Abstract
Abstract. This paper assesses the changing norms of water use known as the duty of water. It is a case study in historical socio-hydrology, or more precisely the history of socio-hydrologic ideas, a line of research that is useful for interpreting and anticipating changing social values with respect to water. The duty of water is currently defined as the amount of water reasonably required to irrigate a substantial crop with careful management and without waste on a given tract of land. The historical section of the paper traces this concept back to late 18th century analysis of steam engine efficiencies for mine dewatering in Britain. A half-century later, British irrigation engineers fundamentally altered the concept of duty to plan large-scale canal irrigation systems in northern India at an average duty of 218 acres per cubic foot per second (cfs). They justified this extensive irrigation standard (i.e., low water application rate over large areas) with a suite of social values that linked famine prevention with revenue generation and territorial control. The duty of water concept in this context articulated a form of political power, as did related irrigation engineering concepts such as "command" and "regime". Several decades later irrigation engineers in the western US adapted the duty of water concept to a different socio-hydrologic system and norms, using it to establish minimum standards for private water rights appropriation (e.g., only 40 to 80 acres per cfs). While both concepts of duty addressed socio-economic values associated with irrigation, the western US linked duty with justifications for, and limits of, water ownership. The final sections show that while the duty of water concept has been eclipsed in practice by other measures, standards, and values of water use efficiency, it has continuing relevance for examining ethical duties and for anticipating, if not predicting, emerging social values with respect to water.
Highlights
In a doctoral qualifying exam, a senior faculty member asked the candidate to discuss the duty of water concept in irrigation, to which the candidate briefly replied that while it had been an important standard for application rates in the early 20th century, it had been replaced by more precise standards of water use efficiency
My answer at that time stopped short of considering how and why these water norms have changed over time, and whether such changes can be anticipated if not predicted
The duty of water concept is still used in some irrigated regions to establish basic standards of water use
Summary
In a doctoral qualifying exam, a senior faculty member asked the candidate to discuss the duty of water concept in irrigation, to which the candidate briefly replied that while it had been an important standard for application rates in the early 20th century, it had been replaced by more precise standards of water use efficiency. The duty of water concept is still used in some irrigated regions to establish basic standards of water use. There are many interesting phrases in this definition: “careful management”, “without wastage”, “reasonably required”, “adequate”, “maximum amount”, and “ordinarily grown”. These terms have complex normative connotations as well as analytical significance. – justifications (i.e., reasons for water values, standards, and practices). These normative dimensions of water use help compare observations with expectations. The historical geography of water norms can help extend predictive explanation toward the social as well as hydrologic bases of water management
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