Reuse of water in agricultural systems
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Many irrigation technologies labelled as potentially "water saving" actually often fail to deliver expected water savings and can even increase water use by farmers, benefiting crop production but failing to effectively reallocate water. A key reason is the common oversight of return flows and water reuse in irrigation systems. This guidance document investigates water reuse rates in irrigation systems, compiling a database from a literature review that finds a lack of data, information and understanding of water reuse. To better assess and manage these flows, the document introduces the Follow the Water approach, which was developed to track water movement within and between irrigation systems and blocks. The accompanying Follow the Water tool offers a practical method for initial analysis of intervention impacts and serves as a valuable resource for training and education. The study’s main recommendation is to apply the Follow the Water approach when planning irrigation technology interventions, ensuring a more accurate understanding of water dynamics and avoiding unintended increases in consumption. This shift in assessment can support more realistic and effective strategies for achieving water savings in agriculture.