For most Americans, poor quality water has never been a concern. However, with the beginning of the 21st century, many communities are facing diminishing water supplies and growing competition for the resource. Many lakes and reservoirs throughout the country are at historically low levels. Causes for diminishing water supplies are varied.

Socio-geographic changes in population are placing increased demands on water resources. Population growth is occurring where municipal and industrial demands are already great. Much of the increased demand is occurring in arid regions where water is always scarce. Water resources become even less dependable in years of drought. As water bodies become depleted, water quality decreases due to higher concentrations of chemical, biological, and physical contaminants. Numbers of intra and inter-state controversies are emerging as a result of water shortages.

Agricultural water management becomes increasingly important in the presence of low water supplies because it is usually when consumption by agricultural operations is examined more closely by their respective communities. When agricultural operations are able to incorporate more efficient methods of using water, a greater quantity of drinking water is made available for use by the community at large.

The PNW Regional Water Quality Program provides a broad range of research-based educational materials devoted to water conservation and agricultural water management. These have been compiled and published in a 4-page informational flyer. View an HTML version of the educational materials here, or download the 11x17 informational PDF flyer here, or download the 4-page PDF version here.