SUSTAINABILITY OF WATER MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION: A CASE STUDY OF BANTON PRAYUEN KHON KAEN

Abstract

This research aims to study sustainability of water management of local administration: a case study of Ban Ton, Phra Yuen, Khon Kaen. The research objectives are 1) to study water management guidelines 2) to analyze problems and obstacles in water management and 3) to provide the guidelines for developing water management sustainability. For the research methodology, the qualitative approach was applied. Documentary, in-depth interview, and focus group techniques were used to collect data. With a purposive research methodology, there are four groups of key informants comprising; Thirty-five informants are composed of nine local administrators and related officials, twelve council members, nine village headmen and five volunteers of water management. The findings indicate that the unit of study has applied different methods of water management by using the electricity pumping station, distributing the water along the concrete lining, covering no less than eighty per cent of agricultural areas by clearly identified of roles and responsibilities to the undertaker. The problem was an inadequate distribution system that was not able to provide a sufficient amount to all users since the long delaying of rain leading to the drought. In addition, there is an insufficiency of financial supports and the failure of systems for water resources management. The guidelines for the development was that to encourage the stakeholders to cultivate the organic agriculture along with following the concepts of the sufficiency economy philosophy.