MODULE X

WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

 INTRODUCTION

Water conservation is the practice of sustainably managing fresh water and

protecting the hydrosphere for current and future human use. Water management
is practiced through a reduction in water use, waste and quality through an
increase in the favorable use of water. All the diverse and integrated water
resources management, as well as the principles of water efficiency and
bioretention, will be discussed in this module.

OBJECTIVES

After studying this module, you should be able to:

1. To explain the concept of water conservation and water efficiency;
2. To describe the concept of bioretention system;
3. To determine the advantages and disadvantages of drip irrigation;
4. To describe the significance of rainwater harvesting; and
5. To describe the implementation of integrated water resource management.

 DIRECTIONS/ MODULE ORGANIZER

There is one (1) lesson in this module. Read each lesson carefully and assess how
much you have benefited from it. Answer the exercises and/or activities and
submit your output to your subject instructor.

In case you encounter difficulty in understanding your lesson, discuss this with your
subject instructor.

Happy reading and learning!

 Page |2

Lesson 1

WATER CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY

Water Conservation
Over the years, rising populations, growing industrialization, and expanding
agriculture have pushed up the demand for water. Efforts have been made to collect
water by building dams and reservoirs and digging wells. Some countries have also tried
to recycle and desalinate water. The idea of ground water recharging by harvesting
rainwater is gaining importance in many cities.
In the forests, water seeps gently into the ground. This groundwater in turn feeds
wells, lakes, and rivers. Protecting forests means protecting water “catchments”. In
ancient India, people believed that forests were the “mothers” of rivers and worshipped
the sources of these water bodies.
Conservation of water in the agricultural sector is essential since water is
necessary for the growth of plants and crops. A depleting water table and a rise in
salinity due to overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has made matters serious.
Various methods of water harvesting and recharging have been applied all over the
world to tackle the problem. In areas where rainfall is low and water is scarce, the
local people have used simple techniques that are suited to their region and reduce the
demand for water. In arid and semi-arid areas, the ‘tank’ system is traditionally the
backbone of agricultural production. Tanks are constructed either by bunding or by
excavating the ground and collecting rainwater.
Simple techniques can be used to reduce the demand for water. The underlying
principle is that only part of the rainfall or irrigation water is taken up by plants, the
rest percolates into the deep groundwater, or is lost by evaporation from the surface.
Therefore, by improving the efficiency of water use, and by reducing its loss due to
evaporation, the demand for water can be reduced.

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 Page |3

Methods to reduce losses and to improve soil moisture:

• Mulching, (the application of organic or inorganic material such as plant debris,
compost, etc.) slows down the surface run-off, improves the soil moisture,
reduces evaporation losses and improves soil fertility.
• Soil covered by crops, slows down run-off and minimizes evaporation losses.
Hence, fields should not be left bare for long periods of time.
• Ploughing helps to move the soil around. As a consequence, it retains more water
thereby reducing evaporation.
• Shelter belts of trees and bushes along the edge of agricultural fields slow down
the wind speed and reduce evaporation and erosion.
• Planting of trees, grass, and bushes breaks the force of rain and helps rainwater
penetrate the soil.
• Fog and dew contain substantial amounts of water that can be used directly by
adapted plant species. Artificial surfaces such as netting-surfaced traps or
polyethylene sheets can be exposed to fog and dew. The resulting water can be
used for crops.
• Contour farming is adopted in hilly areas and in lowland areas for paddy fields.
Farmers recognize the efficiency of contour-based systems for conserving soil
and water.
• Salt-resistant varieties of crops have also been developed recently. Because
these grow in saline areas, overall agricultural productivity is increased without
making additional demands on freshwater sources. Thus, this is a good water
conservation strategy.
• Desalination technologies such as distillation, electro-dialysis and reverse
osmosis are available.
• Use of efficient watering systems such as drip irrigation and sprinklers will reduce
the water consumption by plants.

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 Page |4

The most important step in the direction of finding solution to issues of water
and environmental conservation is to change people’s attitudes and habits. Conserve
water because it is the right thing to do. Here are some simple things to follow to
contribute to water conservation:
• Try to do one thing each day that will result in saving water. Don’t worry if the
savings are minimal. You can make a difference.
• Remember to use only the amount you actually need.
• Form a group of water-conscious people and encourage your friends and
neighbors to be part of the group. Promote water conservation in community
newsletters and on bulletin boards. Encourage your friends, neighbors and c-
workers to also contribute.
• Encourage your family to keep looking for new ways to conserve water in and
around your home.
• Make sure that your home is leak-free. Many homes have leaking pipes that go
unnoticed.
• Do not leave the tap running while you are brushing your teeth or soaping your
face.
• See that there are no leaks in the toilet tank. You can check this by adding color
to the tank. If there is a leak, color will appear in the toilet bowl within 30
minutes. Flush as soon as the test is done, since food coloring may stain the
tank.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Put a brick or any other device that
occupies space to cut down on the amount of water needed for each flush.
• When washing the car, use water from a bucket and not a hosepipe.
• Do not throw away water that has been used for washing vegetables or rice, use
it to water plants or to clean the floors, etc.
You can store water in a variety of ways. A simple method is to place a drum on
a raised platform directly under the rainwater collection source. You can also collect
water in a bucket during the rainy season.

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 Page |5

Water Efficiency
The use of water in buildings has an indirect but large contribution to energy and
resource consumption. The production and distribution of water for buildings is an
energy-intensive activity. Energy is used to purify fresh water sources to a level that is
safe for consumption in buildings and to run pumps for cleansing and distribution. In
many regions where fresh water is a scarce resource, additional energy is required to
extract water from deep underground to transport water from a long distance, or to
operate an energy-intensive desalination plant. Furthermore, transferring wastewater
back to the treatment plant requires energy for pumping. Therefore, if we conserve
water, we conserve energy.

Five Key Water Efficiency Technologies:

1. Metering and water consumption information is one of the key technologies to
help manage water consumption. Conventionally, water consumption
information is only provided in a form of monthly water bills without much detail
in water consumption. Moreover, in many cases, users do not have access to such
information, such as in commercial buildings or in multi-dwelling building
complexes, where many units share one common water meter. Separate
metering and provision of detailed water consumption information helps users to
monitor the amount of water consumed and their consumption patterns. They
help users to become more conscious in their daily water consumption and
catalyze water saving behaviors.
2. Rainwater harvesting systems facilitate collecting good quality water from
natural precipitation. The most popular method of harvesting rainwater is
collection from roofs or other building surfaces. A simple system includes roof
gutter and downspouts, which run into a storage tank. A detachable downspout
is often used to exclude the first runoff during a rainstorm. The first runoff is
usually contaminated with dust, leaves, insects or bird droppings.

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 Page |6

3. Grey water reuse systems recycle and reuse grey water from shower/bath drain,
basins and sinks for non-potable water uses, such as toilet flushing and irrigation,
within a building. A grey water reuse system often consists of a piping network
to channel grey water from its sources to a treatment system, a holding tank,
and distribution pipe to end sue points, such as the irrigation system.
4. Hydro-pneumatic water supply systems introduce air pressure into water tanks
as a key energy-saving component in water supply systems for building use. The
compressed air in the tank serves three main functions:
a. Supplying water at a preset pressure range
b. Reducing pressure surges in the water supply systems
c. Using the pressure setting to monitor and control water pumps
5. Water-saving devices: Four types of water saving device have been developed to
save water consumption in buildings.
a. First type of products applies aeration technology which mixes air to the
water flow to reduce the amount of water released. This type of device acts
as a water flow regulator and can be as simple as a thimble that can be fixed
onto almost any domestic water tap, such as those at kitchen sinks and hand
wash basins. Kitchen sink taps fixed with flow regulator can achieve a flow
rate of less than 6 liters per minute without compromising the water
pressure.
b. The second type improves the design of toilets and urinals to reduce the
amount of water released, while maximizing the cleaning effect.
c. The third type relates to water saving appliances, such as dishwashers and
clothes washers. Technology development and new designs have resulted in
significant water savings for these devices.
d. The fourth type relates to the design and application of automation
technologies in landscape irrigation systems. For example, water saving drip
irrigation systems use 30% - 50% less water than sprinkler irrigation systems.

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 Page |7

Lesson 2

BIORETENTION, DRIP IRRIGATION, AND RAINWATER HARVESTING

BIORETENTION
Bioretention system consists of a soil bed planted with suitable non-invasive
(preferably native) vegetation. Stormwater entering the bioretention system is filtered
through the soil planting bed before being either conveyed downstream by an
underdrain system or infiltrated into the existing subsoil below the soil bed. Vegetation
in the soil planting bed provides uptake of pollutants and runoff and helps maintain the
pores and associated infiltration rates of the soil in the bed.
Bioretention systems are used to remove a wide range of pollutants, such as
suspended solids, nutrients, metals, hydrocarbons, and bacteria from stormwater
runoff. They can also be used to reduce peak runoff and increase stormwater infiltration
when designed as a multi-stage, multi-function facility.
Bioretention systems can be used to filter the runoff from both residential and
nonresidential developments. Concentrated inflow from a drainage pipe or swale must
include adequate erosion protection and energy dissipation measures.
Bioretention systems are most effective when they receive runoff as close to its
source as possible. They can vary in size and can receive and treat runoff from a variety
of drainage areas within a land development site. They can be installed in lawns,
median strips, parking lot islands, unused impervious areas and lawns.

Design Criteria
The basic design parameters for bioretention systems are its storage volume, the
thickness, character, and permeability rate of its planting soil bed. The system must
have sufficient storage volume above the surface of the bed to contain the design storm
runoff volume without overflow. The thickness and character of the bed itself must
provide adequate pollutant removal, while the bed’s permeability rate must be
sufficient to drain the stored runoff within 72 hours.

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 Page |8

Storage Volume, Depth and Duration

Bioretention systems shall be designed to treat and discharge the runoff volume
generated by the stormwater. The maximum water depth during the treatment of
stormwater runoff volume shall be 12 inches in a flat-bottomed bioretention system
and 18 inches at the deepest end of a sloped-bottom bioretention system.

Bioretention Basin Schematic

Permeability Rates
The designed permeability rate through the planting soil bed must be sufficient
to fully drain the stormwater runoff volume within 72 hours. This permeability rate
must be determined by field and/or laboratory testing.
Planting Soil Bed
The planting soil bed provides the environment for water and nutrients to be
made available to the vegetation. The soil particles can adsorb some additional
pollutants through cation exchange, and voids within the soil particles can store portion
of the stormwater quality design. The planting soil bed material should consist of the
following mix, by weight: 85 to 95 percent sands, with no more than 25% of the sands
as fine or very fine sands; no more than 15% sild and clay with 2% to 5% clay content.
Vegetation

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 Page |9

The vegetation in a bioretention system removes some of the nutrients and other
pollutants in the stormwater inflow. The environment around the root system breaks
down some pollutants and converts others to less harmful compounds. The use of native
plant material is recommended for bioretention systems wherever possible. The goal of
the planting plan should be to stimulate a forest-shrub community of primarily upland
type. As there will be various wetness zones within a well-designed and constructed
bioretention system, plants must be selected and placed appropriately. Trees should
dominate the perimeter zone that is subject to less frequent inundation.

DRIP IRRIGATION
Drip irrigation is a form of irrigation that saves water and fertilizer by allowing
water to drip slowly to the roots of many different plants, either onto the soil surface
or directly onto the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters.
Growers and irrigation professionals often refer to “subsurface drip irrigation”
or SDI. When a drip tape is buried below the soil surface, it is less vulnerable to damage
due to UV radiation, cultivation or weeding. With SDI, water use efficiency is maximized
because there is even less evaporation or runoff.
Agricultural chemicals can be applied more efficiently through drip irrigation.
Since only the crop root zone is irrigated, nitrogen already in the soil is less subject to
leaching losses, and applied fertilizer can be used more efficiently.
Types of Drip Irrigation Systems
System Type Internal Wall Emitter Emitter
Diameter Thickness spacing Flow rate
(inches) (mil) (inches) (gal/h)
Drip tape 0.375 – 1.375 4 – 35 2 – 36 0.07 – 0.84
Tubing (drip 0.410 – 0.800 23 – 47 12 – 60 0.40 – 1.80
line) with in-
line emitters
Hard hose with 0.125 – 1.5 29 – 125 custom 0.50 – 4.0
punch-in
emitters

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 P a g e | 10

Chemigation
Chemigation through drip systems efficiently delivers chemicals in the root zone
of the receiving plants. Because of the precision of application, chemigation can be
safer and use less material. Several commercial fertilizers and pesticides are labeled
for delivery by drip irrigation.

RAINWATER HARVESTING
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse
on-site, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater can be collected from rivers or
roofs, and in many places the water collected is redirected to a deep pit (well, shaft,
or borehole), a reservoir with percolation, or collected from dew or fog with nets or
other tools. Its uses include water for gardens, livestock, irrigation, domestic use with
proper treatment, and indoor heating for houses etc. The harvested water can also be
used as drinking water, longer-term storage and for other purposes such as groundwater
recharge.
System Setup
Rainwater harvesting systems can range in complexity, from systems that can be
installed with minimal skills, to automated systems that require advanced setup and
installation. The basic rainwater harvesting system is more of a plumbing job than a
technical job as well as all the outlets from the building terrace are connected through
a pipe to an underground tank that stores water.
Systems are ideally sized to meet the water demand throughout the dry season
since it must be big enough to support daily water consumption. Specifically, the
rainfall capturing area such as a building roof must be large enough to maintain
adequate flow. The water storage tank size should be large enough to contain the
captured water.
For low-tech systems, there are many low-tech methods used to capture
rainwater: rooftop systems, surface water capture, and pumping the rainwater that has

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 P a g e | 11

already soaked into the ground or captured in reservoirs and storing it into tanks
(cisterns).

New Approaches
Instead of using the roof for catchment, the RainSaucer, which looks like an
upside-down umbrella, collects rain straight from the sky. This decreases the potential
for contamination and makes potable water for developing countries a potential
application. Other applications of this free-standing rainwater collection approach are
sustainable gardening and small plot farming.

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 P a g e | 12

Lesson 3

INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) has been defined as a process

which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and
related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in
an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
IWRM is based on the three principles: social equity, economic efficiency and
environmental sustainability.
• Social equity means ensuring access for all users (particularly marginalized and
poorer user groups) to an adequate quantity and quality of water necessary to
sustain human well-being. The right of all users to the benefits gained from the
use of water also needs to be considered when making water allocations.
Benefits may include enjoyment of resources through recreational use or the
financial benefits generated from the use of water for economic purposes.
• Economic efficiency means bringing the greatest benefit to the greatest number
of users possible with the available financial and water resources. This requires
that the most economically efficient option is selected. The economic value is
not only about price – it should consider current and future social and
environmental costs and benefits.
• Ecological sustainability requires that aquatic ecosystems are acknowledged as
users and that adequate allocation is made to sustain their natural functioning.
Achieving this criterion also requires that land uses and developments that
negatively impact these systems are avoided or limited.

IWRM approaches involve applying knowledge from various disciplines as well as

the insights from diverse stakeholders to devise and implement efficient, equitable and
sustainable solutions to water and development problems. As such, IWRM is a
comprehensive, participatory planning and implementation tool for managing and

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 P a g e | 13

developing water resources in a way that balances social and economic needs, and that
ensures the protection of ecosystems for future generations.

Implementation
IWRM aims to create sustainable water security within the present constraints
and to improve the conditions in the catchment basin. Some important conditions for
implementing IWRM are the following:
• Political will and commitment: Political will at all levels can help unite all
stakeholders and move the process forward. It is especially needed if the
resulting plan or arrangement would create or require changes in legal and
institutional structures, or if controversies and conflicts among stakeholders
exist. Access to actors outside the water box is essential to move political will,
gain sectoral support and ease public pressure for IWRM implementation.
• Basin management plan and clear vision: Water resources development
coordinated among various sectors and users is facilitated by the preparation of
a master plan that reflects the individual sector plans and offers the most
effective and efficient utilization of the resource.
• Participation and coordination mechanisms, fostering information sharing and
exchange: The identification of key stakeholders can be facilitated through
interviews and meetings. Stakeholder involvement can be defined appropriately
for local conditions and improved gradually. Initial sharing of general basin-wide
data and information, and further sharing of more specific information, will
assist the self-sustaining system.
• Capacity development: Capacity development and training priorities should be
expressed at all levels, including that of decentralized local government.
Participants who may be adversely impacted and/or socially marginalized may
be stimulated to participate within a consensus-building strategy.
• Well-defined flexible and enforceable legal frameworks and regulation: It is
necessary to assemble and review the full range of existing laws and regulations

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 P a g e | 14

that apply to water-related activities and determine how existing legislation

adapts or can be better adapted to accommodate sustainability and integration
with regard to water resources management.
• Water allocation plans: As water is a shared resource, water rights should be
flexible in terms of allocation in order to accommodate changes. Preparing a
master plan that reflects individual sector plans facilitates the coordination
among various sectors and advocates the most appropriate utilization of a basin’s
resource.
• Adequate investment, financial stability and sustainable cost recovery:
Coordination for IWRM implementation needs financial sustainability – such as
the promotion of cost recovery – and must consider long-term management.
Various combinations and roles of international financing and donors such as
government grants, public resources, user charges and taxes, donor funds, basin
environmental trust funds can be considered as funding options.
• Good knowledge of the natural resources present in the basin: Adequate
knowledge and information on the water resources inventory and human
resources of the basin is desirable.
• Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation: Monitoring and evaluation are
essential for ensuring that the current management of water resources is
properly implemented, and to identify the needs for adjusting management
strategies. Upgrading new technologies is vital foe effective performance both
of local and central water management.

River Basin Management Plan

River basin management planning is a cyclical process that is punctuated at
intervals by consultation and reporting. The ongoing planning process can be broken
down into four main stages:
Stage 1 – Identify whether there is an environmental problem

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10

 P a g e | 15

A problem could be the failure of a protected area or water body to achieve its
objective, or a deterioration in status over time. The condition of protected areas and
water bodies is assessed. The current status of water bodies is assessed through the
process of classification and comparison of these results over time will indicate whether
any deterioration in that status is occurring. Classification results can indicate whether
there is an environmental problem in a water body but other information, including
information from stakeholders, can also be used.
Stage 2 – identify the cause(s) of the environmental problem
The cause of the problem must be determined in order to identify appropriate
solutions. In order to understand the causes of problems, studies or investigations of
river basin management plans were conducted. These have greatly improved the
understanding of the reasons why water bodies are not at good status.
Stage 3 – Identify and assess measures to resolve the environmental problem
Actions may be needed to reduce the impact of current problems or prevent
future problems such as deterioration in status. Where more than one technically
feasible measures are available, options should be assessed (including use of cost
benefit and ecosystem services assessment). All of the measures required to fully
resolve the problem are identified.
Stage 4 – Identify the relevant objectives and when they can be achieved
The achievement of objectives is determined by considering how and when the
measures to achieve the outcomes will be funded and implemented. Once objectives
have been agreed, monitoring and classification are used to assess compliance against
those objectives.

Natural Resources and Environmental Management Module 10