Water rights and rules, and management in spate irrigation systems

occurrence and amount. It is emitted through wadis (ephemeral streams) and diverted to fields using earthen or concrete structures. Primarily based on the research conducted in some spate irrigation systems in Eritrea, Yemen and Pakistan, this paper discusses the impact on floodwater management of several water rights and rules, and the enforcement approaches used by various local organizations. It analyses if and how the water rights and rules have been tailored in response to changes in events in time, such as increase in irrigated area and structural modernizations; and how these affected the floodwater management. It assesses why national/provincial water laws became necessary for floodwater management following the modernization. The paper concludes by outlining what water rights and rules can achieve when applied in situations they were prepared for, and how negative their consequences can be otherwise.