This thesis, titled “Assessing Water Quality and Community Utilisation in Panchayat and Water Resources Department Managed Irrigation Tanks: A Case Study from Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu” explores how institutional governance shapes the water quality and social use of rural irrigation tanks. The study looks at two irrigation tanks in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, managed under different governance systems: Aiyyappaneri Kulam, overseen by the Water Resources Department (WRD), and Vallianeri Kulam, under Panchayat management. Drawing on the hydro-social framework, the research views these tanks not just as physical irrigation infrastructures, but as socio-ecological systems shaped by local livelihoods, governance and community practices.

The study set out with three objectives: 1. To evaluate the water quality of WRD and Panchayat- managed tanks; 2. To understand how local communities access and use them; and 3. To understand how different management practices influence the health and usage of the tanks. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, integrating water quality assessment with social research, framed by hydro-social perspective that conceptualizes water as simultaneously material and social. Fieldwork involved water quality assessments across four sampling points in each tank to measure physio-chemical and microbial parameters. The Weighted Arithmetic Mean method was used to compute the Water Quality Index. Structured household surveys were conducted with 75 respondents, 50 in Aiyyappaneri and 25 in Vallianeri and its neighbouring villages (Subramaniapuram and Parapadi). Respondents were selected using stratified random sampling within the ayacuts and tank vicinity, ensuring diversity in gender, landholding, and caste. Focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs) were also used to understand local perceptions, governance processes, and tank-related onflicts.

Results showed that both tanks fall into the “poor” category on the Water Quality Index (WQI), though the reasons differed. Aiyyappaneri (WRD-managed) had relatively lower nutrient and coliform levels but suffered from structural neglect, and siltation. Respondents attributed this to limited maintenance and staff shortages. Vallianeri (Panchayat-managed) displayed higher phosphate concentrations and coliform counts, likely influenced by suspected runoff from a nearby fish export company. Despite greater local reporting of problems, the Panchayat lacked technical capacity to manage the threats.

Community use patterns were shaped by resource ownership and proximity. In Aiyyappaneri, mainly landholding and livestock-owning households depended on the tank, while non-owners reported little use. In Vallianeri, some non-landowners also relied on the tank, mainly for livestock. Governance differences also influenced participation and perceptions. In Aiyyappaneri, most respondents felt decisions rested solely with the WRD, and expressed frustration over the lack of consultation and delayed repairs. In Vallianeri, more respondents reported being able to raise concerns with Panchayat members, which created a sense of openness. Yet, this model faced challenges like insufficient technical support, fragmented coordination, and limited funds, which undermined effective tank management.

The comparative analysis highlights how tanks are embedded within hydro-social systems, where water quality, social relations, and governance institutions are interlinked. WRD-managed tanks suffer from bureaucratic neglect, limited participation, and under-maintenance. Panchayat-managed tanks provide more inclusive governance spaces but lack resources and expertise to address ecological threats. The study argues that sustainability cannot be secured simply by choosing between centralised and decentralised governance. Instead, what matters is regular maintenance with collective decision-making, and prioritising ecological health alongside irrigation.

By combining water quality assessments with local narratives, this research highlights how tanks are embedded in social relations, livelihoods, and institutional histories. It shows that tanks still play multiple roles: as irrigation sources, livestock water points, sites for bathing and rituals, and symbols of collective identity. However, declining water quality, pollution threats, and unequal access reveal deeper tensions in how tanks are governed and used.

This study contributes to understanding small tanks as living socio-ecological systems, shaped by daily negotiations and power structures. It also points to the need for integrated approaches that link structural maintenance with sustained monitoring, community participation, and attention to ecological integrity. In doing so, it hopes to offer insights for policymakers, practitioners, and local communities invested in reviving and sustaining Tamil Nadu’s traditional tank systems.