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A Fragile Resource
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INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
INNOVATIVE
APPROACHES TO WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Water management presents
complex problems. We have seen that water resources are scarce in the
western United States, where rapidly expanding urban populations have
increased the need for water. At the same time, western farmers need
irrigation water. Although everyone recognizes that outdated irrigation
methods waste large quantities of water, farmers often cannot afford
up-to-date irrigation technologies.
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Sometimes an innovative approach to
water management can provide solutions for several different
parties. In January 1989, the Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California (MWDSC) and the Imperial Irrigation District (IID)
reached a mutually beneficial agreement on water needs.
(MWDSC supplies water to growing
coastal communities in southern California, whereas IID provider
irrigation water to the highly productive Imperial Valley.) MWDSC
agreed to pay for an updated irrigation system for IID. In exchange,
the water that will be saved as a result of more efficient
irrigation wills he given to MWDSC for municipal use: it will probably be enough to meet the needs of 1 Million
people. |
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