Rebound effect in efficient irrigation

The implementation of irrigation infrastructure leads to more efficient water use and is expected to result in water savings. However, these efficiency gains often lead to the so-called rebound effect. A rebound effect is the phenomenon whereby an increase in efficiency reduces the price of consuming a product. As a result, the demand for the product increases due to the higher monetary budget and the savings are partially negated. In the case of water use in agriculture, more efficient irrigation systems may lead to an increase in irrigated area or to the cultivation of more water-intensive crops, thus actually increasing water consumption rather than saving water.

Nº 82

1) Australia, Murray-Darling Basin

2) Spain

some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made

Rebound effect in efficient irrigation

The implementation of irrigation infrastructure leads to more efficient water use and is expected to result in water savings. However, these efficiency gains often lead to the so-called rebound effect. A rebound effect is the phenomenon whereby an increase in efficiency reduces the price of consuming a product. As a result, the demand for the product increases due to the higher monetary budget and the savings are partially negated. In the case of water use in agriculture, more efficient irrigation systems may lead to an increase in irrigated area or to the cultivation of more water-intensive crops, thus actually increasing water consumption rather than saving water.

1) Australia is experiencing a rebound effect due to government investment and subsidies aimed at improving irrigation infrastructure and reallocating water from the Murray-Darling Basin for agricultural use. Paradoxically, these efforts have had the unintended consequence of increasing water extraction from the basin. Irrigators who have access to the new infrastructure extract more water than those who do not. Moreover, the presence of this infrastructure has facilitated water theft and irregular extraction practices.

2) Between 2002 and 2015, Spain undertook a major irrigation modernisation programme which, among other things, achieved significant water savings, increased flexibility and improved water supply. However, this modernisation process led to significant rebound effects. Energy consumption in agricultural activities increased and water consumption increased due to the expansion of irrigated areas following the modernisation efforts.

1) Wheeler, S.A., Carmody, E., Grafton, R.Q., Kingsford, R.T., Zuo, A. (2020). The rebound effect on water extraction from subsidising irrigation infrastructure in Australia. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 159, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104755.

2) Dumont, A., Mayor, B., & López-Gunn, E. (2013). Is the rebound effect or Jevons paradox a useful concept for better management of water resources? Insights from the irrigation modernisation process in Spain. Aquatic procedia, 1, 64-76.

Dumont, A., Mayor, B., & López-Gunn, E. (2013). Is the rebound effect or Jevons paradox a useful concept for better management of water resources? Insights from the irrigation modernisation process in Spain. Aquatic procedia, 1, 64-76.