Learning from historic irrigation and drainage structures

Overview

The past has much to teach us about the present and the future. The rapid changes that are taking place around the world caution us to learn from history. This is as true in irrigation and drainage as in most other walks of life. The ICID Working Group on History of Irrigation, Drainage and Flood Control documents the history of irrigation, drainage, flood management, and river engineering, incorporating relevant agricultural, political, socio-economic, climatologic and geographic aspects for the proper understanding of technological developments. The Working Group is currently compiling a book on “Water Sustainability through History”.

In this meeting, the work of the ICID Working Group on History of Irrigation, Drainage and Flood Control will be presented and the importance of understanding the history of water management at specific locations will be highlighted by considering the histories of two irrigation and drainage systems, one in Italy and one in Britain, to show what learning their histories provide for present and future water managers.