Economic instruments for water management in the Sultanate of Oman

摘要

Several factors such as demographic population structure, economic growth rate and change of life style have significant influence on water demand. This paper outlines the problem of water scarcity in Oman, in particular the use of certain economic instruments such as metering, consumption tariff and water markets to manage water resources for both domestic and agricultural uses. An interesting finding about the domestic sector is the dramatic rise in the use of metering devices and piped network water distribution, especially in the two regions Muscat and Dhofar, with a gradual increase in other regions. At the same time, the aflaj water market system has been used for centuries in irrigation. The Omani experience is a unique example of operating a water system within a market of high water prices.