Management of Irrigation and Drainage Systems A Service Approach

About this book

This monograph provides an overview of the principles required for a service orientation in the management of irrigation and drainage systems. The material covered is designed to emphasize an area largely neglected in the irrigation and drainage management literature. The dominating philosophy underlying this book is that irrigation and drainage systems must be managed as a service business responsive to the needs and changing requirements of its customers. It is postulated that this service approach to the management of irrigation and drainage systems consitutes a key element of the startegy that is needed to improve the current level of performance of many irrigation and drainage systems worldwide. Enhanced performance of irrigation is a prerequisite if we are to face the enormous challenge of producing greater quantities of food to meet the demand of a growing population. This is particularly the case in an environment with increasing competition for water from industry and urban water users, set against mounting concerns about environmental sustainability.

Contents

Table of contents; PREFACE VII; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IX; ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS X; THE CONTEXT OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE; The Importance of Irrigation and Drainage 1; Dissapointing Performance of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure 4; Government Policy and Planning Environment 6; Lessons from the Past and the Need for a New Orientation towards Irrigation and Drainage Management 8; THE MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE; Competition for Water 13; Characteristics of Water and Related Services 14; Irrigation and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) 17; Irrigation and Drainage in the Context of IWRM 19; Main Interests and Interest Groups 21; Types of Irrigation and Drainage Organisations 22; Service Oriented Management: Rationale and Key Elements 23; MANAGEMENT PROCESSES OF THE ORGANISATION; Irrigation and Drainage Organisations 27; Management Functions 30; Irrigation and Drainage System Management 31; The Strategic Planning Process 33; Financial Planning 37; THE IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE SERVICE CONCEPT; Irrigation And Drainage As Services 41; Definition and Qualities of Level of Service 43; Level of Service Determining Factors 45; Formulation of Level of Service Specifications 59; Level of Service Specifications 64; Service Agreements and Accountability Mechanisms 68; RELATION BETWEEN LEVEL OF SERVICE, FOW CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT; Irrigation and Drainage Levels of Service 75; Flow Control Concepts 79; Water Control in Drainage Systems 87; Level of Service and Flow Control Systems 87; Relation between Flow Control and Management Inputs 88; The Link between Level and Cost of Service 90; MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE; Rationale for an Asset Management Program 97; Principles of Asset Management 99; The Asset Register 102; Asset Management Functions 104; Development and Implementation of the Asset Management Program 121; PERFORMANCE OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE SERVICE; Conceptual Framework 125; Performance Spheres 127; Performance Assessment 133; THE WAY FORWARD; Introduction 139; Many Challenges -- One Common Response 140; Modernisation, Innovation and Research 142; Opportunities 143; Ensuring Future Management Quality 143; REFERENCES 145

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