مدیریت یکپارچه منابع آب در حوزه آبخیز رودخانه Nenetzingo در مکزیک
Abstract
1- Introduction
2- Conceptual theoretical framework
3- Study area
4- Material and methods
5- Results and discussion
6- Conclusions
References
Abstract
Currently, many parts of the world are facing challenges resulting from poor water quality and water scarcity. To achieve water sustainability under this scenario, the main causes of water problems must be addressed while simultaneously dealing with their consequences. The development of a systemic perspective of water management is vital for facing such challenges. Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is one approach that analyzes water management from a systemic perspective, and structured systems analysis is a generalized and complementary approach that can facilitate the analysis of water management systems. The objective of this study was to perform a structural analysis of the water management system of the Nenetzingo River watershed (Mexico), with the goal of providing strategic and tactical guidance for the integrated water resources management of the watershed. Thus, in this study, a structural analytical method (cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification [MICMAC]) and a strategic planning perspective were employed. Modifications to the MICMAC method were necessary to comply with the objectives of the present study, leading to the proposal of an enhanced MICMAC method, denominated e-MICMAC. Overall, 49 variables were identified as relevant to the water management system of Nenetzingo, of which eight strongly influence the other variables and 10 are dependent on the dynamics of the system. In addition, nine variables serve as links between the influential and the dependent variables, while 18 variables were unable to be clearly characterized. Finally, three variables were excluded from the systems analysis without impact. Of the total variables, 22 were found to be essential to the system’s dynamics and were considered key variables. These key variables were then used to provide strategic and tactical guidance for the IWRM of the study basin. In conclusion, the structural analysis approach enabled the structure of the studied system to be elucidated. The variables that constituted the system were determined in addition to their relationships of influence or dependence. Lastly, the complexity of the analysis was reduced through the determination of key variables. The present structural analysis represents an important tool for achieving the sustainability of water resources in the Nenetzingo watershed and can strengthen planning measures in both the short and the long term while facilitates the definition of scenarios for the implementation.
Current challenges for water management
In 2013, according to the Global Water Partnership (Global Water Partnership (GWP, 2014), 770 million people worldwide lacked access to improved drinking water sources, and 2500 million people lacked access to adequate sanitation. Furthermore, 75 per cent of wastewater was incorporated into natural run-off without adequate treatment. As a partial consequence, 35 million people each year are currently expected to experience premature death as a result of water-related diseases. During this century alone, economic losses due to flooding and drought have reached approximately 1.9 billion dollars. Lalika et al. 2015 considered that failed policies have prevented the proper governance of water and watershed conservation. For this reason, the authors argued that attention should be placed on the development of capacities for water management among interested stakeholders, on the promotion of hydrological services and on the improvement of living conditions for local communities located within watersheds. In addition, Franzén et al. 2015 recommend promoting greater participation of stakeholders with interest in water governance and management of hydrological watersheds. However, during the identification of stakeholders, those related to all aspects of water management should be considered and not solely the water authorities or the users with the greatest weight in decision making. Up until the end of the past century, water management throughout the world was predominately concerned with satisfying demand. The apparent sufficiency of water supplies did not oblige a more in-depth analysis of new water sources or their exploitation. Nonetheless, the insufficiency of water supplies has become more notable in recent times, leading to the search for new management regimes to govern this vital resource. This search has highlighted that an efficient management of water demand considers factors and actors that are involved, from those related with natural water storage to the end users. Efficient management practices, for example, may aim to reduce the vulnerability of the water supply in the face of abundance or scarcity or to recycle used water back into the water supply.