[OSM-talk] difference between waterway=canal and waterway=drain

[Alex Mauer]

Karl Newman wrote:
> Wow, that's not obvious to the casual (non-UK) observer. In the US, the 
> usage of "canal" is different. They're almost never navigable, and even 
> small drainage ditches are commonly called "canals". Almost no-one here 
> would call any kind of waterway a "drain". Definitely clarify that on 
> the Wiki.

I've never heard a non-navigable waterway referred to as a canal, here 
in the Midwest USA.  I've only what you're describing called a "drainage 
ditch" (as you said) or "irrigation ditch" depending on their intended 
purpose. "ditch" is IMO a reasonable combination of the two (since the 
intended purpose is generally not immediately obvious)

-Alex Mauer "hawke"