Does efficient irrigation technology lead to reduced groundwater extraction? Empirical evidence

Pfeiffer, Lisa; Lin, Chuan-Yao

doi:10.1016/j.jeem.2013.12.002

Cited by 282 publications

(223 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…Some authors conclude either from simulation models that rebound effect exists but the magnitude is minor, below 3% such as Contor and Taylor (2013), Graveline et al (2013) or by empirical research as in Pfeiffer and Lin (2014), this small increase is justified by increased productivity or crop change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the authors, the observed increase may be explained by the evaporation of the drops travelling from the sprinklers to the ground (substitution of surface irrigation for sprinklers) and the irrigation of some plots inside the perimeter of the WUA that received scarce or no irrigation due to the deficiencies of the previous system (surface and open channels). Pfeiffer and Lin (2014) reported a small increase (1%-2%) in water depletion when traditional pivots were replaced by dropnozzle pivots. The reasons for the increase in evapotranspiration reported by these authors are unclear from the biophysical point of view and the authors recognized the need for additional research.…”

Section: Empirical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Literature Review on Rebound Effect of Water Saving Measures and Analysis of a Spanish Case Study

Berbel

Gutiérrez‐Martín

Díaz

et al. 2014

Water Resour Manage

180

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POST-PRINT VERSION AbstractThe hypothesis of a rebound effect as a consequence of water saving investments is taken analogically from the Jevons paradox models in energy economics. The European Commission (EC) alert about the consequences in water stressed regions that are investing heavily in modernization of irrigation networks and systems. This paper reviews the literature, linking water savings with water diversion and water depletion, both from theoretical models and empirical evidence from the published research. In order to increase knowledge of this phenomenon, a new empirical case study is presented based on a survey of 36,000 ha of recently modernized irrigated areas in the Guadalquivir basin (southern Spain). The results of the case study illustrates the conditions that may avoid rebound effect, although the results of the available empirical evidence and the published theoretical research are diverse and lead to contradictory results. Further research is therefore needed to determine the causes and solutions of water saving investment impacts and the possible speculative rebound effect.Keywords: Water conservation; Jevons paradox; Rebound effect; Water pricing; Water use; Water consumption; Spain Highlights The present study analyzes the theoretical and empirical evidence that water saving investments may lead to increased water use and/or consumption. Some authors suggest that if irrigated land expansion is not constrained, increased water abstractions are likely to occur. When land expansion is constrained and water rights are controlled, water depletion does not increase. The results of published research are diverse and have yielded contradictory results regarding the rebound effect as a consequence of water saving investments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Empirical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Literature Review on Rebound Effect of Water Saving Measures and Analysis of a Spanish Case Study

Berbel

Gutiérrez‐Martín

Díaz

et al. 2014

Water Resour Manage

180

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This downward shift corresponded with a rise in water-efficient drop nozzle technology, substantially accelerated by state subsidies for irrigation upgrades. Prior research (50) found that the adoption of this technology actually increased water use, as increased irrigation efficiency reduced the cost of an effective unit of water, inducing farmers to irrigate a greater proportion of their acreage and plant more water-intensive crops. The downward shift of the price function reflects the fact that the technological shift actually made water appear less scarce, reducing the value of a greater water stock (or the apparent cost of depleting water today).…”

Section: Pðsþ =mentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring the value of groundwater and other forms of natural capital

Fenichel

Abbott

Bayham

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Valuing natural capital is fundamental to measuring sustainability. The United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, and other agencies have called for inclusion of the value of natural capital in sustainability metrics, such as inclusive wealth. Much has been written about the importance of natural capital, but consistent, rigorous valuation approaches compatible with the pricing of traditional forms of capital have remained elusive. We present a guiding quantitative framework enabling natural capital valuation that is fully consistent with capital theory, accounts for biophysical and economic feedbacks, and can guide interdisciplinary efforts to measure sustainability. We illustrate this framework with an application to groundwater in the Kansas High Plains Aquifer, a rapidly depleting asset supporting significant food production. We develop a 10-y time series (1996−2005) of natural capital asset prices that accounts for technological, institutional, and physical changes. Kansas lost approximately $110 million per year (2005 US dollars) of capital value through groundwater withdrawal and changes in aquifer management during the decade spanning 1996–2005. This annual loss in wealth is approximately equal to the state’s 2005 budget surplus, and is substantially more than investments in schools over this period. Furthermore, real investment in agricultural capital also declined over this period. Although Kansas’ depletion of water wealth is substantial, it may be tractably managed through careful groundwater management and compensating investments in other natural and traditional assets. Measurement of natural capital value is required to inform management and ongoing investments in natural assets.

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“…Consequently, in many areas all these efforts have not been reflected so far in a reversal of the long-term trend of increasing water use. Quite the contrary, several irrigation networks worldwide have experienced an increase in water demand parallel to the modernization of irrigation infrastructures (Ding and Peterson, 2006;Gutierrez-Martin and Gomez, 2011;Pfeiffer and Lin, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simple Myths and Basic Maths About Greening Irrigation

Gómez

Pérez-Blanco

2015

SSRN Journal

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Greening the economy is mostly about improving water governance and not only about putting the existing resource saving technical alternatives into practice. Focusing on the second and forgetting the first risks finishing with a highly efficient use of water services at the level of each individual user but with an unsustainable amount of water use for the entire economy. This might be happening already in many places with the modernization of irrigated agriculture, the world's largest water user and the one offering the most promising water saving opportunities. In spite of high expectations, modern irrigation techniques seem not to be contributing to reduce water scarcity and increase drought resiliency. In fact, according to the little evidence available, in some areas they are resulting in higher water use. Building on basic economic principles this study aims to show the conditions under which this apparently paradoxical outcome, known as the Jevons' Paradox, might appear. This basic model is expected to serve as guidance for assessing the actual outcomes of increasing irrigation efficiency and to discuss the changes in water governance that would be required for this to make a real contribution to sustainable water management.

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Does efficient irrigation technology lead to reduced groundwater extraction? Empirical evidence

Cited by 282 publications

References 38 publications

Literature Review on Rebound Effect of Water Saving Measures and Analysis of a Spanish Case Study

Literature Review on Rebound Effect of Water Saving Measures and Analysis of a Spanish Case Study

Measuring the value of groundwater and other forms of natural capital

Simple Myths and Basic Maths About Greening Irrigation

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