Manuel PULIDO 1 , Guilherme F. MARQUES 2 , Marion W. JENKINS 3 , and Jay R. LUND 2
1 Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. mapulido@ucdavis.edu
2 University of California, Davis. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. gfmarques@ucdavis.edu
3 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. London, UK. mwjenkins@ucdavis.edu
2 University of California, Davis. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. jrlund@ucdavis.edu
Conjunctive use of ground and surface waters is one of several relatively new techniques with ancient roots for improving water system performance. The contemporary application of conjunctive use has become increasingly sophisticated and integrated with other innovative and traditional water management techniques, such as water transfers, water reuse, demand management, and aquifer remediation. Conjunctive use and other innovative operations and management techniques often work best when integrated with traditional options for water system management. Implementation typically requires changes in infrastructure and operations, as well as changes in institutions and institutional arrangements. This paper reviews the benefits, methods, management applications, problems, operations and prospects of conjunctive use of ground and surface waters classically and in California’s examples. California’s intense water development has motivated the implementation of an elaborate and broad range of conjunctive use strategies focused on flexibility and efficiency in water
allocation. These strategies provide new ways of coordinating traditional conjunctive use operations, and are discussed here.