There have been calls to establish standards as a guide for judging the

suitability of water for irrigation. Any classification should be based on the

total concentration and the composition of salts. However, the suitability
of water for irrigation also depends on other associated factors, such as the
crop, soil, climate and management practices. The classification adopted
by FAO in 1985 (after Maas), and proposed as an initial guide (Table 7.8),
has proved most practical and useful in assessing water quality for on-farm
water use. The principal parameters for water classification (crop response
to salinity, sodium hazard and toxicity) are quite clear and understood by
both the extension engineers and the farmers themselves for proper
irrigation management and follow-up purposes.

Every water is not suitable for irrigation.The quality of irrigation water is very much influenced by:the
continents of the soil, which is to be irrigatedparticular water may be harmful for irrigation on a
particular soilBut the same water may be tolerable oreven useful on some other soil.

Irrigation water may be said to be unsatisfactory for its intended use if it contains:Chemicals toxic to
plants or the persons using plant as foodchemicals that react with the soil to produce unsatisfactory
moisture characteristicsBacteria injurious to persons or animals eating plants irrigated with water.

Sediment: its effect depends upon the type of irrigated land when fine sediment from water is
deposited on sandy soils the fertility is improved on the other hand if the sediment has been derived
from the eroded areas it may reduce the fertility or decrease the soil permeability.Sediment water
creates troubles in irrigation canals as it increases their siltation and maintenance costs.In general
ground water or surface water from reservoirs, etc does not have sufficient sediment to cause any
serious problems in irrigation.

 Tarbela Dam

 Mangla

 Ghazi Barotha

 Chashma

 Warsak

 Renala

 Nandipur

 Chichoki

 Shadiwal
 Jinnah

 Rasul

 Dargai
 Khan Khwar

 Allai Khwar

 Satpar