4 - M-04. Irrigation Structures
4 - M-04. Irrigation Structures
Irrigation is the application of water to soil for the purpose of supplying the moisture essential
for plant growth. Irrigation plays a vital role or benefit for increasing crop yields and stabilizing
production and has some ill-effect if not properly managed.
Irrigation structures are any structure or device necessary for the proper conveyance, control,
measurement, or application of irrigation water.
The Purpose of irrigation structures are:
To transport water from an irrigation source to irrigated lands and water distribution between
particular farms, crop-rotation plots and fields within the irrigated lands' boundaries.
To rise the water level at the head of the canal.
To form a storage by constructing dykes (embankments) on both the banks of the river so
that water is available throughout the year
To control the entry of silt into the canal
To control the deposition of silt at the head of the canal and
To control the fluctuation of water level in the river during different seasons
1.2 Equipments, tools and materials selection
Equipments are all appliance and whatever nature for the use in or for the execution, completion,
operation or maintenance of the work.
Tools are any instrument or simple piece of equipment that you hold in your hands and use to do
a particular kind of work. A tool can be any item that is used to achieve a goal.
Materials are defined as the physical components of something, to relevant facts, to jokes or items
that are part of a performer’s routine, or to the things required to build something or accomplish a
task.
It is essential to select, identify and check equipments, tools and materials for irrigation structure
works in order to:
Identify and provide necessary materials, tools and equipments to construct and maintain
irrigation structures.
Report damage or malfunction tools and equipments to the authorized representative in
writing.
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The necessary equipments, tools and materials required for irrigation structure works are listed
below.
Valves
The term “valve” applies to a variety of devices for controlling the flow of liquid. Various
valves allow for on-off control, modulation of the flow rate through the system, and prevention
of back flow are listed below.
Gate valves Globe valves
Plug valves Check valves (one way valve)
Ball valves
Water Meters
Water meters measure and record the volume of water passing through them, without
considering the time element. Reading the output of a water meter gives information about the
volume of water that passed through the appliance in a period, beginning with the last reading
or zeroing of the meter. The most common type used for irrigation water is the Woltmann type
with an impeller for axial flow.
Flow meter
The flow meter measures the velocity of flow or, less often, the rate of flow or discharge. The
most common type is the rotameter where a specially shaped float moves freely in a tube so that
the flow velocity or rate is directly indicated by the float rim.
Pipes
Th pipes are the basic component of all irrigation networks. There are various kinds and types
available in many pressure ratings and in different sizes (diameters). All these pipes are
described below.
Water mains
water main is a primary underground pipe in irrigation and a municipal water distribution system. It is a
major artery that supplies water to smaller pipes
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Rigid PVC pipes.
Extruded from unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, also called uPVC for unplasticized polyvinyl
chloride (or PVC-U), these pipes are ideal for irrigation, (cold) water conveyance and
distribution lines as mains and submains.
Fittings
Pipe Fittings are a piece (such as T-connectors, a coupling, J-bolt, Bolted flanges, elbow) used to
connect pipes or as accessory to a pipe.
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Malleable iron threaded
These fittings are made for use with galvanized steel threaded pipes, and they are available in a
wide range as elbows, bends, reducers, tees, plugs, nipples and other. They are characterized by
toughness and ductility, and they provide a sound joint able to withstand pipeline expansion and
contraction and other stresses.
The techniques used when loading and unloading materials should demonstrate correct manual
handling and minimize damage to the load and the vehicle while transporting irrigation
equipments.
The most common techniques of loading and unloading materials:
Develop an operations plan that describes procedures for loading and/or unloading.
Conduct loading and unloading in dry weather if possible.
Cover designated loading/unloading areas to reduce exposure of materials to rain.
Consider placing a seal or door skirt between delivery vehicles and building to prevent
exposure to rain.
Design loading/unloading area to prevent storm water run-on, which would include
grading or berming the area, and position roof downspouts so they direct storm water
away from the loading/unloading areas.
Have employees load and unload all materials and equipment in covered areas such as
building overhangs at loading docks if feasible.
Load/unload only at designated loading areas.
Pave loading areas with asphalt instead of concrete.
Avoid placing storm drains in the area.
Grade and/or berm the loading/unloading area to a drain that is connected to a dead end.
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1.4 Personal protective equipment selection
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect an individual from hazards associated
with their work tasks or environment. Personal protective equipment should be selected based
on work requirement.
Specific types of personal protective equipment include protective clothing (overalls), eyewear,
earmuff, mouth clamp/mouth guard, gloves, hard hat and safety shoe.
1.5 Provision of irrigation structure works
The aim of irrigation facilities is to divert water from a source, convey it to appropriate locations
in the system and distribute it within the field so that water reaches the roots of the crops in an
optimal manner to ensure improvement of agricultural production.
Irrigation networks also include drainage networks which are responsible for the removal of
excess water from the field and road networks which are required for access to the various parts
of the irrigation system. Drainage is usually a complementary component of irrigation and
irrigation schemes without a drainage facility is seldom successful particularly in poorly drained
heavy soils.
Irrigation structure works are provided according to occupational health and safety requirement
and workplace information.
Contamination of collected rainwater with disease causing microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and
protozoa), from birds and other animals, poses the biggest risk to health. There is always the
possibility of inadvertent ingestion while washing hands or inhalation of the microorganisms
found in harvested rainwater. Leaching from roof materials, like lead, copper and other roof
materials may also occur when rainwater harvesting. There are many potential health and safety
hazards associated with farmer's duties.
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LG #13 LO #2- Identification of irrigation structure works
Diversion head works are structures constructed across a river (head of a canal) to facilitate a
regulated and continuous diversion of water into the off-taking canal. Whenever the source of
water for irrigation is a river, it is hardly possible to divert a regulated and continuous flow into
the main canal without a headwork. This is due to the fact that the flow in the river is never
uniform and varies from season to season.
Thus, there is a need to regulate the flow into the canal system in order to ensure a continuous
diversion of water. There is practically no storage provided by a diversion structure. The purpose
is to raise and keep the water level more or less constant (reduce the fluctuation of water levels)
at the head of the canal.
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Types of diversion structure works
1. Weir
A weir is a barrier (structure) constructed across a river to raise the water level in the river
behind it so as to enable regulated diversion of water. A weir has a raised crest behind which a
small ponding of water will take place. Weirs can be constructed with or without shutters on the
crest of the weir.
Types of weirs based on construction materials and shape
A. Masonry weirs with vertical or slightly sloping u/s and d/s face
B. Rock fill weirs
C. Concrete weirs with sloping glacis
D. Reinforced concrete weir
E. Cyclopean weir
A. Masonry weirs with vertical or slightly sloping u/s and d/s face
These weirs have a horizontal floor constructed of masonry and a crest wall with vertical or
slightly sloping downstream face. The height of the crest depends on the actual site conditions
and head required behind the weir. Sheet pipe walls are driven at the upstream and downstream
of the floor. These weirs are suitable whenever the drop in water levels is small.
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The major control section of the weir is constructed out of cyclopean concrete, a mix of
rubble stone & cement concrete.
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Types of weirs based on shape
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iii. Ogee crest weirs
Ogee crest weir is a weir whose crest wall is rounded to increase the discharge coefficient. It
consists of a concrete weir wall with vertical upstream face and rounded top and downstream. It
is designed as gravity section similar to vertical drop weir.
A. Gravity weirs
B. Non-gravity weirs
A. Gravity weirs
There is uplift force on the floor of the weir from water seeping under the foundation of the weir.
Whenever weir is designed so that the weight of the weir is sufficient to balance the uplift
pressure caused by seeping water, it is called gravity weir.
B. Non-gravity weirs
when the concrete slab (floor) is designed continuously with the weir body to keep the structure
safe against uplift it is called as non-gravity weir.
2. Barrage
A barrage is also an obstruction constructed across a river for raising the water level and
regulates the diversion of water to canals. However, the crest wall of a barrage is low and
pounding of water takes place by gates. The gates are fitted on the top of the crest wall and can
be closed and opened as required based on the flow in the river.
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Fig.2.8.-Barrage
A. Conveyance structures
Conveyance structures are structures used to convey irrigation water (simply water) from
source to the irrigation field (command area) through canals. The conveyance system assures the
transport of water from the main intake structure or main pumping station up to the field ditches.
Conveyance structures are those structures such as road crossings, inverted siphons, drops,
chutes, flumes, canals, and pipelines that are used to safely transport water from one location to
another traversing various existing natural and manmade topographic features along the way.
i. Canals
Canals are structures used to carry water through it. Canal is any conduit or passage in which water
flows with a free water surface. Canals are classified into different types based on different criteria.
Rectangular canal
Trapezoidal canal
circular canal
Triangular canal
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Contour canal
Watershed (ridge) canal
Side slope canal
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B. Distribution structures
Distribution structures are structures used to distribute water though canal and in the command
area.
Distribution structures include:
i. Division boxes
Division boxes: - Division boxes are used to divide or direct the flow of water between two or
more canals or ditches. Water enters the box through an opening on one side and flows out
through openings on the other sides. These openings are equipped with gates.
Fig.2.12 Turnouts
iii. Spile
It is a small, short pipe buried in the canal embankment for letting water from field channel to
the field. Spiles are made of bamboo, concrete or baked clay pipes. Good water intake control
can be obtained either by adjusting the water level in the field channel or by closing individual
spiles with a plug or lid. However, spiles can become blocked with mid or plant debris, and thus
needs to be regularly inspected.
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Fig.2.13.- Spile
iv. Stop logs
Stop logs are frequently used to temporarily block flow through a spillway or canal during
routine maintenance. At other times stoplogs can be used over longer periods of times, such as
when a field is flooded and stoplogs are being used in smaller gates in order to control the depth
of water in fields.
v. Checks
Checks are structures placed across the ditch to block it temporarily and to raise the upstream
water level. Checks can be permanent structures. Checks are used to divert water from the field
ditch to the field, it is often necessary to raise the water level in the ditch.
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Chutes are used to convey water from a higher elevation to a lower elevation on slant surface. A
chute structure may consist of an inlet, a chute section, an energy dissipater, and an outlet
transition.
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It is often necessary to carry irrigation water across roads, hillsides and natural depressions.
Crossing structures, such as flumes, culverts and inverted siphons, are then required.
Flumes
Flumes are used to carry irrigation water across gullies, ravines or other natural depressions.
They are open canals made of wood (bamboo), metal or concrete which often need to be
supported by pillars
Fig.2.18 Flumes
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Crossing culverts
Crossing culverts are used to carry the water across roads. The structure consists of masonry or
concrete headwalls at the inlet and outlet connected by a buried pipeline. Road crossing
structures are used to convey canal water under roads or railroads. Pipe conduit is generally used
for these purposes.
Inverted siphons Inverted siphons are used to convey canal water by gravity under roads,
railroads, other structures, various types of drainage channels, and depressions. A siphon is a
closed conduit designed to run full and under pressure.
Aqueducts
Aqueducts are Structures used to carry canal water over a natural stream. Conveying a canal over
a natural watercourse may be accomplished in two ways.
There are two types of aqueducts such as.
a. A trough type aqueduct
In this type of aqueduct normal canal section is reduced to a rectangular section and carried
across the natural stream in the form of a bridge resting on piers and foundations.
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The principal objective of measuring irrigation water is to permit efficient distribution and
application. By measuring the flow of water, a farmer knows how much water is applied during
each irrigation.
In irrigation schemes where water costs are charged to the farmer, water measurement provides a
basis for estimating water charges. The most commonly used water measuring structures are
weirs and flumes. In these structures, the water depth is read on a scale which is part of the
structure. Using this reading, the flowrate is then computed from standard formulas or obtained
from standard tables prepared specially for the structure.
Weirs
In its simplest form, a weir consists of a wall of timber, metal or concrete with an opening with
fixed dimensions cut in its edge. The opening, called a notch, may be rectangular, trapezoidal or
triangular.
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A rectangular weir
Rectangular weirs are used to measure comparatively large discharges. It has a horizontal crest
and vertical sides.
A triangular weir
The 900 V – notch weir is commonly used to measure small and medium size streams. The
advantage of the V – notch weir is its ability to measure small flows accurately.
It is a contracted trapezoidal weir in which each side of the notch has a slope of 1 horizontal to 4
verticals. It is commonly used to measure medium discharges.
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Flumes
Parshall flumes
The Parshall flume consists of a metal or concrete channel structure with three main sections: (1)
a converging section at the upstream end, leading to (2) a constricted or throat section and (3) a
diverging section at the downstream end. The Parshall flume is an open channel type measuring
device that operates with a small drop in head. The floor of the upstream section of the flume is
level and the walls converge towards the throat section. The walls of the throat section are
parallel and the floor is inclined downward. The walls of the downstream section diverge toward
the outlet and the floor is inclined upward.
Depending on the flow condition (free flow or submerged flow), the water depth readings are
taken on one scale only (the upstream one) or on both scales simultaneously.
Cut-throat flume
The cut-throat flume is similar to the Parshall flume, but has no throat section, only converging
and diverging sections. Unlike the Parshall flume, the cut-throat flume has a flat bottom. Because
it is easier to construct and install, the cut-throat flume is often preferred to the Parshall flume.
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Night storage structure
Field distribution systems are systems used to distribute irrigation water in the field. In surface
irrigation water is applied to the fields at ground level, either the entire field is flooded, or the
water is directed into furrows or borders.
I. Furrow irrigation
Furrows are narrow ditches dug on the field between the rows of crops. The water runs along
them as it moves down the slope of the field.
The water flows from the field ditch into the furrows by opening up the bank or dyke of the ditch
or by means of syphons or gates or spiles. Siphons are small curved pipes that deliver water over
the ditch bank. Spiles are small pipes buried in the ditch bank.
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Fig. 2.29: Openings in the bank Fig. 2.30 Siphons T Fig. 2.31: Spiles
In border irrigation, the field to be irrigated is divided into strips (also called borders or border
strips) by parallel dykes or border ridges.
The water is released from the field ditch onto the border through gate structures called outlets.
The water can also be released by means of siphons or spiles. The sheet of flowing water moves
down the slope of the border, guided by the border ridges.
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LG #14 LO #3- Maintaining and cleanup of irrigation work site
The equipments, tools and materials used in irrigation structure work require checking, cleaning,
maintaining and storing properly after use.
Checking equipment, tool and materials
In workplaces, there are different types of equipment, tools and materials that we use to carry
out everyday tasks. Equipments, tools and materials may have the potential to cause problems
in the workplace, so you need to check and ensure that it remains safe to use and that you are not
putting employees at risk. In workplace also equipment, tools and materials are inspected to
check presence of damage and to ensure they need maintenance or not.
Maintaining equipment, tool and materials
Tools and equipment require proper care and maintenance, not only for longevity but also to
remain useful and safe for the task at hand. Here are some care and maintenance Practices
for tools and equipment.
The Importance of Proper Tool and equipment Maintenance
Ensures a Longer Life
Results in Cleaner Projects
Keeps Users Safe
Types of maintenance
Routine or normal maintenance
Special maintenance
Deferred maintenance
Storing equipment, tool and materials
Proper storage entails shielding tools from harsh weather conditions, damage and theft. It is
particularly crucial for metallic tools to be kept away from moisture to avoid rusting. Having a
cabinet where these tools and equipment are stored will be vital to ensuring a secure storage area.
Also, greasing, lubricating or oiling metallic tools and equipment is essential to prevent rust from
forming while keeping the tools in the best condition for future tasks.
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Cleaning equipment, tool and materials
Cleaning is one of the most essential elements in maintaining a safe tool and equipment. Some of
the materials, tools and equipments commonly used for cleaning purpose are listed below.
Maintaining equipments, tools and materials after the use for work and finally must be store in
the stock pile.
stages of cleaning are:
i. pre-Clean
The first stage of cleaning is to remove loose debris and substances from the contaminated
surface you are cleaning. You can do this by wiping with a disposable towel, sweeping, or
rinsing. The aim is to remove as much loose debris as possible to prepare the area for the next
stage of cleaning.
The second stage of cleaning is to loosen any substances, dirt, grease, and debris that you were
unable to remove during the pre-clean stage. This involves using hot water and a detergent. You
may be able to wipe away the loosened substances right away with something suitable, such as a
cloth or mop, or you may have to allow the disinfectant to do its work for a certain amount of
contact time before doing so.
iii. Rinse
The third stage of cleaning is to remove all the loosened substances, dirt, and debris as well as
the detergent, that was present in the second stage. You can do so using clean, hot water with a
cloth, mop, squeegee, etc.
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iv. Disinfection
The fourth stage of cleaning is to disinfect the surface, which will destroy bacteria and other
microorganisms. For example, by using heat or a chemical disinfectant for an adequate contact
time. Follow the instructions for any products or equipment you use.
v. Final Rinse
The fifth stage of cleaning is to remove any disinfectants from the previous stage using clean, hot
water. This step may not always be carried out however, depending on the disinfectant and
surface you are cleaning.
vi. Drying
The sixth and final stage of cleaning is to dry the surface, and it’s recommended that you air dry
where possible. You can use drying cloths if needed.
Irrigation structure work sites are expected to be clean, tidy, comfortable and good to create
conducive environment for work. Cleanliness is the most essential elements in maintaining a
healthy and safe work environment. Not only does a clean workplace reflect the professionalism
of a business or facility and help motivate employees, but it also promotes a healthy workforce
as a clean environment prevents accidents and the spread of germs.
Like Health & Safety, maintaining a clean work environment is the responsibility of everyone.
Working together we can all contribute to creating a safe and healthy workplace and a
professional looking facility for employees, visitors and customers.
Irrigation structure and site maintenance
i. The job site shall be kept in a neat, clean, and orderly condition at all times during the
installation process.
ii. All scrap and excess materials are to be regularly removed from the site and not buried in
trenches.
iii.Trenching, laying pipe and backfilling shall be continuous so that the amount of open
trench at the end of each workday is minimized. Any open trench or other excavations
shall be barricaded and marked with high visibility flagging tape.
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