Irrigation Structures

1. Diversion Head Works

The works constructed at the head of a canal to divert water from a river so as to ensure a
regulated continuous supply of silt-free water with a certain minimum head.

Weir or barrage – a barrier constructed across a river to raise the water level in order to
feed the main canal
Weir – if major part or entire ponding is achieved by raised crest and a smaller part is
accomplished by shutters
Barrage – if most part of ponding is done by gates and only a smaller part is done by
raised crest

Comparison between weir and barrage

Weir Barrage
High crest level Low crest level
Ponding is achieved mainly by raised crest Ponding is done mainly by gates
Provided with shutters Provided with gates
High afflux during high floods Less afflux during high floods
Better control on river flow No effective control on river flow
Shutter operation is slow and labour- intensive Gate operation is more convenient
Construction is relatively cheaper Construction is relatively costly
Not possible to provide roadway Can be provided with roadway at a small additional
cost
Layout and components of diversion head works
i. Weir proper– barrier constructed across the river to raise water level in order to feed
the canal
- the crest level is set 1.0 to 1.5 m higher than that of the under-sluices
- the total waterway of barrage bays and unde-sluices should sufficient to pass the
desin high flood
- the entire length is divided into a number of bays by means of piers

ii.Under-sluices – openings at low level

Functions
- to scour the silt deposited in the under-sluice pocket periodically
- to maintain a well-defined deep channel approaching the canal head regulator
- to control the entry of silt into the canal
- to help passing the low floods without dropping the shutters of the weir
Design considerations
 The crest level is set at the river bed level
 The discharge capacity is determined considering the following:
Scouring of silt deposited(discharge should be at least twice the discharge of the
main canal)
Passing of dry weather flow and low flood without dropping the weir shutters
Passing of 10 to 15% of high flood discharge
iii. Divide wall – a long wall constructer at right angle to the weir axis
 Functions:
- to separate the weir proper with higher crest level from the under-sluices with lower
crest level
- to help in entry of silt-free water into the canal by providing a comparatively less
turbulent pocket near the head regulator
- to keep cross-current, if any, away from the weir

iv. Fish ladder – narrow trough opening provided with baffles

- to facilitate natural migration of fish across the weir

v. Canal head regulator – structure constructed at the off take of the canal

Functions
- to regulate the supply into the canal
- to control the entry of silt into the canal
- to prevent river flow from entering into the canal

Design considerations

The crest level is set1.2 to 1.5 m higher than the crest of under-sluices
The waterway is fixed so that the full supply discharge of the canal can pass through the
regulator at designed pond level
The regulator is divided into a numbers of bays with gates
The maximum height of the gate = Pond level – crest level
Breast wall is provided between pond level and high flood level in order to avoid spilling
of water over the gates during the high floods

vi. Guide bank

-to ensure a smooth and almost axial flow near the weir site
-to prevent the river from outflanking the weir

vii. Marginal bund

-to protect the area from submergence due to rise in HFL

viii. Shutters and gates

-to maintain pond level

-to raise water level during low flow

Afflux - the rise in the highest flood level (HFL) upstream of the weir due to
construction of the weir
Pond Level- the water level required in the under-sluice pocket upstream of the canal
head regulator so as to feed the canal with its full supply
Pond level = canal FSL + 1.0 to 1.2m

2. Canal Fall/Drops

Whenever the available ground slope is steeper than the design slope of the channel the
difference is adjusted by constructing vertical drops or falls in the canal bed at suitable
intervals

Location
- toography
- economy
- possibility of combining it with a bridge or regulator
 - suitable and economical for large drop and small Q

b) Simple vertical drop

- quite suitable for discharges upto 15 cumecs and drops upto 1.5m.
 c) Straight Glacis fall

- Suitable for discharges upto 60 cumecs and drops upto 1.5m

d) Baffle fall

- suitable for all discharges and for drops of more than 1.5m

3. Canal regulators
Main functions

a) Head regulator

- to regulate or control the supplies entering the offtake canal

- to control silt entry into the offtake channel
- to serve as serve as meter for measuring discharge

b) Cross-regulator- often combined with bridges and falls for economy

- to control the entire canal irrigation system

- to help in heading up water on the upstream and to feed the offtake channel to
their full demand
- to help absorbing fluctuations in various sections of the canal system and in
prevnting the possibilities of breaches in the tail reaches.

4. Canal Escape

Side channel constructed to remove surplus water resulting from mistake in supply or
excessive rainfall, from the irrigation channel to a natural drain.
Work as safety valves in case of breaching
a) Weir type

Crest level = FSL of the canal

Water escapes if water level is graeter than FSL

b) Regulator/ Sluice type

- Better control and complete emptying

- Scouring of silt deposited in the head reach

5. Canal outlets/ modules

- small structure built at the head of a watercourse or field channel
- is a connecting link between the system manager & farmers.

Requirements of a good module

- should fit well to the decided principles of water distribution
- should be simple to construct
- should work efficently with a small working head
- should be cheaper
- should be sufficiently strong with no moving parts
- should be such as to avoid interference by farmers
- should draw its fair share of silt
Types of module

i) Non-modular module-discharge through the module depends upon the

head difference between the distributary and the watercourse

- drowned pipe outlet

ii) Semi-modular or flexible type- discharge through this type of outlet is

only affected by water level of the distributary

- pipe outlet, open flume type

iii) Modular/ Rigid outlet- discharge through this type of outlet is constant
irrespective of the water level fluctuations in the distributary and or field
channel
- Gibb’s module

Performance criteria

a) Flexibility, F – ratio of rate change of discharge of outlet to rate of charge

of discharge of disctributary channel

dq
q
F=
dQ dq m
∴ = dH
Q q = CHm q H
dQ n
∴ = dy
Q = kyn Q y
m
dH
H m y dH
∴ F= = , dH =dy
n n H dy
dy
y
m y
∴ F=
n H

b) Proportionality

dq dQ
= or. F=1
i) propositional if q Q
m y H m
=1 =
or, n H or y n
 hyperportional, if F˃1, or, H m ❑❑
<
ii) y n ❑❑
H m
>
iii)subproportional if F<1, or, y n

c) Setting- ratio of the depth of sill level of the outlet below the FSL of the
distributary to the full supply depth of the distributary

H
Setting = y
H m
=
For proportional outlet, setting y n
For trapezoidal channel, n=5/3
For an orifice type outlet, m = ½
1/2
= =0 . 3
∴ Selting 5/3
3/2
= =0 . 9
For a weir type outlet, m = 3/2 ∴ setling 5/3

d) Sensitivity, S – ratio of the rate of change of discharge through the outlet to the rate
of change of water level of the distributry

dq dq
q q
S= F=
dG dQ dQ n
= dy
y , Q , Q y

[]
dq dq
q 1 q
F=
dQ n dy
Q = y dG = dy

1
F= S or S = nF
n
6. Water measurement Structures:

Purpose of measurement:

 Efficient water distribution

 Efficient water use at farm level
 Project evaluation
 Equitable distribution of limited supply
 Provides basis for water charge

Location of measurement structures:

 Headworks
 Intake of the secondary canal
 Farm outlet/turnout

(a) Constant Head Orifice (CHO)

To regulate and measure the flow of water

There are two gates.
The upstream gate or the orifice gate controls the size of the opening.
The downstream gate or the turnout gate controls the depth below the orifice and is
operated to maintain a constant head (0.2 ft)

Discharge is given by,

Q = C×A× 2gh
Where, C = 0.7 and h = 0.2 ft

Advantage:

 It can regulate and measure discharge simultaneously

 There is no problem of sediment deposit in front of the gate
  It can be used for large fluctuations of water level in the parent canal

Disadvantage:

 It collects floating debris

 Flow measurement is not so accurate
 Discharge regulation needs two gate settings

(b) Weir

Weir can be installed where there is a drop in bed level.

There are different types of weirs based upon shape of the opening through water flows,
such as rectangular weir, trapezoidal (Cippoletti weir), V-notch

Advantage:

 It is capable of measuring a wide range of discharge.

 It is simple and easy to construct.
 No obstruction by moss or any floating debris.
 It can be combined with turnout.
 It is durable and its accuracy is higher.

Disadvantage:

 Considerable fall in head is required.

 Silt deposition occurs in the upstream side.

Rules for setting and operating weir

 i. Weir should be placed at the lower end of a long, wide and deep pool such that
velocity of approach is ≤ 15 cm/s
ii. Centerline of the weir should be parallel to the direction of flow
iii. The face should be vertical
iv. The crest should be level
v. The upstream edge should be sharp
vi. The crest height should ≥ 3H(head)
vii. The edge of the weir should be at least 2H from the edge of the channel
viii. H should be ≤ 1/3L and ≥ 15 cm
ix. Fall should be enough to provide ventilated condition
x. Weir gauge should be (5- 6) times H upstream from the weir

( c) Parshall flume

Hb
Free flow if ≤ 0.7 for 1-8 ft flume
Ha
0.026

Q=4 w H a1.522w , cusec

W = throat width, ft
Ha = upper head, ft
Hb = lower head, ft
Hb
Submerged flow if
Ha
˃ 0.7
Q = Qfree – correction

Advantages
Capable of measuring flow with relatively small head loss
Capable of measuring wide range of discharge under free flow condition
Self cleaning
Disadvantages
Complicated and costly to construct
Can not be combined with turnout
Downstream ditch needs protection under free flow condition

(d) Cut- throat flume:

The cut-throat flume is an attempt to improve on the Parshall flume mainly by

simplifying the construction details.

Free flow condition exists if Hb/Ha ≤ St

Discharge for free flow condition is given by,

Q = C×Han

Where,
Q = Discharge in cumec
C = Free flow coefficient given by,
C =K×W1.025
K = flume length coefficient
W = neck width, m
Ha = Upstream depth (m)

Additional advantages over Parshall flume:

  Construction is facilitated by providing horizontal floor and removal of throat
section
 Can be placed inside a lined channel
 Angles of convergence and divergence remain same facilitating mass fabrication
 Calibration parameters remain same for a given length

6. Cross- drainage works

A structure constructed at the crossing of a canal and a natural drain in order to dispose of
the drainage water without interrupting the continuous supply of the canal

(a) Passing the canal over the drain

(i) Aqueduct- HFL of the drainage channel is sufficiently below the bottom
of the canal
 (ii) Syphon aqueduct-HFL of the drain is higher than the canal bed

(a) Passing the canal below the drains

(i) Supper passage- FSL of the canal is sufficiently below the bed of the
drain
 (ii) Syphon- FSL is above the bed level of the drain trough

(b) Passing the canal through the drain

(i) Level crossing

- both canal and drain run at more or less same level

- either of the flows occurs for a short period
- mixing of the water is acceptable
(ii) Inlets and outlets

- Small drainage flow

- Flow in canal may be balanced by providing outlets