Irrigation organizations that deliver water to farms and ranches use main and lateral canals, tunnels and pipelines to transport water from natural waterways, reservoirs or other infrastructure to irrigated farms and ranches. Transporting water to farms and ranches can result in conveyance losses, or water that is unavailable for irrigation use because of evaporation or seepage.
Lining water canals with quasi-impermeable materials, such as concrete or plastic membranes, can reduce conveyance losses, as less water is lost to seepage. However, the cost of lining canals may be prohibitively high for many irrigation organizations. According to data collected in the USDA’s 2019 Survey of Irrigation Organizations, almost 76 percent of water delivery organizations cite expense as a reason for leaving conveyance infrastructure unlined.
In some scenarios, lining canals may not be feasible or warranted. For example, unlined canals may beneficially recharge aquifers or soil, and geologic attributes may minimize seepage losses. A smaller percentage of organizations cite those as reasons for not lining main and lateral canals. — USDA Economic Research Service
