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.

This area of the CSREES National Water Quality Program website will eventually feature content that shows how Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Management issues are being addressed across the nation.

More information on how Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Management issues are being addressed throughout the country is available via these CSREES Regional Water Quality Programs (these external links will open in a new window):

Great Lakes New England Northern Plains and Mountains Southern Southwest States and Pacific Islands

Visit the following page to learn more about what USDA is doing to improve Agricultural Water Security. The USDA-REE Listening Session Report on Agricultural Water Security and the CSREES Agricultural Water Security White Paper are available.