Community water resource management strategies using underground water banks: A case study of Ban Long, Nong Lom Subdistrict, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1. study the strategies for managing community water resources through the use of underground water banks, and 2. evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies in Ban Long Village, Nong Lom Subdistrict, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province. The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research. The population consisted of 630 individuals residing in Ban Long Village, Moo 2, Nong Lom Subdistrict, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province. The target group for qualitative research consisted of 30 individuals from Ban Long Village who had specific rolesand direct involvement in community water resource management. The sample for quantitative research was determined from the population using a 15% ratio, resulting in a total of 95 individuals selected through simple random sampling. The research employed a participatory workshop recording form along with a CIPP framework performance evaluation form. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative data were evaluated using mean and standard deviation. The research findings indicated that 1. Ban Long Village faced drought issues from February to May, followed by flooding challenges impacting agricultural areas from June to October. To address these problems, underground water banks were implemented, which helped mitigate both drought and flooding within the community. Consequently, residents gained access to water for agriculture purposes over the long term. 2. The evaluation results of community water resource management strategies utilizing underground water banks in the Ban Long area indicated that the average score was at the highest level, both overall and in individual components. These components include include environmental conditions, input factors, operational processes and outputs.