Example of management of water resources for agricultural irrigation
Abstract
Water is a natural resource vital to life, economic development and social welfare. The National Water Plan resulting from the transposition of the Water Framework Directive, has as an objective: benefit the existing irrigated, with the aim of ma king more efficient use of water, in particular, with regard to reducing losses, storage, transport and distribution of water, its application in soil and the rationalization of consumption. [1]. Portugal, in Aveiro, between Nazaré and Alcobaça council, ha s an area with a simple irrigation system for irrigation, called Cela hydro -agricultural profit .
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Introduction
Agriculture is one of the essential activities for the production of food and for the economic and social development of rural communities. The demand for irrigation water throughout the year, in quantity and quality, leads to the need for the construction of hydraulic structures with the objective of extracting and distributing water from the water resources to the cultivated areas. [2]
Portugal has as its environmental objective the socio -economic and environmental sustainability of water resources. One o f the examples of the Water Resources Management Plan (PGRH), implemented in Portugal, is Cela Agricultural Instigation Work, which in Law -Decree number 86/2002 of April 6, from chapter XX – Concession, article 102nd, passed to write Cela Hidro -agricultural Profit, instead of Hidro -agricultural Instigation. This work, begun in 1940, continues to this day.
Conclusion
The Water Law (Law number 58/2005, of 29 December, altered for Law -decree number 130/2012 of 22 June) and the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (transposed Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October) do not mention hydro -agricultural works, but rather, hydraulic infrastructures. Hydraulic infrastructures are 'works or assemblies of works, installations or equipment installed on a fixed basis in beds or banks intended to allow the use of water for the purposes of the general interest' (article 4st, paragraph ee, Law -decree number 1301/2012 of 22 June). They require the expropriation of small patch of ground for the placement of primary and secondary pipelines, lift stations, dams, reservoirs and other hydraulic infrastructures. (Example: Cova da Beira Hydraulic Infrastructures ). [7]. These are more expensive works than the works of hydro -agricultural Profit. As the Water Law and the WFD did not repeal Law -decree number 269/82 of 10 July, nor its alterations, this "remains as the set of standards and reference principles for hydro - agricultural profits and areas benefited" [8], changed to Law -decree number 86/2002 of April 6, and this one, in turn, was changed to Law -decree number 169/2005 of September 26. [2]
The author considers the "hydro -agricultural profit works" (Law -decree number 86/2002 of 6 April, based on article 102nd) useful and which should be considered in agricultural activities as current practices, not only for better irrigation efficiency and production of agricultural products, but also for the management and preservation of water resources throughout the year. However, if other entities responsible for water resources ( Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, IP and Autarquias) do not comply with the requirements of the legislation on the preservation of the environment and the quality of water for human consumption and irrigation, such as: non-control on the introduction of wastewater into water lines and soil and the lack of cleaning and reprofiling of water lines, agricultural production is impaired.
Good planning and management of water resources is achieved when the various public and private entities, professionals, researchers and students work together and/or share informations.
