ABSTRACT
B.A. LANKFORD School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK J. GOWING Centre for Land Use and Water Resources Research, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Abstract The premise that water for irrigation should be treated as an economic good, in the same way as other agronomic inputs, holds only if its supply is controllable. The design and management capability of an irrigation system to provide control over water is therefore critical. Three main types of potential water supply control can be identified based on increasing accuracy of allocation under higher standards of performance. The three types, which arise via design management interactions, are water provision, water distribution and water partition. Water control can improve within each type or it can move from one to another by engaging in design management interactions. It is the water distribution and water partition levels which enable higher service standards and a realistic means to charge for water used. Recognition of these concepts is important both to diagnosis of on-going management problems and to the design of new and rehabilitated systems. Keywords: Canal irrigation, control, delivery, design, management, pricing.
