Historical water supply - the aflaj of Oman
By Dr Patricia Groves
THE one star is the sun; the twenty-four stars are twelve that appear in the winter night and twelve that appear in the summer night. These twenty-five stars have been used since ancient times to regulate the flow of water from the falaj channels to plots of cultivated land.
Shadows on stones count the time in the day and the sequenced rise of stars counts the time at night. Such is the system still used throughout Oman, except where watches have been adopted because of modern notions, or where buildings or light pollution block the stars.
Hilal al Siyabi has a passion for the world of the Falaj and has studied it for several years now. "If you travel anywhere in Oman, you will see channels with water. They are not hidden, but play a major role to sustain life". In desert climates water is naturally the most precious resource.
For the greater part of Oman's history, "the abundance of water and the efficiency of the falaj system determined the size, strength and wealth of a settlement." This ancient system of irrigation, estimated to be about 2,700 years old is believed to have been founded by the great Omani hero Malik bin Fahm. The falaj system is managed and maintained by local communities through a time-honoured administrative system embedded in a social structure derived from mutual dependence and communal values. With the advent of Islam, this hydro political system became a social contract deeply rooted in religious principles.
The system is both fair and effective. Volumes of water measured by flow over time are diverted from the falaj channel to farmers' plots of land in accordance with an agreed sum. Shares are allocated based on a rotational system that changes by night and day, and by season — summer and winter.
The falaj administration consists of a head (Wakeel) to manage the falaj organisation system, an expert (Arreif) to deal with technical problems and an auctioneer (Dallal) to regulate the financial aspects. Revenues from the fees paid by users are deployed to operate, clean maintain and strengthen the system, as well as to deal with emergencies like flooding or drought.
In addition, a plot of land may be set aside as asset to sell in case of severe damage to the falaj by flooding, landslide or other forces. There are about five thousand alfalaj extant in the Sultanate, of which about three thousand six hundred are still functional. The last falaj was constructed in 1986. Hilal estimates that there are about 150 people from the Awamer tribe in the interior of Oman who have preserved the knowledge of traditional falaj construction based on ancient engineering technologies that fit perfectly with the modern notion of "sustainable development".
In Oman there are three main types of Falaj classified according to water source and type of construction. The "Dawoodi" or "Iddi" falaj is directly connected to the water source underground and contains large reservoirs so that the water level may drop, but the reservoir will never dry up. The "Ghaily" Falaj is sourced in wadi water holes in valleys and is constructed mainly above ground. The Ayni falaj originates in springs and will be constructed both below and above ground. Underground channels are used to reduce evaporation, to overcome natural barriers or to create a gradient.
The falaj system is governed by the classical Arab science of Astronomy. Arabian farmers in ancient times observed that each of the twenty-four stars stays in the sky fifteen days, making a calendar of 360 days (24 x 15).
The principle of water shareholding: Volumes of water measured by flow over time are diverted from the falaj channel to farmers' plots of land in accordance with an agreed sum.
A network of streams or channels called Qanat was designed to deliver water at certain places on a fixed time schedule (Dawran)
The sequenced rise and fall of these stars guides the rotational system of falaj shareholding. The sundial system of the day has two lines of stones sequenced in size to be shadowed by the sun — one for the light of winter and one for the light of summer.
Many of the questions from the audience centred around why the system worked so well considering the human tendency to hoard scarce resources and the opportunity to take advantage of such an open, unguarded resource.
Hilal Al Siyabi explained that water is considered the main life source within the Omani society. Therefore, respecting the falaj organisation is a necessity to maintain and guard the water as a source for life.
The Omani system is based on the dominant values of the culture, which include sacrosanct religious obligation; tribal loyalty; honour for ancestral traditions; and, basic human respect, person to person, family to family, and family to community.
Oman Observer, 11th March 2003
