Water Management Through Irrigation and Drainage: Progress, Problems, and Opportunities

Planning for optimum water use in irrigation and drainage requires recognition of the many interesting factors, application of existing technology, and development of new concepts and ideas. The total system may be considered in terms of: (1) conservation and management of water supply; (2) water use efficiency; (3) water quality improvement; and (4) socioeconomic institutions and arrangements. In each of these broad areas there has been progress over the years, but serious problems remain. It behooves the civil engineer to take cognizance of these problems and to work toward defining viable alternative solutions which will provide a basis for decision making; he also is uniquely qualified to make recommendations as to the priority of problems that should be supported for study so that society may benefit through rational use of limited natural resources.