I refer to the letter from Geoff Richardson in the August issue of Engineers Australia. History informs us that taking water from one catchment to feed another usually results in the degradation of the system from which water is taken (Snowy River is one example). The statement that the Murray-Darling has insufficient flow must be qualified by the addition of the words "for the demands being made upon it". In the early part of my 50 years in engineering I was engaged in water supply for country towns. My feelings then were that the irrigation demands on our rivers were excessive. Also, channel irrigation was extremely wasteful due to losses in transmission. At one time I asked the Agriculture Department of the effect of drowning some valleys for the Gosford water supply and was told that more acres could be added to the irrigation area.
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