Sources of Irrigation water

Considerations for using surface water as a source:

1.     Lowest available water

2.     Crop water requirement

-          Water needed (S1)= R1-x1

-         R1= Crop water requirement

-         x1= Effective rainfall

3.     Water quality ( salinity & toxicity)

4.     Water right – Other users

-         Domestic water supply

-         Navigation

-         Fish culture

-         Industry

-         River morphology

5.     control structure

-         initial cost

-         operating & maintenance cost





Consideration for Ground water as a source:

1.     Crop water requirement

2.     Availability of surface water source

3.     Position of ground water table

4.     Water quality

5.     Ground water recharge.

6.     Environmental impact



Conjunctive use of Surface water & Ground water:

-         Use of both SW & GW

-         Factors governing the percentage of sharing SW & GW

i)       Natural recharge

ii)    Artificial recharge

iii)  Aquifer characteristics

iv)  Availability of surface water

v)    Availability of fuel

vi)  Operation & Maintenance cost for pumps

vii)           Economic consideration