Water security and rainwater harvesting: A conceptual framework and candidate indicators

Patrick Bitterman; Eric Tate; Kimberly J Van Meter; Nandita B Basu

doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.09.013

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Water security and rainwater harvesting: A conceptual framework and candidate indicators

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Water security and rainwater harvesting: A conceptual framework and candidate indicators

Patrick Bitterman, Eric Tate, Kimberly J Van Meter and Nandita B Basu

Applied Geography, Vol.76, pp.75-84

11/2016

DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.09.013

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Abstract

Rainwater-harvesting tanks (reservoirs) in Tamil Nadu, India support agricultural livelihoods, mitigate water insecurity, and enable ecosystem services. However, many tanks have fallen into disrepair, as private wells have supplanted collectively managed tanks as the dominant irrigation source. Meanwhile, encroachment by peri-urban development, landless farmers, and Prosopis juliflora has reduced inflow and tank capacity. This exploratory study presents a conceptual framework and proposed indicator set for measuring water security in the context of rainwater harvesting tanks. The primary benefits of tanks and threats to their functionality are profiled as a precursor to construction of a causal network of water security. The causal network identifies the key components, causal linkages, and outcomes of water security processes, and is used to derive a suite of indicators that reflect the multiple economic and socio-ecological uses of tanks. Recommendations are provided for future research and data collection to operationalize the indicators to support planning and assessing the effectiveness of tank rehabilitation. [Display omitted] •Profiles benefits and threats to rainwater harvesting systems in South India.•Develops a conceptual framework for water security using a causal network.•Selects a candidate set of water security indicators using the causal network.•Provides recommendations for future research and data collection.

Irrigation

RWH

Water sustainability

Tanks

Water scarcity

Details

Title: Subtitle: Water security and rainwater harvesting: A conceptual framework and candidate indicators
Creators: Patrick Bitterman - Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
Eric Tate - Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, United States
Kimberly J Van Meter - Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
Nandita B Basu - Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Applied Geography, Vol.76, pp.75-84
DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.09.013
ISSN: 0143-6228
eISSN: 1873-7730
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: National Science Foundation, award: #1211968; name: DHAN Foundation
Language: English
Date published: 11/2016
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Public Policy Center (Archive); Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
Record Identifier: 9983983670902771

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