The Agricultural Importance of Big Drainage and Irrigation

Irrigation and drainage to a homeowner usually means a hose and good soil. However, industrial, agricultural, and community irrigation and drainage are much bigger endeavors. They help keep water available and land in useable condition. Much thought, planning and money go into a well-developed large-scale irrigation and drainage system.

Governing Bodies

In the USA, the Agricultural Research Service, or the ARS, governs national research, development, and oversight of water flow issues that affect the private, commercial and agricultural sectors. They are a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Types

Drainage systems include sewers in cities and towns, drain tiles in agricultural fields, and even canals dug out to allow water flow to or away from areas into reservoirs or rivers. There are two basic types of draining systems: surface and subsurface. Surface systems include ditches, rivers, canals and field drains. Subsurface systems include sewers and drain tiles. Irrigation is any system designed to deliver water to a specific area. For a homeowner it might be as simple as a hose and sprinkler, for a farmer on a large agricultural spread it may have acres worth of piping and wheels to roll it across the fields and over crops while shooting water out of perforated piping running across the top. Some farmers use water trucks to shoot high-pressure blasts of water across fields. Other irrigation systems bring water from aqueducts and reservoirs to water plants for delivery to city homes. In rural areas a backyard well and pipe leading into the house brings in water from the underground water table.

Uses

Drainage systems allow governing agencies to prevent flooding of housing areas by diverting flood plains, compensating for above average rainfall, or preventing the flow of rivers. Irrigation gives people the power to keep land hydrated, and water available for use at all times, even during times of no rainfall through water storage, and direction.

Impact

Not providing proper drainage for a flood plain may cause loss of life, or living establishments during an unusually heavy rain accumulation. Snow can also affect the water levels even in the frozen months of winter, as when all the ice or snow melts, the resulting water has nowhere to go. Some aspects of drainage affect the shipping and pleasure sports industry as well. Dams built on rivers to maintain an equal and navigable height allow barges to move large loads of material on the water, and let recreational boaters cruise or enjoy water sports safely by holding water in during low water times, and letting water out when there are floods.

Winterization

On the private side, there is a lot to do in order to winterize an irrigation or drainage system if you live in a cold climate where the weather freezes regularly for long periods. Usually if you expect the temperature to plummet below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours, you should prepare your pipes against possible freezes. While public drain and irrigation systems are typically large enough to avoid the pitfalls of freezing weather, drastic measures are sometimes required to avoid problems. Ice buildups can melt and cause nearby communities to flood, so heavy machinery is often brought in to clear it away before the temperatures rise.