دانش و فناوری بومی مدیریت منابع آب در نیک‌آباد اصفهان: بررسی تاریخی و چالش‌های معاصر

Abstract
This ethnographic study investigates the evolution of indigenous knowledge and technology for water management in Nikabad, Isfahan province, from the past to the present. The main objectives are to describe traditional water exploitation technologies (including qanats, reservoirs, ice houses, and mills), analyze contemporary challenges related to water scarcity and climate change, and propose strategies for revitalizing this knowledge toward sustainable water resource management. The research methodology combines semi-structured interviews with key local informants (qanat diggers, farmers, and water distributors) and library-based document analysis. Findings indicate that traditional water systems in Nikabad were based on shared ownership, equitable water distribution using units such as "Vault" and "Bowl", and cooperation. However, in recent decades, factors such as over-extraction of groundwater, deep well drilling, unsustainable urban and industrial development, and climate change have led to the drying of qanats, destruction of traditional structures, and decline of social capital. The study concludes that revitalizing indigenous knowledge and integrating it with modern technology can serve as an effective strategy to enhance the resilience of local communities facing water crises.
 
Extended Abstract
Background and Objective
Water resource management in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran has always faced serious challenges. In recent decades, climate change, over-extraction of groundwater, and unsustainable urban and industrial development have threatened the sustainability of these resources. Indigenous water knowledge, as a body of accumulated experiences and skills passed down through generations, has played an important role in local communities' adaptation to environmental conditions. Nikabad, a city in Isfahan province with a rich history of traditional technologies such as qanats, reservoirs, ice houses, and mills, is a valuable example of this indigenous knowledge. However, many of these systems have been degraded or forgotten. The main objectives of this study are to investigate the historical development of indigenous knowledge and technology for water management in Nikabad, analyze contemporary challenges, and propose strategies for revitalizing this knowledge toward sustainable water resource management.
 
Methodology
This research employs a qualitative-descriptive approach within the interpretive paradigm. The ethnographic method combines semi-structured interviews with key local informants and library-based document analysis. The study population includes retired qanat diggers, farmers, water distributors, and elderly residents of Nikabad who possess direct experience and knowledge of traditional water technologies.
Purposive and non-random sampling was conducted based on the principle of theoretical saturation, resulting in the selection of 7 key informants. Interviews were conducted in 2022, each lasting between 45 and  minutes. Data analysis was performed using qualitative content analysis in three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding.
 
Findings
The findings indicate that in the past, Nikabad had approximately 17 active qanat chains, the most important of which were Khairabad and Nasirabad. The traditional water allocation system was based on units called "Vault" (a 24-hour turn) and "Bowl" (a graduated vessel for measuring time). The water measuring tool was called "Bowl", and its filling time was approximately 15 minutes. Additionally, structures such as reservoirs (Water tanks) for storing drinking water, ice houses (Glaciers) for producing and storing ice, and mills (both water-powered and animal-powered) for processing agricultural products were constructed. These systems were based on shared ownership, cooperation, and equity in water distribution. However, in recent decades, deep and illegal well drilling, over-extraction of groundwater, climate change, and unsustainable industrial development have led to the drying of qanats, destruction of reservoirs and ice houses, and the decline of traditional systems. Today, none of the historical qanats in Nikabad remains active.
 
Conclusion
The results of this study demonstrate that indigenous knowledge and technology for water management in Nikabad are not merely a historical heritage but an efficient and sustainable system for adapting to arid and semi-arid conditions. This knowledge can serve as a practical tool for addressing water crises and climate change. Revitalizing qanats, reconstructing traditional structures, educating the younger generation, and integrating indigenous knowledge with modern technologies are among the most important strategies proposed by this research. Ultimately, water resource management in Nikabad and Isfahan requires a comprehensive approach (integrating historical, cultural, social, and ecological dimensions) to ensure both environmental sustainability and the preservation of the cultural identity of local communities.