Water allocation is the process of distributing water supplies to meet the various requirements of a community. Determining how to allocate water supplies requires the consideration of certain factors, including the source of the water and methods for obtaining it.

How does water allocation work?

Water allocations are the percentage of water against an entitlement that can be taken each year. Allocations change depending on how wet or dry the year is. For example, in a wet year, crops are watered directly through rainfall, meaning less water is used for irrigation.

Who should decide how water resources are allocated?

As it relates to agriculture, water law issues tend to fall into two categories: allocation rights and agricultural land use that negatively affects water quality. Water allocation is generally governed by the states, with each state having its own regulatory system with very little federal intervention.