Agriculture is one of the most significant users of fresh water in the entire world.  In most countries, agriculture accounts for 70% of the freshwater that is used while in the United States it accounts for approximately 80% of the freshwater used (World Bank, 2017).  With the human population growing at approximately 83 million people each year, the necessity for agriculture and farming increases due to heightened pressures on food supplies (Roser, 2013).  In addition, water is becoming even more scarce throughout the world with about one-fifth of the population lacking safe drinking water.  In conjunction with such immense amounts of water being diverted to the agriculture sector, old and inefficient irrigation systems such as flood irrigation result in large amounts of water being wasted through evaporation (Wired, 2017).  Therefore, more efficient irrigation systems are necessary to reduce water waste and water usage.

One possible improved method of irrigation would be drip irrigation systems.  Drip irrigation systems utilize spray heads and rotors that reduce water output.  The ability of these systems to precisely target areas that need to be irrigated reduce water that is lost to evaporation.  According to Irrigation and Green Industry, drip irrigation systems can save between 30-65% more water than traditional irrigation system.  These systems measure water output in gallons per hour as opposed to traditional systems that measure water output in gallons per minute.  This highlights how great of a water conserver these systems truly are.  Drip irrigation is also considered to be 90-95% efficient than traditional irrigation systems (Irrigation and Green Industry Magazine, 2004).

Drip irrigation systems due however have some downsides.  The reason that they are not readily being implemented is because they are costly to install.  What many do not know though is that their effectiveness at reducing water usage in the longer term is considered to be more cost efficient than traditional systems (Vineyard Team).  While these drip irrigation systems may have their short-term economic downsides, the long-term environmental and economic benefits that these systems provide appear to prove worthwhile.

Works Cited

“Chart: Globally, 70% of Freshwater Is Used for Agriculture.” World Bank Blogs, blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/chart-globally-70-freshwater-used-agriculture.

Drip Irrigation Problems and Solutions, www.vineyardteam.org/projects/Drip-Irrigation-Problems-and-Solutions.php.

“Drip Irrigation:A Water Conserving Solution.” Irrigation and Green Industry Magazine, igin.com/article-218-drip_irrigationa_water_conserving_solution.html#:~:text=When%20used%20to%20water%20plant,percent%20compared%20to%20traditional%20systems.

Roser, Max, et al. “World Population Growth.” Our World in Data, 9 May 2013, ourworldindata.org/world-population-growth.

Staff, WIRED. “Farms Waste Much of World’s Water.” Wired, Conde Nast, 4 June 2017, www.wired.com/2006/03/farms-waste-much-of-worlds-water/.