Abstract: Designed water head of drip irrigation is the most important factors to affect the investment and operation cost of drip irrigation system. Water transfer pipe network is the principal part of the investment of drip irrigation system and relates to the huge energy consumption and the operation and management cost. The relationships among designed water head of drip irrigation, investment of water transfer pipe networks and operation of drip irrigation system were analyzed. Results show that with the same diameter of the pipe, the designed water head is directly proportional to the investment for the pipe networks and the operation electric cost. For emission exponent of emitter higher than 0.571, decreasing the designed head is favorable to lengthen the lateral or reduce the flow deviation rate, to increase the irrigation uniformity, and also to reduce the operation electric cost and rotated irrigation groups of drip irrigation system, and to improve pipe utility rate. This research provides references for the research and development of the drip irrigation products, the design and system management.