URBAN IRRIGATION: UNDERSTANDING ISSUES AND RESEARCH NEEDS Basant Maheshwari CRC Irrigation Futures and University of Western Sydney, Richmond b.maheshwari@uws.edu.au Background Urbanisation in cities, particularly in our capital cities, is creating immense pressure on water resources through increased water consumption and effluent generation. Water authorities, city councils and other related organisations are now increasingly realising that water supplies are being stretched to the limit and that there is a need to dispose of effluent in an environmentally sensitive manner. Without efficient urban irrigation and proper water reuse, we will have to make huge investments in new dams (if dams are at all possible to construct) to cope with growing urban water demand. Irrigated peri-urban agriculture around the urban centres is very important in producing fresh vegetables, fruits, turf and many other farm produce for a large urban population. It is over a billion dollar industry nationally and its contribution to the overall economy is huge. This industry will only survive if urban irrigation in the future becomes more efficient and huge volumes of effluent generated in our cities is reused sustainably. There is widespread recognition and the need to urgently develop strategies to cope with the looming urban water crisis. This presents a unique opportunity for research organisations (e.g., CRC IF and CSIRO), water authorities, city councils, parks and golf course operators and other relevant organisations to work in partnerships for a common goal of efficient water use. These partnerships are important for a better understanding of the art, science and practice of urban irrigation and developing strategies and tools that will sustain urban catchments. Characteristics of Urban Irrigation Although both urban and agricultural irrigations are about applying water to plants, yet there are some key differences that need to be understood in the context of urban irrigation. Some key characteristics of urban irrigation are summarised as follow: • Productivity of water in urban irrigation has been difficult to assess.