ABSTRACT
The main objective of this chapter is to contribute to a better understanding of the balance between energy and water use in irrigation. The chapter describes the methodologies and tools to perform a proper design aiming at energy saving, perform energy analysis of already designed and existing infrastructures, and implement an optimal management regime aiming at minimum energy consumption. The process for designing the piping systems of collective irrigation networks is mainly concerned by the flow rates in each pipe and the differences in elevation. The main aspects that should be considered in the process of design and management of an irrigation system are maximizing uniformity, minimizing the drift and evaporation losses obtaining the minimum total cost of water application with the irrigation system, and determining the control and telemetry system requirements. The use of renewable energy resources in water distribution systems is becoming a new alternative for urban supply systems.
