Water conservation
is the approach through which the demand on public water supplies and water in the natural environment can be reduced. This can be achieved in a number of ways.
Household - A significant part of the country's water supply is consumed by industry, where it is used extensively for cooling and processing purposes. Management techniques can reduce the volumes required but the greater savings may be available through the introduction of re-cycling techniques, which may include re-circulation (providing the water for the same purpose), or diverting, for an alternative use. Storage again, of non-potable water is a real possibility for large roofed units.
Industrial - A significant part of the country's water supply is consumed by industry, where it is used extensively for cooling and processing purposes. Management techniques can reduce the volumes required but the greater savings may be available through the introduction of re-cycling techniques, which may include re-circulation (providing the water for the same purpose), or diverting, for an alternative use.Storage again, of non-potable water is a real possibility for large roofed units.
Agricultural - A major improvement inrecent years has been the more widely adapted practice of abstracting water from naturalsources.Particularly over the Winter period, when excess flows, would otherwise be lost to the sea. Water is stored in reservoirs for use during periods when crop irrigation is necessary. There can also be a great deal more science applied to the crop demand and accompanying this an increased amount of moisture monitoring and control over application.
Associated Bodies: ‘The Institue of Water’
Irrigation
is an artificial application of water to the soil. It is used to assist in the growing of crops, maintenance of landscapes,and re-vegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall. Additionally, also has a few other uses in crop production, which include protecting plants against frost, suppressing weed growing in grain fields and helping in preventing soil consolidation. In contrast, agriculture that relies only on direct rainfall is referred to as rain-fed or dry-land farming. Irrigation systems are also used for dust suppression, disposal of sewage, and in mining.
Associated Bodies for Irrigation: The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage 'ICID'
