Application of System Thinking Causal Loop Modelling in understanding water Crisis in India: A case for sustainable Integrated Water resources management across sectors

3 years ago

Application of System Thinking Causal Loop Modelling in understanding water Crisis in India: A case for sustainable Integrated Water resources management across sectors

S. Ashwin Ram, Zareena Begum Irfan

System thinking is used to understand wicked problems and complex systems. Both economic and non-economic policy measures should be considered to conserve water. The use of recycled wastewater for industrial and non-potable domestic use should be encouraged. Farmers should be incentivized to adopt water efficient agricultural practices. Government should encourage community participation in water management. India is one among the high risk countries susceptible to water stress and as a result of exponential population growth, industrialization and rapid urbanization the per capita water availability is fast diminishing and adding to this climate change is further expected to exacerbate the problem resulting in more frequent and prolonged drought. Water is considered to be a wicked problem and hence relying on a linear and reductionist approach may no longer seems relevant in solving such complex systems. This paper adopts a system thinking principle to understand various water management challenges across sectors. System thinking has its roots in mental models and has been evolving and increasingly being used to understand Complex Dynamic Systems. Based on a systematic review of literature, the present study has developed a series of Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) capturing key variables pertaining to water sector. CLDs are believed to create a broader and holistic understanding of the water management challenges by clearly exhibiting the relationship between the key variables. The proposed CLDs serve as a decision making tool to understand the challenges of integrated water resources management through the complex interactions of the variables between balancing and reinforcing loops. The CLDs highlights the existing water related challenges in India and proposes a pathway for sustainable management of water resources across agriculture, industry and domestic sectors. Though the CLD discussion in this paper is based on Indian scenario, it holds good for any developing countries context.

Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589757821000056

Open URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydres.2021.02.001

DOI: 10.1016/j.hydres.2021.02.001