。因此,寻求间接调控地下水使用的措施成为更好的选择。以河西走廊的石羊河、黑河和疏勒河流域为例,以农户问卷调查数据为依据,探究影响农户使用地下水的关键因素,以寻求通过制定更有针对性的政策来影响农户节约并高效利用地下水,最终达到农户自下而上自发节水的效果。分析结果发现：农户对地下水的使用在不同阶段有不同的特征,但均强烈地依赖于地表水供给,地表水供给每增加1个轮次,单位公顷耕地地表水用量会增加237.3 m³,相应会减少795.2 m³的地下水,整体上平均减少504.1 m³的总用水量,地下水占灌溉总用水的比例也会下降3.7%。此外,地下水的使用还与家庭经营规模、经营模式、地下水供给条件及经营者偏好等因素密切相关。因此,政府应根据流域内地表水与地下水的综合条件和特点,结合农业生产特征和农户偏好,因地制宜制定政府主导的管理政策与农户自我调节能力有效结合的开发治理制度和方案,切实实现区域水资源节约与高效利用双重目标。