Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Management
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.
Search Water Conservation and Ag Water Mgt.
Resources
Adapted from Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Management
Theme page :http://www.usawaterquality.org/themes/conservation/default.html
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