Irrigation management From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Country	Cost recovery (%)	Cost coverage (%)
Remarks
Argentine^[7]	67	12	low tariff: $70/ha/year
Bangladesh^[8]	3-10	<1	tariffs not enforced
Brazil, Jaiba project ^[9]	66	52
Colombia^[7]	76	52
Turkey^[10]	76	30-40
Sri Lanka^[11]	8	<1	tariffs not enforced

Water User Associations (WUAs)[edit]
From 1980 programs were developed to transfer the operation and maintenance tasks from the government to water user associations (WUAs) that show some resemblance to water boards in the Netherlands, with the difference that it concerns irrigation rather than drainage and flood control.
An effective development occurred in Mexico,^[12] where in 1990 a program of WUAs was initiated with tradable water rights. By 1998 some 400 WUAs were in operation commanding on average 7600 ha per WUA. They were able to recover more than 90% of the tariffs, mainly because they had to be paid in advance. Government subsidies to the water distribution and maintenance reduced to only 6% See also Irrigation in Mexico#Legal and institutional framework. Similar efforts were made in Peru, see Irrigation in Peru#Legal and institutional framework, but the progress is not yet at the level of that in Mexico.
Water delivery principles[edit]

Irrigation water delivered at the farm
Rotational turns[edit]
In large irrigation schemes, the distribution of irrigation water and the delivery at the farm gate is often arranged by rotational turns (e.g. every fortnight). The quantity of water to be received is often proportional to the farm size. As the canals usually transport constant flows, the water is being received during a period of time proportional to the farm size (e.g. every fortnight during 2 hours).
The method of rotational turns is typical for the utility form of irrigation management.
On demand[edit]
In smaller irrigation schemes the water delivery may be arranged "on demand" with water charges are on a volumetric basis. This requires a precise bookkeeping system. As the demand may be fluctuating over time, the distribution system and infrastructure is relatively expensive because it must be able to cope with periods of peak demand. During periods of water scarcity, negotiations are due to regulate the supply or restriction agreements must have been made.
From point of view of efficient irrigation water-use this is the most effective system.