What are the traditional and modern methods of water conservation?
You have to start with a definition of who’s tradition we are using.
Traditions have developed differently in different areas either different topography, rainfall, population etc.
Water conservation has typically been directed first and foremost to sustaining crop production. If we can not sustain crop production it becomes a moot point that we have water to wash in or to flush a toilet.
Where topography permits, land leveling, paddies surrounded with a barrier to retain water on the rice or millet field has the effect of forcing water deep into the ground, even into aquifers. This is done often in a cascading series of paddies , with run-off from higher paddies going to lower paddies.
Where rain falls over more of the growing season, use of mulches to prevent dehydration of the soil has often been employed…most often by merely breaking up the soil surface.
Then we have deep tillage, where a machine breaks plow and clay pans to a depth up to 50 cm to allow both water and roots to penetrate quickly.
Pond systems, ponds dug into the ground or created above the ground with a berm or a series of berms coming down the drainage area have long been used. This is somewhat like use of paddies, but the area of the pond is often just a sacrifice to hold water, and is not being used actively for crops.
Minor dams on rivers, that hold only a meter to several are another example of pond formation, but many of those minor dams can be drained down in advance of major rains, to provide flood protection.
Major dams that create a major reservoir. These works tend to fill with sediment until we start to see them as mainly soil catchments.
Deliberate wetland formation… a development used where tradition does not exist for use of paddy systems.
Then we have waste water reclamation systems, with individuals managing their personal use, cutting down on irrigation and so creating drought and global warming.
You have to start with a definition of who’s tradition we are using.
Traditions have developed differently in different areas either different topography, rainfall, population etc.
Water conservation has typically been directed first and foremost to sustaining crop production. If we can not sustain crop production it becomes a moot point that we have water to wash in or to flush a toilet.
Where topography permits, land leveling, paddies surrounded with a barrier to retain water on the rice or millet field has the effect of forcing water deep into the ground, even into aquifers. This is done often in a cascading series of paddies , with run-off from higher paddies going to lower paddies.
Where rain falls over more of the growing season, use of mulches to prevent dehydration of the soil has often been employed…most often by merely breaking up the soil surface.
Then we have deep tillage, where a machine breaks plow and clay pans to a depth up to 50 cm to allow both water and roots to penetrate quickly.
Pond systems, ponds dug into the ground or created above the ground with a berm or a series of berms coming down the drainage area have long been used. This is somewhat like use of paddies, but the area of the pond is often just a sacrifice to hold water, and is not being used actively for crops.
Minor dams on rivers, that hold only a meter to several are another example of pond formation, but many of those minor dams can be drained down in advance of major rains, to provide flood protection.
Major dams that create a major reservoir. These works tend to fill with sediment until we start to see them as mainly soil catchments.
Deliberate wetland formation… a development used where tradition does not exist for use of paddy systems.
Then we have waste water reclamation systems, with individuals managing their personal use, cutting down on irrigation and so creating drought and global warming.
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Hope I helped
dude just open you textbook you’ll find an answer to this or for pete’s sake google it…
References :
Today when fresh water levels in many parts of the world have dropped alarmingly, the need to conserve water has grown in importance. In fact BeWaterWise.com has a very good section on traditional water saving tips that might help you - http://www.bewaterwise.com/tips01.html .
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