Terasa Brăilei complex land reclamation scheme, with a total area of 71,240 ha, has been the first large irrigation scheme built in the Câmpia Brăilei region, between 1967 and 1974.

This irrigation scheme has two main water intake locations at river Danube, for its two integral parts: Pisc Brăila (km 165+900 on the Danube) for Terasa Brăilei Nord (21374 ha) and Gropeni (196+000 on the Danube) for Terasa Brăilei Sud (41580 ha).

Main agricultural crops cultivated in the area are: maize (50%); wheat and successive crops (16%), lucerne (18%); sugar beet (6%); sunflower (7%); vegetables and other crops (3%).

Cazasu irrigation scheme:

It is a part of the Terasa Brăilei Nord scheme, with a total area of 21,373 ha.

Its boundaries are:

Bucharest-Galaţi railway line to the south and east; CD 1 irrigation open canal to the west, and Terrace area line to the north.

Water needed for irrigating the agricultural crops is taken from the Danuve, using the Pisc- Brăila floating pumping station, at a total flow of 15cm³/s.

The pumped volumes of water are conveyed through the CA II supply canal situated in the floodplain area, 29 km in length, to the scheme’s distribution network.

Our main water challenges: 

• Modernization of  the irrigation infrastructure administered by both ANIF–National Agency for Land Improvements (pumping stations, re-lift pumping stations, supply canals, corresponding hydraulic structures, IT networks and automation facilities) and the existing Water User Organizations (pressure pumping stations, buried pipe networks, ancillary equipment etc.);

• Availability of modern on-farm irrigation equipment (centre-pivot, linear move etc.) to be purchased by farmers’ groups and associations;

• Devising practical irrigation water cost payment mechanisms that are capable of acting as incentives to farmers to promote and encourage the use of irrigation (including through alternative means of providing targeted subsidies).

Gediz River Basin is located in western Anatolia in the Aegean region, neighboring the city of Izmir. It is located between N: 38°04’ – 39°13’ and E: 26°42’- 29°45’. It ranks as the second largest basin in the region with its drainage area of 18 000 km2 (2.3% of the total surface area of Turkey) and it has a population of 1,700,000.

Within the context of irrigated agriculture, 13 Irrigation Associations perform operations and maintenance duties over a territorial extension of about 110000ha.

The largest user of water has been irrigated agriculture. The predominant crops are cotton (50%), grapes (35%), maize, fruit orchards, and vegetables.

Irrigation currently uses a large share (83%) of the surface water resources (660 million m3) of the basin. Hydropower generation has no priority of its own and uses only water that is released for irrigation. Groundwater supplies account for roughly a quarter of basin water use, of which about 16% is for irrigation, and the remainder for urban and industrial use. Irrigation use of groundwater is largely static or declining as less-water intensive crops replace cotton.

Conflicts:  

There are serious institutional, legal, social and economic drawbacks which enhance water allocation and water pollution problems.

The major conflict in the basin is the competition among water users due to water scarcity, water pollution and mainly water allocation deficiencies on the national authorities’ part. In essence, there are basically constraints towards achieving objectives of the basin management. Institutional evolution is slow in comparison to rapid evolution in basin key problems. Legislation used in current management practices is too old and cannot meet current demands.

Located at the east of Iberian Peninsula, the Pilot Area includes the Júcar River Basin (22.440 km2) and the Alicante Province inside Júcar River Basin District (about 4.623 km2).

About climate and hydrology: precipitation exhibits a high spatial (250 mm/year in the South to 900 mm/year in the North) and temporal (300 mm in the driest years to 800 mm in the most humid ones) variability. 500mm/year corresponds to a volume of 21.220 hm3/year. Groundwater Resources are about 2361 hm3/year being approximately 73% of the total water resources.

The whole Pilot Area has an irregular hydrology very characteristic of the Mediterranean climate. Drought and floods episodes are highly common, and the water balance between renewable resources and demand is very vulnerable.

Main pressures are produced by significant water abstraction regulation works and other hydro morphological alteration besides to diffuse and point source pollution. Apart from agriculture uses, a significant part of water abstractions is due to urban demands (tourism principally).

Water allocation between upstream and downstream for irrigation. Pressure on the Jucar river basin resources from other neighbour river basin from the Júcar District.

Greatest Current Water Challenge: Drought management, Improve water irrigation efficiency and Environmental groundwater quantity and quality.

Río Yaqui and Río Mayo irrigation districts are located in Norwest México, in Sonora State.

The main water challenge in the pilot zones is to irrigate the most of surface in a sustainable way.

To assess that the surface under irrigation fulfill the restrictions in drought periods.

Historical development:

The Irrigation District 041 Rio Yaqui was created by Presidential Decree in 1951. The use of surface runoff in the upper basin in the Bavispe river tributary of the Yaqui river was built La Angostura dam with a storage capacity of 920 Hm³, in the middle basin of the Yaki river the Elias Calles dam was built with storage capacity of 3020 Hm³, and in the lower basin the dam Álvaro Obregón was built with storage capacity of 3227 Hm³. Within the limits of the Irrigation District there are 350 deep wells.

The larger conveyance network of water supply, dams and main canals are operated by technical personnel of the National Water Commission and they deliver the irrigation water to 42 irrigation modules in which the District is divided. Users of each module are arranged to form Civil Partnerships Users Yaqui River, its technicians are responsible for distributing the volume of water to the users registered in the census; annually the total volume of water is delivered to each module in block and is measured in a strategic control point of the larger network. Within Modernization Programs District recently installed a communication wireless network that allows automation of wells that can operate efficiently.

The Irrigation District 038 Rio Mayo created by Presidential Decree in 1956. The use of the surface runoff in the Mayo River was built Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez dam, with a capacity of 1115 Hm³, and in the area of the Irrigation District has 130 deep wells. The district is divided into 16 irrigation modules and its operation is very similar to that used in the Irrigation District 041. Users of the irrigation districts and officials of the National Water Commission aware of improving water use efficiency to achieve better productivity manage financial resources to the State Government and Federal Government to improve the irrigation infrastructure of the smaller conveyance network.

“Consorzio di Bonifica Sannio Alifano” (including “Consorzio di Bonifica Valle Telesina”) is located in Southern Italy, Campania Region.

Administrative area (ha): 112.996

Irrigation infrastructures (ha): 14.070

Irrigated surface (ha): 16.602 (41% of the total cultivated area)

Main irrigation water supply: river;

Catchment  areas and capacity

   1. Volturno river, Colle Torcino (1984) – 1.750 l/s

   2. Lete river (1960) – 675 l/s

   3. Volturno river, Ailano (1969) – 5.270 l/s

Water misuses and competition between sectorial water use.  

“In recent years, we were looking for additional water resources to satisfy an increased irrigation demand. We finally found new resources just managing  in a more efficient way what we already have”

…“efficient infrastructures and irrigation methods can reduce

water volumes up to a 30%. Agriculture uses between 50%

and 70% of the   total freshwater. Therefore our role is crucial

in water saving for the   entire community”, Ing Natalizio,

Consortium General Director.

About Cauvery and Harangi:

The Cauvery River originates at Talakaveri in Coorg District of Karnataka in Brahmagiri Range of Hills in the Western Ghats at an elevation of 1341m.

Harangi is a major tributary to Cauvery, owes its name to the village situated in its banks. The elevation varies from 5800 ft to 2690ft above MSL (joins cauvery). The command area covers three districts Coorg, Mysore and Hassan. Coorg receives abundant rainfall (400cm) where as Mysore and Hassan receives scanty rainfall (76-114cm). 

Efforts were made since 1884, to build a weir, Anicut, etc. The Harangi dam was built during 1972-73. The average yield is 37.70 billion cubic feet.

Crops: rice, tobacco, ginger.

Conflicts: Cauvery being a inter state river, often conflict arises with neighboring state Tamilnadu. A dispute redressal panel (Tribunal), passed verdict in 2005 after 17 years. This recent order restricts the usage of water in Karnataka.

Challenges: Inter State Water Sharing conflict, Revised water usage as per court order, Over irrigation in upper reaches deprives tail enders share, 55 % conveyance loss and Poor crop yield and poor maintenance.

Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate lies in the middle north of Nile Delta. Total area = 3466.69 km².

Its northern coastline on the km 100= Mediterranean and bordered by Rosetta the western branch (Branch km 85 with length) of Nile.

Historical Delopment:

Greatest current water challenge:

–  Water shortage due to:

• Kafr El-Sheikh is the tail end of the Nile River

• Huge amount of water is lost due to seepage, run-off & evaporation losses

• Rice cultivation (an important crop & highest water use crop)

 –   Increasing rural poverty and food insecurity

 –  The lack of coordination between organizations with respect to planning and implementation of physical intervention at the governorate level

–  Lack of farmers’ awareness for the safe use of the drainage reuse and/or mixed water.

–  Lack of stakeholders participation in the decision making.

The Paraíba do Sul basin is located in southeastern Brazil. The total area is 57.000 km². It includes the territories of the states: Sao Paulo (13.605 km²), Rio de Janeiro (22.600 km²) and Minas Gerais (20.500 km²).

Formation: The River is formed in the city of Paraibuna/SP- junction of the rivers Paraitinga and Paraibuna.

Population: 5.258.068 habitants:

• 2.264.070 in Rio de Janeiro,

• 1.245.300 in Minas Gerais

• 1.748.698 in São Paulo.

Climate: rainy summers and dry winters. Temperature annual average over 21 °C.

Available water:

Paraíba do Sul basin has the highest annual rainfall between 2000 and 1000 mm. The rainfall regime is characterized by a dry period, which extends from June to September, and very rainy period, which covers the months from November to January, when major floods occurs.

The development of the basin has been providing the degradation of the quality of its water and reduction of water availability.

Agriculture: rice, beans, corn, potato, pear, lemon and orange, and others crops.

Historical development:

Paraíba do Sul basin had the main economic activities in the industrial and agricultural sectors. Some snippets in Sao Paulo was the first major coffee producing region in Brazil, with the economy based on slave work. After the loss of coffee production, followed a process of industrialization.