Comparison of practices

Use of water resources

Use of water resources

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Province: Osh Region

District: Kara-Suu District

Country: Uzbekistan

Province: Tashkent Region

Akbura River Basin

Chirchik River Basin, Zarafshan River Basin, mid-streams of Syr Darya River Basin, mid- and lower streams of the Amu Darya River

Start date: 01.01.2007

End date: 31.12.2017

Start date: 01.01.2015

End date: 31.12.2017

Low level of coordination among WUAs – as a rule, each WUA liaises independently with its water management organization (WMO).

Until today, hydrometric revolver meters (GR-21) with propeller blade and contact mechanism are generally used.  These mechanisms are difficult to operate and require special skills and knowledge on behalf of personnel.  GR-21 hydrometric revolver meters possess certain essential flaws, including the following:

• need for individual calibration (speed) execution and subsequent check-up of which requires an expensive test stand;
• lack of continuous measuring capacity;
• operating requires complete dismantling, cleaning and lubrication after each use, etc.;
• presence of mechanically rubbing details in design unprotected from harmful effects of water;
• impromptness of water speed (current) data.

Methods of integration and social mobilization

Electronic Water Current Meter (ISV-1)

The AAMC-WUU is an association of legal entities in the form of Union – a voluntary independent non-profit public organization uniting legal entities (i.e. WUAs) based on common interests with the aim of coordinating actions and protecting shared interests and rights.  AAMC-WUU operates as per the Charter approved at the general meeting of water user representatives, has its own stamp and bank account.

Actions:

The creation of AAMC-WUU began with the establishment of the Initiative Group (IG).  The IG consisted of active water specialists, representatives of water users and other stakeholders who saw the need to transit to IWRM.  Further on, the IG carried out social mobilization, drafted necessary documents (the Union’s Charter, etc.), organized the general meeting of water users that approved the Charter and established the Union’s Council (Board).  After that, AAMC-WUU underwent legal registration and officially launched its work.

Results:

• AAMC-WUU established, legally registered and has been operating until present time;
• AAMC-WUU contributed to the following:
  - enhanced stability and uniformity of water supply to WUAs via state WMO;
  - better collection of water supply service fees paid by WUAs to state WMO.
• Representing the interests of water users as a member of the RMC Water Committee, AAMC-WUU also contributed to decreasing conflicts between WUAs and WMO.

ISV-1 is universal and easy to use.  Measurements are presented on the display in digital form and in speed units.  Use of the electronic device for measuring water speed and, based on it, water consumption facilitates the work of hydro-accountants.

Device characteristics:

• no rubbing details in the design;
• no requirement for preliminary and subsequent periodic calibration;
• measurement results do not depend on changes in physical composition and properties of water;
• simplifies the process of water speed measuring and, therefore, water consumption accounting;
• available in stationary and portable designs;
• measurement error is comparable to this of the widely used GR-21;
• small overall dimensions and weight;
• relatively low cost, etc.

 The device is universal and its measurement results do not depend on water composition and properties, except for temperature (desired range 0 to +30°C). The device underwent successful testing and was deployed in 5 Basin Irrigation System Administrations (BISA): Chirchik-Akhangaran BISA, Zarafshan BISA, Syr Darya-Sokh BISA, Amu-Surkhan BISA, Lower Amu Darya BISA.

Actions:

• manufacturing of 5 ISV-1 devices;
• training of BISA hydro-accountants on device operation and use.

Results:

• 5 above-stated BISAs accepted (acceptance certificate) and are presently using them;
• the device’s testing is continuing for different irrigation system conditions;
• the device developers continue receiving positive feedback from leading hydro-accountants;
• at present, the works to enhance and certify the device are in progress.

Lessons learnt:

The effectiveness of AAMC-WUU depends on internal and external conditions: capacities (financial, institutional, etc.) of its members (i.e. WUAs) and the level of democracy and market development in a given country.  In turn, the growth of capacities of AAMC-WUU members depends on AAMC-WUU performance.

Recommendation:

Currently, WUAs capacities are rather poor which is reflected in AAMC-WUA own underperformance.  Considering that WUA represent the weakest link in water hierarchy and the role of water users in addressing national food, water and environmental security needs, the government should find opportunities to support (first of all, financially) WUAs/AAMC-WUU during transition period (until they become self-sufficient).

Lessons learnt:

Application of the device increases the efficiency of data collection compared to the currently used equipment, as well as promotes rational and effective use of water resources due to higher accuracy, reliability and efficiency of irrigation water accounting data and saving of material and labor resources.

Recommendations:

The device is recommended for use on large canals and collector facilities as well as intra-farm water supply networks.  Today, the majority of WUAs do not have revolver meters or other water-measuring devices in their disposal, so fitting them with such units would improve WUAs overall technical capacities.

With the ongoing acute deficit of hydro-accountants, any technical college graduate would be able to use ISV-1.

Foreign tools (transfer of foreign experience)

Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

1. Cost of implementation: Moderate

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha: $1000

3. O&M costs: Low

4. Expert support: Needed at implementation stage

Project title: Integrated Water Resources Management in the Fergana Valley (IWRM-Fergana).

Project duration: Jan 01, 2001-Dec 31, 2012 (12 years).

Project goal and objectives: overall project goal was “to contribute to safer living, environmental sustainability and wide social harmony, to support rural restructuring in Central Asian countries by enhancing water resources management based on the example of the Ferghana Valley”.

Project beneficiaries: WUAs, farmers in project sites.

Project implementer: IWMI, SIC of the ICWC, Project Steering Committee (PSC) consisting of 3 representatives of the Ministries of Rural and Water Management (MRWM) of project target countries, 3 heads of Regional Water Administrations hosting project target sites.

Project title: Commercial contract engagement with 5 BISAs.

Project duration: 2015-2017.

Project goal and objectives: create an easy-to-operate tool to measure water speed (current) within the 0.2-5.0 m/s range for deployment on facilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management (MAWM) of the RUz.

Project beneficiaries: BISAs of the MAWM of the RUz.

Project implementer: Head Water Administration (HWA) of the MAWM of the RUz.

Guidelines on IWRM streamlining, Volume 1 (Institutional Aspects), Tashkent 2011.

Operator manual for the electronic device “Water Speed Measuring Unit”, 2015.

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC