Chapter 2

Utilization of Water Resources

 Utilization of Water Resource
Water required for various purposes may come from
groundwater or surface resources such as lakes, reservoirs,
and rivers.
Consumptive and Non-consumptive uses of Water
The distinction between consumptive and non-consumptive
use of water is a critical aspect of effective water
management.
Consumptive use of water : no water is returned to the
water source.
Non-consumptive water use :water is returned to the
source for use by others downstream.
Water used consumptively diminishes the source and is not
available for other uses; whereas non-consumptive water use
does not diminish the source or impair future water use.
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Consumptive versus Non-Consumptive Use of Water:
1.0 Definition of Consumptive Use
a. Consumptive use is defined as water withdrawn that
is not directly returned to its original source.
b. Definitions Applied to All Water Uses: Possibly, it
is erroneous to define certain water uses as
“consumptive” and others as “non consumptive.”
All uses are partially consumptive and partially non-
consumptive. The following examples are illustrative.
2.0 Examples of Consumptive Use Patterns
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3.0 The Effect of Consumptive Use
the water is not returned back to the water source and
is no longer available for use by anyone downstream.
when water use is non-consumptive, water is returned
back to the water source and is available for use by
other water users downstream.
Let us Consider these admittedly simplistic examples:
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a. If Water User #1 makes non-consumptive use of the

water and returns all the water he has withdrawn, User
#2 can make use of all the water withdrawn by User #1.
If User #2 again makes non-consumptive use, User #3
downstream can again make use of all the water
withdrawn by User #2. An infinite number of such non-
consumptive users can make use of the water.
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b. If User #1 consumes 50 % of the water withdrawn and

returns 50 % to the water source, User #2 downstream
can make use of 50 % of the water withdrawn by User
#1. After User #2 consumed 50 %, User #3 downstream
can make use of only 25 % of what User #1 withdrew.
User #10 far downstream can make use of less than 1.0
% of what User #1 withdrew.
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Non-Consumptive Use of Surface and Groundwater

Consumptive water use: causes diminishment of the source
at the point of appropriation.
Diminishment is defined as to make smaller or less in
quantity, rate of flow, or availability.
Non-consumptive Water Use, Surface Water
By-pass reach: A water use may be consumptive to a specific
reach of a stream when water is diverted, used, and returned to
the same source at a point downstream not in close proximity
to the point of diversion. The stream reaches between the
point of withdrawal and point of discharge is the by-pass
reach.
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 Surface water use is non-consumptive when there is no
diversion from the water source or diminishment of the
source:
Hydroelectric projects
beautification ponds and fish hatcheries
Transportation purpose
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Non-consumptive Water Use, Groundwater
when there is no diminishment of the source.
In order not to diminish the source, the withdrawn water is
injected or infiltrated immediately back to the aquifer.
Conclusions about Consumptive &Non-Consumptive use
The non-consumptive use of water allows multiple uses of
the water by others downstream.
The consumptive use of water means the water is lost to
the system. Users downstream either have to rely on other
sources of water (like tributaries downstream) to
compensate the shortage or use lesser water.
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Single and Multi-Purpose Water uses

Water resources development projects are usually classified
based on the service they provide as:
A single-purpose approach serves only one basic purpose
therefore this type of water development and management do
not reflect the realities of poor people’s water use.
A multiple-purpose approach can maximize the healthy
benefits and productive potential of available water supplies
leading to increased incomes, improved health and reduced
workloads for women and children.
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 Taking an integrated, multiple-purpose approach to water
development and management is an opportunity to advance progress
on three of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s):
Goal 1: To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
Goal 3: To promote gender equality and empower women and;
Goal 7: To ensure environmental sustainability.

The current single-purpose perspective, which dominates thinking on

water development and service provision, has led to domestic water-
supply schemes that forbid the use of water for production or that
supply too little water for any but the most basic domestic needs, and
to irrigation schemes that ignore the need for domestic or household
level production activities.
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What is a multi-purpose approach?
In essence, a multi-purpose approach serves two or more
purpose and involves
(1) Assessing the range of water needs in collaboration with
end users,
(2) Examining the water sources available from rainwater to
wastewater to piped systems,
(3) Matching water supplies to needs based on the quantity,
quality and reliability required for various purposes.
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Three crucial aspects of a multi-purpose approach

that are neglected in traditional approaches to water
supply are:
participation of local communities,
identification of all water needs, and
consideration of the different water sources
available.
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Ways of accommodating multi-purpose water uses
 Irrigation systems can be adapted by
 Releasing water for household uses and bathing
 Building or reviving community domestic-supply reservoirs
 Building steps in canal banks for laundry
 Adding pipes, canals and taps to bring water into houses
 Promoting low-cost, point-of-use treatment for drinking water
 Sinking shallow wells to tap cleaner ‘seepage’ water
 Adding access and crossing points to canals for cattle
 Maintaining flows to preserve fish populations
 Building fish-friendly structures in sluices and canals.
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 Domestic water supply systems can be adapted by:

Increasing water discharge to allow productive
activities
Providing water without interruptions
Adding cattle troughs to supply points
Adding storage tanks
Adding micro-irrigation systems
Using different water sources depending on quality
needs
Promoting reuse of household “grey” (waste) water
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 Use of other water sources can be maximized by:
 Working with the private sector to promote the use of
affordable pumps and drip irrigation kits (also
applies to domestic systems)
Promoting community/rooftop rainwater harvesting
 Enlarging ponds and wells
 Developing gravity-flow systems to pipe in stream-
water
 Promoting credit and access to other inputs to enable
people to make use of productive water supplies
(applies to all)
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Benefits of a multi-purpose approach:
Reducing poverty and improving livelihoods
Fighting hunger and surviving droughts
Improving health
Improving gender equity
Increasing system sustainability
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Compatibility of Different Uses of Water
If the requirements of water for different uses are compatible(be
used together without problems or conflict) with one another,
effective use of the water will be made.
Eg. Hydropower development
is not a consumptive use of water. Any water released for the
other purposes may be used for power. At a base load plant, the
water requirement may be revised for other purposes requiring
uniform flow. At a peaking plant, a regulating pond can be
provided to smooth out the fluctuation of power releases.
However, it is usually necessary to allocate a certain amount of
storage for power use, since the seasonal variation in power
demand may not coincide with the demand for other uses.