The management of water quality will continue to be challenging. Control of nonpoint source pollution will be particularly important as will the management of new chemicals and technologies to avoid further contamination. The contamination of groundwater will be a growing problem and in situ techniques will offer the best and least costly methods of clean-up.

The need to manage groundwater sustainably will continue to be important in many regions of the country.

The management of salinity will pose a continuing challenge in many areas where irrigated agriculture is practiced.

Additional research and technical innovation will be needed if consumptive and nonconsumptive uses are to be fully understood and managed effectively.