Water supply and water use management in WUAs

1. The governance body of WUA is its Council (Board). The management body (executive body) of WUA is a service formed of employees and headed by Director (or chief irrigator).

2. The main tasks of WUA’s management body are as follows:

• Supply water (within the set water limits) to members of Association and to other water users within WUA’s command area;

• Take measures for improvement of irrigated land in the WUA’s command area;

• Introduce market-based water use principles in the WUA’s command area;

• Coordinate activities of all water users for reasonable and purposeful use of available water in the WUA’s command area;

• Protect users’ water rights; etc.

3. WUA’s management body fulfills the following functions related to O&M:

• Draws water use plans for their following approval by Irrigation System Administration, within the water limits allocated to WUA;

• Signs contracts for water diversion and use with Irrigation System Administration and with WUA’s members;

• Ensures water delivery to users within the allocated water limits;

• Arranges water metering at the boundary between WUA and water user;

• Signs contracts between WUA and users, as well as between WUA and water-management organizations for repair of infrastructure;

• Organizes work on cleaning, repair and reconstruction of water structures in the WUA’s command area;

• Organizes construction of water-metering facilities at boundaries of WUA’s members and arranges certification and calibration of these facilities;

• Renders procedural and practical assistance to users for leaching of salinized land;

• Promotes application of best water saving practices and technology;

• Draws annual business plans;

• Subject to applicable regulations, submits information on its activity to District Agricultural and Water Divisions, Irrigation System Administration and other agencies.

Author: Mirzaev N.N., SIC ICWC