Groundwater Management by Residents and Relationship with Local Government in Ono, Fukui Prefecture

Abstract

For the sustainable use of groundwater, appropriate management is required to prevent problems. Previous research on groundwater management focused on the concept of groundwater governance and the issues and responses to groundwater problems by local governments that operate domestic water and wastewater systems. It is believed that issues in groundwater use can be avoided when its management is carried out not only by the local government but also by users. Therefore, this study clarified the relationship between a local government and residents’ groups in groundwater management and underlying notions about groundwater in a case study where a conventional domestic water and wastewater system was maintained, summarized local issues, and discussed the potential for groundwater management.

The study area was the city of Ono, Fukui prefecture. This area, located in a mountainous basin, has easy access to groundwater, and therefore private water supply wells have been developed and the public water supply coverage rate is low. Groundwater management practices were analyzed based on interviews with the local government and residents’ groups as well as their documents. The results revealed that a cooperative relationship has been formed between the local government and residents’ groups in the quantitative and qualitative management of groundwater. In contrast, it was found that residents in some areas are in conflict with their local government, as it follows policies that contradict good groundwater management practices, depending on the socioeconomic conditions of the region. The results of a questionnaire distributed to local residents revealed that they recognize that water for daily use is a benefit provided by groundwater and understand the connection between groundwater and springs. According to interviews with residents’ groups, they consider the benefits from groundwater to result from their management. Residents manage their groundwater based on that concept, and therefore projects that may affect groundwater suggested by the local government are unacceptable. Resolving those conflicts is a regional issue.

Thus, it can be said that groundwater concepts are accepted in Ono, and that groundwater management has been carried out through conflict and cooperation between residents and the local government. Since residents manage groundwater based on certain accepted concepts, reevaluating those notions and shaping groundwater management by users would alleviate issues for the local government in groundwater management.