Groundwater Management under the Kabu-ido System in Noubi Plain, Japan, 1810s-1860s

The purpose of this paper is to clarify how the Kabu-ido system can be employed to successfully regulate groundwater pumping. This was accomplished by analyzing surviving historical documents, including budgetary notes and a diary. The Kabu-ido system was a customary institution for groundwater management in a ring levee area of the Noubi Plain in Japan that consisted of three programs： restriction of groundwater pumping through a permit system, groundwater pricing and economic compensation. The system was created in the 1810s and survived for 100 years. This paper covers the Kabu-ido system from the 1810s to the 1860s, the first half of the 100-year history. Excessive groundwater pumping is not a new environmental problem. Although many case studies have investigated remedial actions, few have investigated how local residents addressed the problem before the 20th century because of a lack of documents. The Kabu-ido system is an exception in which of the procedure was documented in writing. The historical data indicate that it was a pioneering institution for groundwater management.