Water Resources Management of Subak Irrigation System in Bali

s. Management of water for irrigation in Bali has been exist since the IX century, which is known as Subak. Subak is traditional irrigation system and it is closely associated with the principle of TriHitaKarana. The elements and facilities of subak include: irrigation networks, organizational structures and regulation. Distribution of water uses a comparison unit called ayahan. One unit of ayahan entitled to one tektek or one kecoran which is a unit of water flowing through the cross section of traditional spillway on a countinuous basis. If water availability is limited, then water supply is managed by rotation basis called pergiliran or nyorog system that based on different planting time. The principle of nyorog is the upstream section get water first (called ngulu), the midstream obtain water after the upstream had finished cultivating of soil (called maongin), and the downstream called ngasep. In rainy season, rice planting is simultaneously done in all area of subak, which is called kertamasa. Meanwhile in dry season called gadon, rice planting is scheduled by principles of nyorog or rotation. The arrangements of water resources and the settings of cropping pattern is stated in regulation (awig awig). Water distribution were managed ​​by the administrators of subak within the territory, or through an agreement between the territories’ administrators. The Sedahan and Sedahan Agung, whom in charge as subak’s adviser have very important role in the coordination on management and use of water. Recently they are facing uncertainty in existence, and causing lost of coordination in resolving various problems. In the future, the functioning of the Sedahan and Sedahan Agung is needed.