Rural water management and drainage is controlling and distributing water in rural areas, including agricultural and non-agricultural lands. It is important for ensuring a sustainable water supply, protecting water quality, and reducing the risk of flooding. This course guides the planning and implementation stages for artificial drainage practices. These stages could involve investigations, surveys, planning, design, specifications, installation, and the operation of the systems for proper water management. Although most of this course concentrates on agricultural drainage, which is the management of surface and subsurface water on agricultural and closely related lands, the principles also apply to urban conditions. This course is not intended to guide large drainage channels. This course is the first of two parts and can be taken as a standalone course, or in conjunction with part two. Topics:

Introduction

Types of Drainage Systems

Surface Drainage

Investigation and Planning of Surface Drainage Systems

Design of Open Drains

Construction and Maintenance

Subsurface Drainage

Applications of Subsurface Drainage

Investigations and Planning of Subsurface Drainage Systems

Field Drainage System Design Publication Source: USDA NRCS