scholarly journals Scarcity Amidst Plenty: Lower Himalayan Cities Struggling for Water Security

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hemant Ojha ◽  
Kaustuv Raj Neupane ◽  
Chandra Lal Pandey ◽  
Vishal Singh ◽  
Roshan Bajracharya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Water Planning ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Governance Capacity ◽  
Coordinated Water

In recent years, growing water insecurity in the Himalayan region has attracted new scientific research and fresh attention on policy. In this paper, we synthesize field research evidence from a sample of five Himalayan cities—three in Nepal and two in the western Indian Himalayas—on various forms of water insecurity and cities’ responses to such challenges. We gathered evidence from a field research conducted in these cities between 2014 and 2018. We show how different types of Himalayan towns (mainly hilltop, foot hill, river side, touristic, and regional trading hub) are struggling to secure water for their residents and tourists, as well as for the wider urban economy. We found that even though the region receives significant amounts of precipitation in the form of snow and rainfall, it is facing increasing levels of water insecurity. Four of the five towns we studied are struggling to develop well-performing local institutions to manage water supply. Worse still, none of the cities have a robust system of water planning and governance to tackle the water challenges emerging from rapid urbanization and climate change. In the absence of a coordinated water planning agency, a complex mix of government, community, and private systems of water supply has emerged in the Himalayan towns across both Nepal and India. There is clearly a need for strengthening local governance capacity as well as down-scaling climate science to inform water planning at the city level.

scholarly journals Water Security and Local People Sensitivity to Climate Variability and Change Among Coastal Communities in Zanzibar

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makame Omar Makame ◽  
Richard Y.M. Kangalawe
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Hard Water ◽  
Coastal Communities ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Local Climate

This paper presents one part of a larger, multidimensional study on the vulnerability of Zanzibar coastal communities to climate change and other stressors, focusing on water insecurity in two sites on the Zanzibar coast. Water security is composed of three components, namely water availability, water accessibility and the quality of available water. Findings from the study showed that water from wells is the major source of household water since tap water supply is often erratic. Farming systems are completely rain-fed, while some livestock owners use coral caves as the main source of water for their animals. Water quality is a major challenge along the coast as the majority of wells and coral caves in the study sites contain hard water with varying levels of salinity. A diversity of physical and social factors such as variability in water supply infrastructure, settlement structure, poverty, geology and geohydrology, variability in supply and poor water resource management adversely interact with local climate phenomena such as sea level rise, salt water incursion and drought to intensify water insecurity along the Zanzibar coast. Among the policy options to address these challenges would be to promote rainwater harvesting and increased utilisation of underground water for irrigation in the dry areas in order to increase agricultural production and reduce poverty.

Achieving water security in peri-urban Yangon: exploring the local governance processes

Water Policy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 980-998
Author(s):  
Rebecca Groot ◽  
Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Industrial Effluent ◽  
Water Security ◽  
High Price ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Many cities in the Global South lack the capacity to provide water security to their inhabitants. Peri-urban areas are especially vulnerable to water insecurity. This study concerns the impact of (good) governance on water security among formal and informal settlers residing in Hlaing Thar Yar Industrial Zone (HTIZ), a peri-urban area belonging to Yangon, Myanmar. Through employing mixed methods, we investigate the dynamics of water security by studying the governing processes which shape it on a local level. In HTIZ, various challenges related to water security come together. Our findings reveal that water security in HTIZ was achieved for the majority of the formal settlers, whereas this was not the case for the majority of the informal (riverbank) settlers. Although a well-organized needs-driven system of local water vendors supplied water to the local population there was a high risk of contamination by domestic pollution (e.g., Escherichia coli) and industrial effluent, in addition to the relatively high price of the water. The identified water insecurities were driven on an institutional level by the lack of capacity and priority given to supplying and protecting informal settlers. Absence of environmental monitoring and enforcement, and the perceptions of government officials further exacerbated water insecurity.

Water supply and sanitation planning model: a management tool for large Brazilian cities

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 469-476
Author(s):  
S.R.A. Soares ◽  
R.S. Bernardes
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Modeling Approach ◽  
Developing Cities ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Water And Wastewater ◽  
Water Supply And Sanitation

The sanitary problems promoted by the rapid urbanization process in developing cities are usually resulted from the absence of planning, high population concentration and inadequate water and wastewater infrastructure for low income people. Because the provision and planning of water supply and is a complex task, a modeling approach was used to enhance the understanding of the process and the aspects involved. In the development of a model, not only the technical aspects were taken into account, but other aspects related to the provision of drinking water and the water resources protection were also analyzed, such as institutional, financial, socioeconomic, environmental and public health. In the modeling process two different methods of conceptualization were used to describe the urban water flow through the water and wastewater systems linked to various aspects related to their implementation in large developing cities. The urban water systems of five large metropolitan areas in Brazil were also evaluated for the complete model. It is expected that the modeling approach developed in this paper consists of a valuable methodology for water supply and sanitation planning in Brazilian cities, and other developing cities with the same characteristics. The suggested conceptual model could, at least, provide more than a starting point for a useful urban water management tool.

scholarly journals Neoliberal State Intervention and the Power of Community in Urban Regeneration: An Empirical Study of Three Village Redevelopment Projects in Guangzhou, China

2021 ◽  
pp. 0739456X2199466
Author(s):  
Siu Wai Wong ◽  
Xingguang Chen ◽  
Bo-sin Tang ◽  
Jinlong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Community Building ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Urban Regeneration ◽  
State Intervention ◽  
The State ◽  
Village Communities ◽  
The City

A key theme in urban governance research is how neoliberalism reshapes the state–society relationship. Our study on Guangzhou, where urban regeneration through massive redevelopment of “villages-in-the-city” uncovered interactions between the state, market, and community in local governance, contributes to this debate. Based on intensive field research to analyze three projects, we find that what really controls neoliberal growth in China is not simply the authoritarian tradition of the socialist state but also the power of the indigenous village communities. Our findings suggest that state intervention for community building is vital for rebalancing power relations between the state, market, and community.

scholarly journals Impact of Extreme Drought Climate on Water Security in North Borneo: Case Study of Sabah

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135
Author(s):  
Carolyn Payus ◽  
Lim Ann Huey ◽  
Farrah Adnan ◽  
Andi Besse Rimba ◽  
Geetha Mohan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Extreme Drought ◽  
Northeast Monsoon ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
The North ◽  
North Borneo

For countries in Southeast Asia that mainly rely on surface water as their water resource, changes in weather patterns and hydrological systems due to climate change will cause severely decreased water resource availability. Warm weather triggers more water use and exacerbates the extraction of water resources, which will change the operation patterns of water usage and increase demand, resulting in water scarcity. The occurrence of prolonged drought upsets the balance between water supply and demand, significantly increasing the vulnerability of regions to damaging impacts. The objectives of this study are to identify trends and determine the impacts of extreme drought events on water levels for the major important water dams in the northern part of Borneo, and to assess the risk of water insecurity for the dams. In this context, remote sensing images are used to determine the degree of risk of water insecurity in the regions. Statistical methods are used in the analysis of daily water levels and rainfall data. The findings show that water levels in dams on the North and Northeast Coasts of Borneo are greatly affected by the extreme drought climate caused by the Northeast Monsoon, with mild to the high risk recorded in terms of water insecurity, with only two of the water dams being water-secure. This study shows how climate change has affected water availability throughout the regions.

scholarly journals China: A New Trajectory Prioritizing Rural Rather Than Urban Development?

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 514
Author(s):  
Hongzhang Xu ◽  
Jamie Pittock ◽  
Katherine A. Daniell
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
National Development ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Global Concern

The adverse effects of rapid urbanization are of global concern. Careful planning for and accommodation of accelerating urbanization and citizenization (i.e., migrants gaining official urban residency) may be the best approach to limit some of the worst impacts. However, we find that another trajectory may be possible: one linked to the rural development plan adopted in the latest Chinese national development strategy. This plan aims to build rural areas as attractive areas for settlement by 2050 rather than to further urbanize with more people in cities. We assess the political motivations and challenges behind this choice to develop rural areas based on a literature review and empirical case analysis. After assessing the rural and urban policy subsystem, we find five socio-political drivers behind China’s rural development strategy, namely ensuring food security, promoting culture and heritage, addressing overcapacity, emphasizing environmental protection and eradicating poverty. To develop rural areas, China needs to effectively resolve three dilemmas: (1) implementing decentralized policies under central supervision; (2) deploying limited resources efficiently to achieve targets; and (3) addressing competing narratives in current policies. Involving more rural community voices, adopting multiple forms of local governance, and identifying and mitigating negative project impacts can be the starting points to manage these dilemmas.

Taking the road less taken: reorienting the state for periurban water security

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 528-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishal Narain ◽  
Pranay Ranjan ◽  
Sumit Vij ◽  
Aman Dewan
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Intervention Strategy ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Research Process ◽  
The State ◽  
The Road ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Building Community

This paper describes the intervention strategy to improve water security in Sultanpur, a village in periurban Gurgaon, India. Most approaches to improving natural resource management in periurban contexts focus on mobilising the community; little attention is paid to reorienting the state or strengthening the user-bureaucracy interface. This paper describes the action research process that was followed to reorient civic agencies engaged in the provisioning of water and to break from a situation of distrust and prisoners' dilemma between water users and service providers. The paper argues that the creation and provision of a platform for direct engagement between water users and service providers can be a key tool for improving periurban water security. These platforms can provide support in building community resilience to face challenges such as climate variability and urbanisation, both of which threaten periurban water security. The action research emphasises on building the community's capacity to ask for improved water supply and to negotiate with state service providers, rather than augmenting water supply physically.

scholarly journals Research on Mid-term Review System of PPP Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 236 ◽  
pp. 04023
Author(s):  
Jinchan Liu ◽  
Yubo Guo ◽  
Chuan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Sichuan Province ◽  
Review System ◽  
Rural Water Supply ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Evaluation Procedures ◽  
Rural Water

The mid-term review is a necessary window for the PPP project to move forward objectively, and it is also a tool to adjust the expected goals of all parties to the project. This paper built a mid-term review system for PPP projects based on the whole-of-life cycle, studied the objectives, content and evaluation procedures of the mid-term review of PPP projects, and took the urban and rural water supply and drainage integrated PPP project in Mianzhu city, Sichuan Province as the case for field research and interviews, to verify the feasibility of the review system. The research results have a certain guiding role for the mid-term review of PPP projects.

scholarly journals Water safety: one of the primary objectives of our time

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Collivignarelli
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Safety Plan ◽  
Water Safety Plan ◽  
The Eu

This article discusses the benefits of an innovative approach to the problem of water security introduced by WHO in 2004, through the establishment of the Water Safety Plan (WSP). It was recently included in Commission Directive (EU) 2015/1787 – October 6, 2015 – the implementation of which is expected in the EU countries by 27 October 2017. The WSP is the most effective means of consistently ensuring the safety of a drinking water supply. The method is based on the use of a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that involves all steps in water supply from catchment to consumer. The knowledge acquired by some experiences of WSP application, both inItalyand in countries with limited resources, is proving the effectiveness of the model as the best way to manage drinking water systems and protect public health.

scholarly journals Timor-Leste: The Adventurous Tribulations of Local Governance after Independence

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Graça Feijó
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Political Reform ◽  
Recent Past ◽  
Modern Democracy ◽  
Theoretical Terms ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Timor Leste ◽  
The Rich

Xanana Gusmão recently mentioned that a “Second Maubere Miracle” is underway, implying that a major political reform will soon shake the roots of Timor-Leste's public administration. Decentralization, defined in a very broad sense, has been a constitutional mandate since independence, but successive governments have failed to engage this reform despite paying lip service to its necessity. This essay reviews the options before the policy makers – both in theoretical terms (distinguishing between the various definitions of decentralization) and in the pragmatic forms that have been contemplated so far – and discusses their implications for the process of rooting a modern democracy in the country both at the intermediate, district level and at the grassroots, suku (village) level. For this purpose, the essay brings together the author's own field research and the rich literature that has emerged in the recent past, including contributions by Timorese colleagues.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document