Sustainability of collective irrigation under water competition between agriculture and civil uses: The case study of Alanya Water Users Association (Türkiye)

Abstract

This study explores the patterns of sustainable use and management of competing water sectors in the Alanya Water Users Association (WUA) in Southern Türkiye, over eight years (2013–2020) before the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic, focusing on the impacts of the recorded huge growth of tourism. Performance indicators of collective irrigation services are used to identify performance patterns and trends over time. The analysis has revealed a notable increase in water consumption for agricultural activities (+30 %), driven by the cultivation of tropical fruits, without a proportional rise in crop production. Concurrently, effective financial management is observed in the WUA, with a consistent reduction in unit Management, Operation and Maintenance costs (-40–70 %). Additionally, the total water demand has surged (+100 %) due to population growth and tourist flux. However, this increase has tensioned water delivery to crops, indicating higher pressures over water availability for all uses. The study has identified three distinct patterns in the technical, financial, and socio-economic performance of the WUA, particularly highlighting the last four years of increased water usage and the disruption caused by the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite the current adequacy of water resources, optimized strategies for water management are advocated to address anticipated demographic growth, the introduction of tropical crops and the environmental impacts of climate change.