PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
One of the objectives of the Sixth Environmental Action Programme is to achieve sustainable long term water resource exploitation. The Framework Directive on Water (Directive 2000/60/EC of Parliament and the Council) obliges Member States to use water service charges as an effective conservation instrument. This would allow the environmental costs to be reflected in the price of water. Traditional management systems in southern Europe are insufficient and do not satisfy current levels of demand. Frequent conflicts arise between direct human water requirements, but also water demands to maintain ecological processes. Measures are, therefore, needed to deal with water demand in a more balanced and sustainable way.
OBJECTIVES
The project aimed to demonstrate environmental benefits of self-management systems for water-related communities. This would help achieve more rational use of water and favour control in overused hydro-systems in hydro-graphic basin management. Specific objectives included: - Elaborating and initiating an ‘expert irrigation system support’ in pilot fields, to improve cultivation standards, reduce water demands and adjust to real time needs. - Extrapolating results to all cultivation fields in overused aquifers to obtain potential environmental benefits. - Demonstrating the viability of the water demand management system to allow coordination in executing the Framework Directive on Waters and Habitats and facilitate application of Common Agricultural Policy measures. - Training current and new farmers in water system self-control. - Increasing public awareness as to overused aquifers and promoting a new water culture, more rational use and installation of systems to manage water demand.
RESULTS
Project objectives have been satisfactorily fulfilled. The ‘system for irrigating support’, which reduces water demand and calculates real time plant water requirements, was tested in 12 pilot fields in Llanos del Caudillo and Villarta de San Juan. Tests proved system viability and results were extrapolated to all the river basin in order to evaluate environmental benefits. Possible water savings were defined and interrelated with hydro and environmental needs in the wetlands Parque Nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel and Parque Natural de las Lagunas de Ruidera. Water saving systems were shown as a possible key tool to restore these areas. The project has also trained farmers and technicians in the implementation of auto-control water systems with technical courses about water management in agriculture and irrigating communities. In addition, six didactic units were provided for pupils, aged between three to 18 years of age, and adults at village educational centres. Project awareness campaigns reached local stakeholders: farmers, inhabitants, experts and public administration. The regional public administration has shown support and may use project results to determine the strategic plans.Project objectives have been satisfactorily fulfilled. The ‘system for irrigating support’, which reduces water demand and calculates real time plant water requirements, was tested in 12 pilot fields in Llanos del Caudillo and Villarta de San Juan. Tests proved system viability and results were extrapolated to all the river basin in order to evaluate environmental benefits. Possible water savings were defined and interrelated with hydro and environmental needs in the wetlands Parque Nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel and Parque Natural de las Lagunas de Ruidera. Water saving systems were shown as a possible key tool to restore these areas. The project has also trained farmers and technicians in the implementation of auto-control water systems with technical courses about water management in agriculture and irrigating communities. In addition, six didactic units were provided for pupils, aged between three to 18 years of age, and adults at village educational centres. Project awareness campaigns reached local stakeholders: farmers, inhabitants, experts and public administration. The regional public administration has shown support and may use project results to determine the strategic plans.
