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Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research
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Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 34813

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sisira S. Withanachchi

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Guest Editor
Department of Organic Food Quality and Food Culture, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstr. 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany
Interests: water resources management; food culture; food sovereignty; traditional knowledge; nutritional studies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Olcay Ünver

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental & Resource Management Program, Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
Interests: water policy; water and food security; water security; environmental policy; water and sustainable development; water-smart agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Hotden Leonardo Nainggolan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Lecturer and researcher, University of HKBP Nommensen, Medan, Indonesia
Interests: agricultural and rural development; regional development; socio-economics agricultural; sustainable development; regional economics
Dr. Sören Köpke

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Postdoctoral Researcher, Section of International Agricultural Policy and Environmental Governance, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
Interests: water politics; rural development; food security; environmental governance; political ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Policy-setting, decision-making, and policy implementation in water sectors are driven by complex and competitive interactions among actors. Apart from the impact of climate changes, asymmetric power relations, limited availability of water resources, socio-cultural and socio-economic imbalances impair the prospect of sustainable water governance in many parts of the world. However, the global collaboration of political actors, academics, and activities could advance water policies in sustainable and comprehensive directions.

In addition to climate change, environmental management conditions also have an impact on the sustainability of water resources. Environmental damages in various parts of the world also affect policies and sustainable management of water resources. Limited access to water resources in a sustainable manner will have a serious impact on economic sectors, such as agriculture and plantations, forestry, fisheries, including sustainable community food security. One thing that is no less important is the need for sustainable environmental policies and management as a buffer for the future of water resources for human life around the world. This Special Issue aims to introduce some of these advances by addressing paradigmatic shifts in questions of privatization, public ownership, and common resource management; by investigating new and emergent forms of contentious water politics, by fostering new ways of analyzing water policies. The contributions may deal with different scales and dimensions of water management and water policy, such as hydro-diplomacy, the political economy of the water sector, policies on the water for food, water extractivism regimes, lawmaking on water, issues of WASH, and public health under conditions of the pandemic, and environmental justice themes connected to water.

Dr. Sisira S. Withanachchi
Dr. Olcay Ünver
Dr. Hotden Leonardo Nainggolan
Dr. Sören Köpke
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
  • policy and governance
  • agenda-setting
  • public policy
  • maintenance and administration of water resource systems
  • WASH
  • water politics
  • hydro-diplomacy (water diplomacy)
  • groundwater governance
  • international water law
  • national environmental law and regulations

Published Papers (15 papers)

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21 pages, 4064 KiB  
Article
Stakeholder Engagement and Perceptions on Water Governance and Water Management in Azerbaijan
by Colby L. Howell, Aaron P. Cortado and Olcay Ünver
Water 2023, 15(12), 2201; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15122201 - 12 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2075
Abstract
To undertake the modernization of Azerbaijan’s water sector, the government of Azerbaijan collaborated with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) in a comprehensive initiative to explore stakeholder perceptions on in-country water governance. The research approach, designed by national [...] Read more.
To undertake the modernization of Azerbaijan’s water sector, the government of Azerbaijan collaborated with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) in a comprehensive initiative to explore stakeholder perceptions on in-country water governance. The research approach, designed by national water experts and the authors, resulted in the development and administration of a stakeholder engagement and perception survey. The survey, implemented in 2022, elicited responses from a total of 219 state and non-state actors. To enrich interpretations of the survey, this study furthers the analysis of the government commissioned FAO stakeholder survey results and sheds additional insights as to where stakeholders see problems in water governance processes. This independent study informs the broader FAO project and generates supplemental recommendations to the Azerbaijani government for legislative and executive-level action to make Azerbaijan’s water sector more resilient as the climate changes and water insecurity increases. Even though an impressive number of 219 stakeholders participated in the survey, 80% of the responses were from state stakeholders, thus introducing significant bias into the dataset. In order to cope with the bias and make the best of the dataset, the authors analyzed the responses with a customized categorical methodology. Stakeholders were categorized into state, non-state, decision-maker, or executive groups and were examined for trends using various Pareto analyses. Interpretation of the survey responses reveals that, while stakeholders in the water sector interact through informal and formal means, stakeholder groups, to a large extent, lack an understanding of the barriers to stakeholder engagement in water-related policy matters. The stakeholders that indicate understanding of challenges accompanying water policy engagement note a lack of data, a lack of human and institutional capacity, and a lack of financial support to be some of the most common obstacles encountered in the sector. Furthermore, perceptions differ regarding the need for governance reform, the criticality of climate change, institutional resistance to change, policy or practice gaps, transparency, and variables needed for successful stakeholder engagement across all sectors. Such variations in perceptions illustrate the need for restructuring stakeholder interactive platforms and financial channeling to lead to better water governance and water management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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22 pages, 2716 KiB  
Article
Can Property Rights Reform of China’s Agricultural Water Facilities Improve the Quality of Facility Maintenance and Enhance Farmers’ Water Conservation Behavior?—A Typical Case from Yunnan Province, China
by Yiyu Feng, Ming Chang, Yaping He, Rui Song and Jing Liu
Water 2023, 15(4), 757; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040757 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1436
Abstract
Currently, China is facing the problems of chaotic governance of end-use agricultural water conservancy facilities and a serious waste of agricultural water. To address the above issues, China launched a pilot policy of reforming the property rights of agricultural water facilities in 2014. [...] Read more.
Currently, China is facing the problems of chaotic governance of end-use agricultural water conservancy facilities and a serious waste of agricultural water. To address the above issues, China launched a pilot policy of reforming the property rights of agricultural water facilities in 2014. In this study, we obtained data from 328 farm households through a microscopic study of the pilot property rights reform in Yunnan Province. We found that the reform has resulted in two typical property rights models: “Multiple cooperative governance” and “Private contract governance”. The impact of the reform on the maintenance quality of irrigation facilities and farmers’ water-saving technology adoption behavior was empirically analyzed using the Oprobit and IV-Oprobit methods. The study found that: (1) the property rights reform significantly improved the quality of maintenance of facilities while promoting farmers’ water-saving technology adoption behavior. (2) Heterogeneity analysis revealed that the degree of non-farming of farmers had a negative moderating effect on the quality of facility maintenance and a positive moderating effect on the adoption of water-saving technologies, and the physical health of farmers had a negative moderating effect on the quality of facility maintenance. (3) There was no significant difference in the quality of facility maintenance between the “Private contract model” and the “Multiple cooperative governance model”, but the former had higher water supply capacity; in addition, farmers under the “Multiple cooperative governance model” mainly used drip irrigation technology, whereas farmers under the “Private contract governance model” mainly used sprinkler irrigation technology. The findings of this study provide Chinese experience in promoting the governance of agricultural water facilities and promoting the water-saving behavior of farmers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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27 pages, 12201 KiB  
Article
Framework for Healthiness Assessment of Water Cycle to Decide the Priority of Enhancement and Restoration Plans
by Youngkyu Jin, Sangho Lee, Taeuk Kang, Yeulwoo Kim and Namjoo Lee
Water 2023, 15(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010006 - 20 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1353
Abstract
The water cycle in watersheds is vulnerable due to climate change; hence, the need for sustainable watershed management is increasing. This paper suggests a framework for a healthiness assessment of the water cycle to provide a guideline for systematic watershed management considering the [...] Read more.
The water cycle in watersheds is vulnerable due to climate change; hence, the need for sustainable watershed management is increasing. This paper suggests a framework for a healthiness assessment of the water cycle to provide a guideline for systematic watershed management considering the previous and current states. The suggested framework aims to prioritize restoration and enhancement plans based on the graded healthiness of the water cycle elements by the watersheds. The framework is composed of two assessment procedures: a problem-focused assessment to identify problems such as flood, drought, and river depletion in the watershed and the highest priority assessment to select the watershed for enhancement and restoration plans. The healthiness assessment method for each metric is suggested based on the Korean Framework Act on Water Management. The framework was applied to four different watersheds in South Korea. The framework is proven to be an effective method to identify practical emerging problems for the water cycle in each watershed. The framework can contribute to providing technical information to detect the water problem of the watershed by objectively diagnosing the watersheds with various potential water problems via the healthiness assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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10 pages, 2227 KiB  
Article
The Structural Characteristics of the Virtual Water Trade Network of the China’s Major Crops
by Xuan Liang, Aihua Long and Jiawen Yu
Water 2022, 14(24), 4083; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14244083 - 14 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1181
Abstract
The original intention of virtual water trade (VWT) is to help water-scarce areas adjust the crop trade structure to alleviate the water shortage problem. However, China’s existing virtual water trade (VWT) must effectively alleviate the problem. This paper’s structural features and stability of [...] Read more.
The original intention of virtual water trade (VWT) is to help water-scarce areas adjust the crop trade structure to alleviate the water shortage problem. However, China’s existing virtual water trade (VWT) must effectively alleviate the problem. This paper’s structural features and stability of the VWT network (VWTN) in China’s major crop trade between 2000 and 2017 were characterized using complex network theory. The results in terms of time scale showed that the total content of VW in China’s major crops increased by ~23.6% for 18 years. Trade relations among most regions remained stable, whereas a few areas changed: Jilin, Henan, and Heilongjiang played essential roles in the output network, and so did Guangdong, Shanghai, and Fujian in the input network. Attributed to policy adjustment, Henan and Jilin became more prominent in the output network with the gradual decline of Jiangsu’s position. Regarding spatial scale, the cumulative distribution of degrees consistent with the power–law relationship showed high variability and vulnerability of China’s VWTN, especially when nodes were weighted. Since areas with more VWT partners/content provided connectivity to those with fewer partners/content, it is worthwhile to focus on developing protection policies for critical areas. The virtual water trade from North China (water-poor) to South China (water-rich) is contrary to the distribution of water resources. A similar situation showed in a global world that the long-term supply relationship would aggravate the water resources shortage and food security. Furthermore, we suggest combining network theory and VWT to lay the foundation for the invulnerability research of VWTN and the optimal regulation of crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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17 pages, 874 KiB  
Article
Water Infrastructure Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Investigation of the Drivers and Impact on Economic Growth
by Kokou Dangui and Shaofeng Jia
Water 2022, 14(21), 3522; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14213522 - 03 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4118
Abstract
There is a strong link between water infrastructure and development outcomes. As such, water infrastructure challenges could have an adverse effect on the economy at large. This study investigates the drivers of water infrastructure performance and analyzes how investment in water infrastructure affects [...] Read more.
There is a strong link between water infrastructure and development outcomes. As such, water infrastructure challenges could have an adverse effect on the economy at large. This study investigates the drivers of water infrastructure performance and analyzes how investment in water infrastructure affects economic growth, focusing on a panel of thirty-one Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. An integrative theoretical framework using panel regressions was developed. The result showed that an increase in water infrastructure performance due to a 1% increase in per-capita income growth and trade openness was 0.2% and 0.03%, respectively, and the constraint on water infrastructure performance due to a 1% increase in population density was 0.76%. The result showed that the impact is mostly driven by the effect of per-capita income growth and population density on lower- and middle-income countries. Our results also revealed that one additional increase in water infrastructure investment leads to a higher impact on economic growth. We further complement our study by investigating the policy interventions that the support water infrastructure outcome effect. We found that investment in water infrastructure along with the provision of credit to the private sector is a strong driver of economic growth; however, access to credit beyond a certain threshold—relative to the level of investment in water infrastructure in these countries—investment in water infrastructure would lead to an adverse negative macroeconomic effect. The policy implications of this study are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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16 pages, 1617 KiB  
Article
Study on Ecological Compensation of Inter-Basin Water Transfer Based on Evolutionary Game Theory
by Zhuoyue Peng, Hangrong Pu and Yubin Liang
Water 2022, 14(21), 3498; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14213498 - 01 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1456
Abstract
Ecological compensation for inter-basin water transfer is an effective way of coordinating regional ecological environment protection and balancing the interest relationship between the water-source area and the water-receiving area. However, there are still some deficiencies in the research on the evolutionary game analysis [...] Read more.
Ecological compensation for inter-basin water transfer is an effective way of coordinating regional ecological environment protection and balancing the interest relationship between the water-source area and the water-receiving area. However, there are still some deficiencies in the research on the evolutionary game analysis and the compensation behavior of stakeholders. To this end, a replication dynamic model of evolutionary game analysis was established to analyze the behavior and mutual influence of the governments of the water-source area and the water-receiving area. We examined the dynamic evolution process of each strategy, discussed the stability of the evolution result, and calculated the penalty amount of the superior supervision department through the market value method and the willingness-to-pay method. The results show that in the process of independent selection of local governments, the social optimal environmental protection strategy (protection, compensation) will not reach a balanced and stable state, and the constraint elements of the superior supervision department must be introduced. If the penalty amount is greater than the maximum value between the wealth lost in the water-source area due to ecological protection and the money the local residents in the water-receiving area is willing to pay, the optimal stability strategy can be achieved most easily. Taking Yangzhou, the water-source area of the east route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, and Jinan, the water-receiving area, as an example, it is calculated that the loss cost of Yangzhou is 1.304 billion RMB (USD 189 million), and Jinan is willing to pay 1.753 billion RMB (USD 254 million). Therefore, in order to stabilize the optimal strategy (protection, compensation) between the governments of Yangzhou and Jinan, the penalty amount of the superior supervision department should be greater than 1.753 billion RMB (USD 254 million). Our results could provide a reference for regulating the relationship between stakeholders and promoting the innovation of ecological compensation system for inter-basin water transfer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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17 pages, 11128 KiB  
Article
The Water-Saving Management Contract in China: Current Status, Existing Problems, and Countermeasure Suggestions
by Wei Wang, Liang Ren, Chenning Deng, Qianyang Wang and Jingshan Yu
Water 2022, 14(19), 3116; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14193116 - 03 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1608
Abstract
This study analyzed the policies and summarized the current status of the national water-saving management contract (WSMC) development as well as its implementation between 2016 and 2020. Several main problems affecting and restricting the implementation of WSMC projects were identified including the lack [...] Read more.
This study analyzed the policies and summarized the current status of the national water-saving management contract (WSMC) development as well as its implementation between 2016 and 2020. Several main problems affecting and restricting the implementation of WSMC projects were identified including the lack of awareness of the importance of water conservation among water users, the limited number and scale of water conservation service enterprises, and the inadequacy of relevant policies and systems. Subsequently, 11 countermeasure suggestions were proposed, including stimulating the endogenous power of the WSMC, strengthening policy support for the WSMC, improving the supporting systems and the service systems, increasing investment and innovation of water conservation technologies, improving technical standards, exploring innovative WSMC models, promoting pilot demonstrations, deepening water price system reforms, increasing the publicity and training of the WSMC, strengthening coordination, and linkage between multiple departments. These suggestions can provide a reference for the relevant departments to develop and promote WSMC policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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16 pages, 2193 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Synergy Degree of Watershed Collaborative Governance: A Case Study of Taihu Basin, China
by Xiaofeng Huang, Weijian Qiu, Xingying Dai and Wenwen Hua
Water 2022, 14(19), 2981; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14192981 - 22 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1387
Abstract
Owing to the publicity and externality of watershed governance, collaborative governance among cities has become an inevitable choice to improve watershed governance performance and promote sustainable development of watersheds. Existing studies have provided many enlightenment on promoting watershed collaborative governance (WCG), while most [...] Read more.
Owing to the publicity and externality of watershed governance, collaborative governance among cities has become an inevitable choice to improve watershed governance performance and promote sustainable development of watersheds. Existing studies have provided many enlightenment on promoting watershed collaborative governance (WCG), while most of them investigated WCG from single or several dimensions with scanty quantitative empirical studies. Against this background, this study aims to establish a comprehensive WCG research framework involving multiple phases and diverse actors to empirically measure the synergy degree of WCG. Specifically, this study constructs a WCG index system composed of resource investment, open cooperation, and performance supervision subsystems that involves actors of government, enterprise, and the public. Using the complex system synergy model, an empirical analysis is performed to evaluate the synergy degree of Taihu Basin collaborative governance among and within cities in Jiangsu province, China during 2014–2020. The results reveal that the Tai Basin collaborative governance among cities was still in the run-in adaptation stage, which was primarily constrained by the discrete open cooperation subsystems among cities. The synergy degree of Taihu Basin collaborative governance within cities presented significant differences. Several targeted implications are proposed according to the results. This study provides a comprehensive index system for synergy degree measurement of WCG and could offer effective guidance for policymakers to design effective strategies for improving WCG performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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17 pages, 2408 KiB  
Article
Developing a Decision Support Evaluation Model Based on the Matter Element Analysis Method to Optimize the Environmental Flows in Dammed Rivers
by Ang Chen, Miao Wu, Dandan Shen and Shuang Song
Water 2022, 14(18), 2905; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182905 - 17 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1253
Abstract
The large number of dams in the world has caused many ecological problems, especially in ecologically fragile areas. Appropriate environmental flow (e-flows) releases reduce stress on river ecosystems caused by the flow alterations of dams. As e-flow releasing is substantially a decision-making process, [...] Read more.
The large number of dams in the world has caused many ecological problems, especially in ecologically fragile areas. Appropriate environmental flow (e-flows) releases reduce stress on river ecosystems caused by the flow alterations of dams. As e-flow releasing is substantially a decision-making process, it is important to choose the right calculation method in many e-flow assessment frameworks and calculation methods or to select the proper e-flow result from many scenarios. In China, there are government guidelines to assist managers in choosing an e-flow method for their situations, but the technical components of these guidelines are too general and not very specific, even though the coverage of the framework of guidelines is comparatively complete. Thus, a high degree of subjectivity remains in the method selection, and managers are often confused about the different e-flow results and scenarios. A more detailed decision support evaluation (DSE) model which can quantify and compare the results from different calculation methods is therefore needed to provide a basic technical economy evaluation. Based on the relevant policies and the dam priority classification frameworks in China, we propose a DSE model based on the matter element analysis (MEA) method to complement the Chinese e-flow framework. First, the flow regime criteria from the related government guidelines for a variety of conservation objectives are summarized. Secondly, different scenarios of e-flows are calculated based on the formal government guidelines and using the same hydrological database. Finally, the DSE model for assessing the different e-flow scenarios are built and demonstrated. MEA helped to quantify and optimize the different results and reduce the uncertainty. The DSE model presented in this study can be applied to e-flow optimization for all dammed rivers in China and serve as a decision support tool for managers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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14 pages, 1544 KiB  
Article
Governance Arrangements for Water Reuse: Assessing Emerging Trends for Inter-Municipal Cooperation through a Literature Review
by Fayaz Riazi, Teresa Fidélis and Filipe Teles
Water 2022, 14(18), 2789; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182789 - 08 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1944
Abstract
The transition towards a Water Circular Economy (WCE), in the sense of water reuse, demands cooperative governance and territorial rescaling to overcome fragmentations in sectors and water policies. While the transition is challenging for local governments and crosses economic sectors and spatial scales, [...] Read more.
The transition towards a Water Circular Economy (WCE), in the sense of water reuse, demands cooperative governance and territorial rescaling to overcome fragmentations in sectors and water policies. While the transition is challenging for local governments and crosses economic sectors and spatial scales, Inter-Municipal Cooperation IMC is gaining popularity due to its ability to contribute additional human, financial, and technological resources. However, cooperative governance arrangements require studying its benefits and impacts in its context. This study explores how IMC is being considered as a governance arrangement for the transitions towards WCE by conducting a review of the literature. The findings indicate that IMC appears as a promising government arrangement for WCE because it incorporates several significant potentials, such as facilitating the conciliation of interests between agencies, stakeholder engagement, and effective land use for water management. The literature reflects that the success of IMC for the adoption of WCE requires the simultaneous consideration of a set of governance practices, the assurance of cost efficiency and financial balance, and the assessment of social and environmental consequences. Nevertheless, these dimensions are not equally addressed by the literature. While governance and efficiency are often referred to, the assessment of IMC experiences in the context of WCE is still poorly explored, deserving further research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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19 pages, 2964 KiB  
Article
Connecting Water Access with Multidimensional Poverty: The Case of Tupiza River Basin in Bolivia
by Sophia Espinoza, Laura Forni, Angela Lavado, Marcelo Olivera, Cecilia Tapia, Blanca Vega, Melina Balderrama and Marisa Escobar
Water 2022, 14(17), 2691; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14172691 - 30 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1953
Abstract
In developing countries, where economic expansion depends on extractive activities such as agriculture and mining, water quantity and quality considerations need to be examined in tandem with GDP growth and poverty reduction efforts. Poorest households in the Tupiza watershed in Bolivia are located [...] Read more.
In developing countries, where economic expansion depends on extractive activities such as agriculture and mining, water quantity and quality considerations need to be examined in tandem with GDP growth and poverty reduction efforts. Poorest households in the Tupiza watershed in Bolivia are located in rural areas where water access for irrigation and safe drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce. Small-scale unregulated mining offers an alternative for revenue making in rural households, although wastewater from industry threatens water quality and new technologies to reduce water pollution are not implemented in this region yet. This study analyses water access and poverty linkages using the Multidimensional Poverty Analysis (MDPA) framework from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to guide a survey and to develop indicators using the Shapley-Owen decomposition method and multivariate regressions. A set of household-level policies were included to predict the influence of these policies on poverty reduction estimates. Results have shown that remote communities in rural areas have the lowest value of multidimensional poverty and for some of these communities mining activities represent an alternative that could be considered if their water access conditions worsen over time. While mining can bring better monetary benefits, it can cause the degradation of ecological flows from the produced wastewater. Under the current technologies and processes, it can pose negative impacts on water quality and threatens the public health of these communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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10 pages, 1263 KiB  
Article
Multi-Objective Crop Planting Structure Optimisation Based on Game Theory
by Li Wu, Junfeng Tian, Yanli Liu and Zhongfeng Jiang
Water 2022, 14(13), 2125; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14132125 - 03 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1912
Abstract
To realise the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin and transition from extensive utilisation to intensive conservation of agricultural water, a multi-objective crop planting structure optimisation model was established. The model enabled highly efficient crop planting in terms of [...] Read more.
To realise the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin and transition from extensive utilisation to intensive conservation of agricultural water, a multi-objective crop planting structure optimisation model was established. The model enabled highly efficient crop planting in terms of net income with high yield and low consumption of water. Thereafter, the game algorithm was used to balance different requirements of each objective function under each constraint, both competitively and cooperatively, to obtain an optimal crop planting structure. Finally, the proposed model and analysis method were demonstrated and verified using the Xiaolangdi south bank irrigation area as an example. The results indicated that using the competitive game algorithm produced a superior crop planting structure in terms of high net income, high yield, and low water usage, suggesting that the relationships between game players and objective functions should be considered in designing the optimisation model. Thus, the proposed approach provides a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of the agricultural industry by realising the intensive utilisation of water resources in a particular irrigation area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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29 pages, 4605 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Gender-Differentiated Impacts of Water Poverty on Different Livelihood Groups in Peri-Urban Areas around Dhaka, Bangladesh
by Lamiya Sharmeen Jaren, Rabeya Sultana Leya and M. Shahjahan Mondal
Water 2022, 14(7), 1167; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071167 - 06 Apr 2022
Viewed by 4094
Abstract
The concept of water poverty integrates water stress, access to safe water and sanitation, socioeconomic capacity, water uses and environmental aspects. This study presents a new concept to demonstrate gender-differentiated impacts of water poverty for different livelihood groups in a peri-urban setting. The [...] Read more.
The concept of water poverty integrates water stress, access to safe water and sanitation, socioeconomic capacity, water uses and environmental aspects. This study presents a new concept to demonstrate gender-differentiated impacts of water poverty for different livelihood groups in a peri-urban setting. The objective is to identify how gender and livelihood groups are affected by dynamic water poverty. A few peri-urban areas around Dhaka city were selected as the study area, and male and female industrial workers, small-scale male and female farmers, and economically inactive women were the target groups. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 220 respondents and using a number of participatory appraisal tools, such as focus group discussions, and semi-structured and key-informant interviews. Water poverty was assessed by its five components: resource, access, capacity, use and environment. Peri-urban water poverty is found not only to be limited to scarcity, or physical availability, of water resources, but also to encompass political, social, economic and institutional dimensions. The study found that inadequate availability and quality of water, restricted access and use, poor socioeconomic capacity and fragile environment affected every livelihood group, but these factors eventually led to extreme impoverishment for adolescent girls, and physically challenged and elderly women. Suggestions are provided as to how gender issues of water can be balanced at different levels to make water management decisions gender-sensitive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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20 pages, 2095 KiB  
Article
Role of Water Policies in the Adoption of Smart Water Metering and the Future Market
by Spancer Msamadya, Jin Chul Joo, Jung Min Lee, Jong Soo Choi, Sangho Lee, Doo Jin Lee, Hyeon Woo Go, So Ye Jang and Dong Hwi Lee
Water 2022, 14(5), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14050826 - 06 Mar 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4144
Abstract
Both status and progress in smart water metering (SWM) implementations in five selected countries (i.e., United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, and South Korea) are investigated in this study. Despite the countless benefits of SWM implementation, the diffusion of the SWM [...] Read more.
Both status and progress in smart water metering (SWM) implementations in five selected countries (i.e., United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, and South Korea) are investigated in this study. Despite the countless benefits of SWM implementation, the diffusion of the SWM technologies has been slow due to various challenges, including the absence of compulsory water policies, the lack of support from customers and expertise, and weak cost–benefit analysis. Over the past 30 years, the aforementioned countries have transitioned from a fixed charging to a volumetric charging regime composed of traditional water meters and SWM. Both the status and progress of SWM implementation are quite different among countries, although governments across the world have been applying water policies responding to water scarcity, population growth, and water demand management. However, the absence of strong water policies and political support for SWM implementation resulted in the slow and retarded spread of SWM implementation. Although several changes in water policies have occurred since 1990, there is no compulsory law for SWM implementation. Between 1995 and 2010, pilot/trial cases for SWM were dominant. After 2010, the number of SWM implementation kept increasing and all countries experienced more concentrated SWM implementation, despite the variances in both endpoints and completion of SWM implementation depending on water policies (i.e., acts and regulations) encouraging SWM implementations. The global market for SWM has consistently grown to USD 5.92 billion in 2020. Finally, the application of favourable water policies to optimize the use of water resources and to promote sustainable development is expected to drive the SWM market further. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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Review

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32 pages, 2193 KiB  
Review
A Holistic Review of Lake Rawapening Management Practices, Indonesia: Pillar-Based and Object-Based Management
by Djati Mardiatno, Faridah Faridah, Noviyanti Listyaningrum, Nur Rizki Fitri Hastari, Iwan Rhosadi, Apolonia Diana Sherly da Costa, Aries Dwi Wahyu Rahmadana, Ahmad Rif’an Khoirul Lisan, Sunarno Sunarno and Muhammad Anggri Setiawan
Water 2023, 15(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010039 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2761
Abstract
Lake Rawapening, Semarang Regency, Indonesia, has incorporated a holistic plan in its management practices. However, despite successful target achievements, some limitations remain, and a review of its management plan is needed. This paper identifies and analyzes existing lake management strategies as a standard [...] Read more.
Lake Rawapening, Semarang Regency, Indonesia, has incorporated a holistic plan in its management practices. However, despite successful target achievements, some limitations remain, and a review of its management plan is needed. This paper identifies and analyzes existing lake management strategies as a standard specifically in Lake Rawapening by exploring various literature, both legal frameworks and scholarly articles indexed in the Scopus database and Google Scholar about lake management in many countries. By using Publish or Perish with the keywords “lake management” OR “management of lake”, 1532 and 1990 works from the Scopus database and Google Scholar, respectively, have been reduced 37. The results show that there are two major types of lake management, namely pillar-based and object-based. The holistic review has resulted in nine points of pillar-based management, which consists of conceptual paradigms as the foundation, and 11 points of object-based management to restore or preserve the lake, which is in line with the form of programs and activities. Overall, Lake Rawapening management should be concerned with finance and technology when applying pillar-based management, and it should include more activities within programs on erosion-sedimentation control as well as monitoring of operational performance using information systems to ensure the implementation of activities within programs in applying object-based lake management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Water Management and Water Policy Research)
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