Effect of water scarcity and modernisation on the performance of irrigation districts in south-eastern Spain

Soto-García, M.; Álvarez, Victoriano Martínez; García-Bastida, P.A.; Alcón, Francisco; Martín-Górriz, B.

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2013.03.019

Cited by 87 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…The evidence of the empirical and theoretical literature review suggest that when traditional surface (furrow) systems are replaced by sprinkler and drip irrigation, water abstraction (use) is reduced in a significant number of studies, among others in: Jackson et al 2010;López-Gunn et al 2012;García-Mollá et al 2013;Soto-García et al 2013;Graveline et al 2013;Heumesser et al 2012;Törnqvist and Jarsjö 2012;Peterson and Ding 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other empirical analyses of the transformation of irrigated systems in Spain with the abovementioned land constraints have been conducted by Soto-García et al (2013), Fernández-García et al (2014 and García-Mollá et al (2013). All the authors concluded that water diversion (abstraction) was significantly reduced (by 25%-45%), but that water depletion (evapotranspiration) did not increase.…”

Section: Empirical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

176

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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

176

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The region is characterized by a semiarid climate with an average temperature of 18 °C and an annual average rainfall of 300 mm, which is distributed in few but very intense and short-lasting events [17]. CC is located in the Segura Basin, which has recently been selected by the Spanish Government as the Spanish Pilot River Basin within the European Expert Network on Water Scarcity and Droughts, since it currently presents water management problems that will be common in most Mediterranean regions in forthcoming decades [18]. From a geological point of view, CC is a postectonic depression with a strong backfill composed mainly of low-permeability detrital materials interspersed with highly permeable formations: Tortonian clusters, Andaluciense calcarenites and Pliocene sandstones.…”

Section: Case Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Groundwater Management Sustainability under Limited Data Availability in Semiarid Zones

Senent‐Aparicio

Pérez‐Sánchez

Aróstegui

et al. 2015

Water

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Abstract:In recent years, many researchers have devoted their efforts to finding an objective measurement of sustainability by developing evaluation tools based on sustainability indices. These indexes not only reveal the current state of water resources in a given area but also contribute to the development and implementation of effective sustainable water management and decision-making. The great disadvantage of these indices is that for proper application, a number of variables are necessary and they are usually not available in data-scarce aquifers. This study was designed to evaluate sustainability in groundwater resource management in an aquifer in a semiarid zone, using readily available parameters and under a pressure-state-response framework. This methodology has been applied to an aquifer in Southeast Spain with satisfactory results, since the indicators that were evaluated reflect the two main problems that hinder sustainable resource management: the contamination of groundwater by intensive local farming; and the need for external inputs from other basins to alleviate water stress. Therefore, the methodology used can be replicated in other areas with similar characteristics to those of the case study. OPEN ACCESSWater 2015, 7 4306

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“…The increase in the water application costs is largely explained by the higher energy costs of the more sophisticated irrigation devices (e.g., drip irrigation) as compared to traditional devices (e.g., gravity irrigation) (Rodríguez-Díaz et al, 2012;Soto-García et al, 2013). For example, recent empirical work has found that the intense irrigation modernization in Spain has increased energy consumption in irrigated agriculture by 1,800% since 1950 (Corominas, 2010).…”

Section: Analytical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Where is an increasing function of the technical efficiency ( ) of the irrigation devices in place 7 , since more sophisticated techniques are costlier ( ) (Corominas, 2010;Soto-García et al, 2013).…”

Section: The Water Demand Functionmentioning

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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Effect of water scarcity and modernisation on the performance of irrigation districts in south-eastern Spain

Cited by 87 publications

References 29 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

Evaluating Groundwater Management Sustainability under Limited Data Availability in Semiarid Zones

Simple Myths and Basic Maths About Greening Irrigation

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