Water-Quality Management in Irrigation Systems

The management of irrigation systems entails not only the design and construction of physical works for supplying water and removing drainage, but considers the impact of these operations on water quality. The behavior of irrigation systems that may be represented as controlled hydrologic entities is examined. A systematized approach for predicting the quality response of these systems to changes in irrigation practice is proposed, and a series of mathematical models through which river system operation may be simulated on a digital computer is suggested. These models are described, and results obtained by simulation of the Sacramento River System are compared to the quality response of the prototype.