Water Quota for Irrigation System
About this good practice
Water allocations to farmers are made by quotas (m3/ha), since the volume of water available is generally lower than the water needs of the crops in the irrigable area, and in this way conflict between farmers is reduced as they are all treated equally. Therefore, the volume of water allocated to each farmer is based on the surface area of their plots and every farmer manages their water allocation, which will decrease depending on the volume he consumes.
The quota of water for irrigation system belongs to Irrigation Community of Mula city, although it is a practice assumed by almost all the irrigation communities of the region of Murcia. There is no need for an appeal because it is the governing council of the irrigation community who makes the decision in this process of distribution.
To carry out this good practice it would be interesting to count with the following elements:
- A reliable system to control the water resources.
- Installation of measuring equipment in ponds and main pipes
- Storage and distribution network capacity
- Information and communication technologies for the management of the irrigation community
- To be in a process of continuous modernization with the constant development of Web and mobile phone applications that allow irrigators to manage their irrigation through the Internet.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
To have the power to manage their granted water resources by the watershed authorities according to the relevant rules.
Evidence of success
The most of the irrigation communities has adopted this system in Murcia Region.
Potential for learning or transfer
The functioning of this Best Practice can be understood by analysing one the minutes of the Governing Council of the Irrigation Community in which the irrigation quota is established for the given quarter. This document would be the most reliable way to demonstrate its application.