Transitioning from command-and-control measures to market-based mechanisms for sustainable groundwater governance in hyper-arid regions

Nasirian, Ali; Shamshirgaran, Raziyeh; Tosan, Moein

doi:10.22126/arww.2026.13559.1477

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.

² Center of Excellence in Hydroinformatics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22126/arww.2026.13559.1477

Abstract

Despite concerted efforts to stabilize groundwater levels in arid regions through engineering interventions, aquifer depletion remains a critical challenge, often exacerbated by a disconnect between rigid top-down policies and local socio-economic realities. This study presents a forensic hydro-institutional analysis of the restoration and balancing plan in the hyper-arid Boshruyeh Plain, Iran, to evaluate the efficacy of technical controls versus economic instruments. By integrating a 27-year hydro-physical time series (1995–2023) with a tripartite stakeholder analysis (farmers, executive experts, and academic elites), the research reveals a complex paradox. Hydrological results indicate that while the implementation of smart metering post-2014 successfully induced a structural break in abstraction trends and enforced regulatory compliance, it failed to arrest the chronic annual deficit of ~62 MCM. Socio-institutional analysis exposes a significant perception gap; while academic elites emphasize participatory governance, executive experts identify technical and cultural barriers as primary causes of policy failure. However, a strategic consensus was found regarding the potential of water markets. Contrasting with common assumptions of resistance, 89% of farmers expressed willingness to participate in a regulated market, driven primarily by the need for operational flexibility and drought risk management rather than profit maximization. The study concludes that sustainable aquifer restoration requires a paradigm shift from a purely police-patrol model to a cap-and-trade system, utilizing existing metering infrastructure to facilitate inter-temporal water banking and cross-sectoral reallocation.

Keywords

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Journal of Applied Research in Water and Wastewater

Transitioning from command-and-control measures to market-based mechanisms for sustainable groundwater governance in hyper-arid regions

References

References

Volume 13, Issue 1 - Serial Number 25
June 2026
Pages 85-93

Transitioning from command-and-control measures to market-based mechanisms for sustainable groundwater governance in hyper-arid regions

References

References

Volume 13, Issue 1 - Serial Number 25June 2026Pages 85-93

Volume 13, Issue 1 - Serial Number 25
June 2026
Pages 85-93