Abstract
Agricultural water reorganization measures (AWRM) is an approach that has been adopted in Japan for more than 30 years to capture excess water from agriculture for other uses by relying on the modernization of existing irrigation infrastructures. This paper reviews the history and processes of four such permanent water transfers by AWRM in the Tone River Basin, specifically those conducted in the Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The benefit of AWRM for the agricultural sector is the lowering of rehabilitation costs by sharing part of it with the city sector. AWRM does not require saving water at the on-farm level. Instead, the labor requirement of farmers is reduced by the rehabilitation and installation of pipelines. The benefit to the city is the lower cost, when compared with costs for the development of new water resources, and the relatively short duration of the project, which are important factors in an environment of the rapid increase in domestic water demand.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
The Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) was established in 2001, through the consolidation of the former Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Transport, National Land Agency and Hokkaido Development Agency.
The term ‘multifunctionality’ refers to an agricultural activity that could have multiple outputs besides providing food and fibers and, therefore, may contribute to several objectives at once. The multiple roles of agriculture include food security, maintaining and ensuring viability of rural communities and environmental protection, such as land conservation, sustainable management of renewable natural resources, preservation of bio-diversity, landscape, etc. (OECD, 1998).
References
Abernethy CL (2003) Administrative and implementation concerns of water rights. Paper presented in the International working conference on water rights: institutional options for improving water allocation hanoi, Vietnam, pp 1–20
Brown TC (2006) Trends in water market activity and price in the western United States. Water Resour Res 42:W09402, doi:10.1029/2005WR004180
Crase L, Pagan P, Dollery B (2004) Water markets as a vehicle for reforming water resource allocation in the Murray-Darling Basin of Australia. Water Resour Res 40:W08S05, doi:10.1029/2003WR002786
Gleick PH (2003) Global freshwater resources: soft-path solutions for the 21st century. Science 302:1524–1528
Hasebe T (2006) Water right and dam (3)—transfer of water right. Dam Japan. No 735, pp 49–59 (in Japanese)
Livingstone LM (2005) Evaluating canges in water institutions:methodological issues at the micro and meso levels. Water Policy 7:21–34
Loeve R, Hong L, Dong B, Mao G, Chen CD, Dawe D, Barker R (2004) Long-term trends in intersectoral water allocation and crop water productivity in Zhanghe and Kaifeng, China. Paddy Water Environ 2:237–245
Molle F, Berkoff J (2006) Cities versus agriculture: revisiting intersectoral water transfers, potential gains and conflicts. Comprehensive assessment research report 10. Comprehensive Assessment Secretariat, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 73 p
OECD (1998) Multifunctionality: a framework for policy analysis [AGR/CA(98)9]
Omiya Land Improvement District Office (1980) Outline of the Gokuchi Stage II Project, pp 1–7
Suda M (2006) Overview of Water Law and Land Conservation Law. Sankaidou, 488 p (in Japanese)
Takeda M (2005a) Reallocation of water resources and cost allocation (I)-case study for an agricultural water modernization project in Saitama Prefecture. Water Util Sci 49(1):57–84 (in Japanese)
Takeda M (2005b) Reallocation of water resources and cost allocation (II)-case study for an agricultural water modernization project in Saitama Prefecture. Water Util Sci 49(2):90–120 (in Japanese)
Wakisaka J (1983a) Modernization and efficient use of agricultural water in Tone River Basin. Water Land 54:2–21 (in Japanese)
Wakisaka J (1983b) Saitama Gokuchi Stage II Project and modernization of agricultural water. Water Land, 51:7–70 (in Japanese)
Water Right Practice Society (2005) Questions and answers for water right practices. Taisei Publication, 336 p (in Japanese)
Acknowledgment
This case study was carried out by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with financial support from the Council of Agriculture, Republic of China. The authors would like to thank Ms. Michiyo Inaki of JWA for her valuable comments and inputs to this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matsuno, Y., Hatcho, N. & Shindo, S. Water transfer from agriculture to urban domestic users: a case study of the Tone River Basin, Japan. Paddy Water Environ 5, 239–246 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-007-0087-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-007-0087-5