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Irrigation Organizations: Water Measurement and Pricing

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  • Hrozencik, R. Aaron
  • Potter, Nicholas A.
  • Wallander, Steven

Abstract

Irrigation delivery organizations play an important role in the agricultural sector, particularly in the Western United States where nearly half of all water applied as irrigation comes from an off-farm source. These organizations manage and operate extensive water storage and conveyance infrastructure to divert, store, and deliver water to support irrigated agricultural production. Understanding how these organizations measure water flows within their systems and price water deliveries could help achieve water conservation objectives for the irrigated sector. Accurate and timely water measurement allows organizations to track water flows and deliveries and detect sources of water loss within their systems, while differing water delivery pricing approaches can help facilitate on-farm water conservation efforts. This report uses data from the 2019 Survey of Irrigation Organizations to characterize the state of water measurement and pricing practices among organizations delivering water to farms and ranches.

Suggested Citation

  • Hrozencik, R. Aaron & Potter, Nicholas A. & Wallander, Steven, 2025. "Irrigation Organizations: Water Measurement and Pricing," Economic Brief 352145, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uerseb:352145
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.352145
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    References listed on IDEAS

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