water utilization; water supply; irrigation
Refers to the use, management, and supply of water for human needs, including irrigation, drinking water, and industrial use.
This area has well-developed water supply systems, so agriculture thrives.
The dam is used for both water utilization and power generation.
water transportation; navigability
Concerns the use of waterways for transport and the condition of a river or channel being navigable.
That river has poor navigability, so boats cannot pass.
Work is underway to improve the water transportation capacity of the canal.
This region has good water access, which helped agriculture develop.
This village is blessed with good water resources, so rice farming thrives here.
灌漑 refers specifically to irrigating farmland, whereas 水利 is the broader concept of managing and using water for irrigation, drinking, and industry.
給水 focuses narrowly on supplying water (e.g. to households), while 水利 is the wider system of water use and management including supply.
Compound of 水 (water) and 利 (benefit, advantage), literally 'water benefit'. The term has been used in Japanese to refer to the practical advantages gained from water resources.