Interest group perceptions on water policy reforms: insight from a water-stressed basin

Abstract

Water policies have been implemented worldwide to face water stress. However, the existence of water users' groups with opposite interests and different political power results in the plain failure or low effectiveness of water policy reforms. A better understanding of users' perceptions regarding policy outcomes is important to avoid the failure of water policies and the intensification of water conflicts. This paper empirically examines the divergent perception of interest groups on the implementation of different policies dealing with water scarcity and their proactive involvement with water agencies. We have conducted a survey in the Jucar River Basin (a water-stressed basin in southeastern Spain) to analyze interest group opinions regarding water policy effectiveness and water institutions' performance in water management. Questionnaires were sent to the main irrigation districts and urban water utilities within the basin. The collected information gives a general picture of the behavior of opposite water interest groups in this basin. The analysis of the perceptions on water policy reform between the groups highlights the existence of significant differences between preferred measures to address water scarcity and lobbying capacity. These differences depend on the size of the group, the specific basin location, and other group characteristics.

Water governance impacts on water adequacy in smallholder irrigation schemes in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

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The Blue Water Footprint of the Spanish Wine Industry: 1935–2015

“…The overexploitation of the Eastern La Mancha aquifer aggravated the water scarcity in the entire basin because the Jucar River shifted from taking water from the aquifer to providing it with water [68]. This situation has intensified and worsened problems between water users that largely hinder the management of the water resources in this basin [69].…”

Understanding the emergence of water market institutions: learning from functioning water markets in three countries

“…There is also some resistance to WMs based on ideology or previous failed efforts. Different interest groups may have divergent views on how to regulate water access (Esteban et al, 2018). The literature is particularly limited with regard to the institutional evolution of markets to deal with important issues so that they can last and increase efficiency, such as understanding how transaction costs are reduced and non-consumption is treated (Debaere, et al, 2014).…”

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“…Therefore, WMs appeared to be a feasible alternative in order to manage water demand in the country, which already had previous experience of informal WMs (Embid Irujo, 2013). However, Spanish water rights were not designed to be traded, except in crises, and remain attached to land property (Berbel et al, 2012), even after a set of legal reforms started in 1999, partly motivated by severe droughts (Garrido et al, 2012); still, divergent views on water policy reform prevails (Esteban et al, 2018) and the risks associated with market operations within a large geographic area are perceived to be high (INT2).…”