Water users can fundamentally be divided into two categories*:

1. System users
2. System operators

In managing water with the aim of maximizing its productive usage two further basic elements have been identified*:

1. Managing the infrastructure (technical, engineering issues dealing with the engineering hardware of water systems.
2. Managing behavior (how the infrastructure is put to use by people)

* a scheme adopted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water. Visit the excellent, comprehensive web site at www.epa.gov/OW/ .

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For information on water quality see the feature.