[1] Introduction to Water Resources Management

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1 Fall 2007 Water Resources Management Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Water Resources Management

[1]Introduction

Mohammad N. Almasri


General Introduction

Water resources are finite

There are limits to the amounts of water that can beutilized

There are also limits to the amounts of potentialpollutants that can be discharged into the waterresources

These facts should be reflected in the way that weutilize these resources


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Management Questions

What would be the maximum total pumpingvolumes that can be pumped out from anaquifer without exceeding a certain drawdown?



How to maximizepumping rate froma coastal aquiferwithout causingthe occurrence ofsalt-waterintrusion?


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Where to construct a dumpsite such that the risk ofcontaminating a near-by pumping well is minimized?



What is the maximum fertilizer application ratesuch that nitrate concentration in groundwaterdoes not exceed the maximum contaminant level?


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How can we provide a good-quality water forirrigation in a specific area?

How can we use the water resources when thesupplies and demands are uncertain


Purpose of Water Resources Management

The central purpose of water resources planningand management, in part, is to address, and ifpossible to answer, the previous questions

This course is about how quantitative analysisand in particular computer models andoptimization can support and improve waterresources planning and management


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Spatial Scale of Water Resources Management

Apparently, the river flow ata certain point is a complexoutput from the differentactivities that are takingplace in the upstreamwatersheds contributing tothe river

The same applies for waterquality

You cannot manage withoutconsidering the entiresystem

Watersheds of Jordan RiverFariaHasbaniLake TiberiasN/ANorth Rift Side WadisSouth Rift Side WadisUpper Jordan

YarmoukZarqa

Palestine

Surface waterDead Sea

Lake Tiberias

Layout preparor: Mohammad N. Almasri, PhDWater and E nvironmental Studies Institute

An-Najah National University

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7 0 7 Kilometers


Spatial Scale of Water Resources Management

Watersheds or aquifersystems are usuallyconsidered logical regionsfor management

This makes sense if theimpacts of decisions arecontained within the

watershed or aquifer How water is managed in

one part of the aquifer(watershed) can impact thewater in other parts of theaquifer

For example, the dischargeof pollutants in the upstreamportion of the watershedmay degrade the quality ofthe flows downstream

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Faria watershed outline

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Layout preparer: Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

West Bank


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Definitions

Management. Act of managing by direction,regulation, or administration

Integrated Management. Unified, combined andcoordinated management of problems whichcorrelates (links) relevant organizations, groups,individuals and disciplines by bringing the parts

together for a complete approach


Definitions

Water Resources Management. Measures andactivities concerning the supply of water, theimprovement of efficiency in its use, thereduction of losses and waste, water-saving

practices to reduce costs and to slow thedepletion of the water supply to ensure futurewater availability, and protection of the qualityof water resources


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Elements of Water Resources

Output of Water Resources Systems

A. Water allocation to user sectors Municipal

Agriculture

Industry

Hydroelectric power

Flood control

Navigation

Recreation

Fish and wildlife habitats

B. Quantity and quality of the water resource system Flow of water in a river

Quality of water in a river


Elements of Water ResourcesDecision Variables

A. Management and planning

Operating strategies

Land use zoning

Regional coordination and allocation policy

Number and location of treatment plants

Sequence of treatments and treatment levelachieved

B. Investment policy

Budget allocation to various subsystems

Taxing and subsidy strategies


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Elements of Water Resources

Constraints on System Performance Economic constraints: for example, budget, B/C ratio

Political constraints: for example, tradeoff betweenregions

Law: for example, water rights

Physical and technology constraints: for example,

probability of water availability

Standards: system output may have to meet certainstandards: for example, effluent standards fromwastewater treatment plants


Elements of Water ResourcesPhysical and Engineering Components

A. System components

Dam and control structures

Distribution or collection systems comprised of (a)canals, (b) pipes, and (c) pumping stations

Treatment plants

B. Features of system components

Physical properties of stream: for example, roughness,slope

Biochemical properties of stream: for example, rate ofdegradation

Chemical properties of stream: for example, hardness,pH


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Temporal Scale of Water Resources Management

Water resources planning is for the future

Decisions recommended for the immediate futureshould be based on their future impacts. Theseimpacts may also depend on economic,demographic, and physical conditions now and oninto some distant future

The question of just how far into the future oneneed to look, and try to forecast, is directlydependent on the influence that future forecast hason the present decisions



What is most important now is what decision tomake now since this will indeed impact the decisionsto be made in the future

Planning is a continuing sequential process. Waterresources plans need to be periodically updated andadapt to new information, new objectives, andupdated forecasts of future demands, costs, andbenefits


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Time needed toreduce thenitrateconcentrationbelow the MCL

This timedictates the MO

Short timeperiod impliesmore drasticMO

9.5

10.0

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1 18 35 52 69 86 103 120

Time (months)

Nitrateconcentration(mg/L)


Approaches of ManagementTop-Down Approach

In the top-down approach, multi-purpose masterplans are developed

These plans typically describes all aspects of waterresources management and use

Also, alternative management options are identifiedand evaluated

Based on these evaluations, the preferred plan ispresented


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Approaches of Management

Top-Down Approach In this approach, there is typically little if any active

participation of interested stakeholders

The approach assumes that one or more institutionshave the ability and authority to develop andimplement the plan

In today's environment where publics are calling forless government oversight, regulation and control,and increasing participation in planning andmanagement activities, the top-down approachesare becoming less desirable or acceptable


Approaches of ManagementBottom-Up Approach

Within the past decade water resources planningand management processes have increasinglyinvolved the active participation of interestedstakeholders

Stakeholders are those affected in any way bythe management of the resource of interest

In addition, stakeholders can be viewed as thosewho are in a position of taking decisions


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Bottom-Up Approach Successful planning and management involves

motivating all potential stakeholders and sponsors tojoin and participate in the water resources planning andmanagement process

Without significant citizen involvement, managementplans have little chance of success if they do not takeinto consideration the concerns and have the support of

affected local stakeholders

To gain their support, concerned stakeholders must beincluded in the decision-making process as early aspossible


Approaches of ManagementBottom-Up Approach

They must become part of the decision-making process, notmerely spectators, or even advisors to it

This will help gain their cooperation and commitment to theplans eventually adopted

Participating stakeholders will consider the resulting plans astheir plans. They will have a sense of ownership, and as suchwill strive to make them work

Such adopted plans, if they are to be successfully implemented,must fit within existing legislative, permitting, enforcement andmonitoring programs. Stakeholder participation improves thechance that the system being managed will be sustainable


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Integrated Water Resources Management Approach (IWRM)

The concept of IWRM looks towards comprehensivewater policy planning which addresses the interactionbetween different sub-sectors

The key aspect of IWRM is that the management anddevelopment of the resources consider the use of theresources in relation to the social and economicactivities and functions

Thus, the IWRM can be defined as the process whichpromotes the coordinated development andmanagement of water, land and related resources, inorder to maximize the resultant economic and socialwelfare


Typical Management Framework

The three keyphases of thatframeworkare: inception;development,

and selection

Interactionwith thedecision makeris essentialthroughout theprocess

PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS

Characterization of Natural Resources

Identification of System Stresses

Stakeholder Meeting

Data Collection Campaigns

Statistical Analysis

INCEPTION

CONCEPTUALIZATION

Problem Statement

Problem QuestionsObjectives

Spatial and Temporal Scale

Methodology

Itimized Workplan and Schedule

INCEPTION REPORT

DEVELOPMENT SELECTION

PROCESSING

Strategy Design

Impact Assessment

Sensitivity Analysis

Scenario Evaluation

Overall Assessment

DECISION

Presentation of Results

Conclusions

Recommendations

FINAL REPORT

MODELING

Natual Resources

Economic System

social System

Code Selection

OPTIMIZATION

Decision Variables

Constraints

TechniquesCode Selection

INITIAL ANALYSIS

Measures

Criteria

DRAFT REPORT

DECISION MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDER REPRESENTATIVES


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Inception Phase The first phase of the process is the inception phase

In the inception phase the subject of the analysis (what isanalyzed under what conditions) and the objective of theanalysis (what are the desired results of the analysis) arespecified

Based on this initial analysis, during which intensivecommunication with (representatives of the) decision makeris essential, the approach for the analysis is specified

The results of the inception phase are presented in theinception report, which includes the work plan for the otherphases of the analysis process


Typical Management FrameworkDevelopment Phase

In the development phase, tools are developed foranalyzing and identifying possible solutions to theproblems

The main block of activities is usually related to modeling

Individual measures will be developed and screened in thisphase using selected criteria

The development phase is characterized by an increasedunderstanding of the functioning of the system

Interactions with decision makers are facilitated throughpresentations of interim results in interim reports


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Selection Phase The purpose of the selection phase is to prepare a

limited number of promising strategies based on adetailed analysis of their effects on the evaluationcriteria, and to present them to the decision makers

Decision makers will make the final selection

Important activities in this phase are strategy design,evaluation of strategies and presentation

The results of this phase are included in the final report

Documents

[1] Introduction to Water Resources Management