Unit –I

Chapter II

Cross Drainage work

 contents
• Introduction
• Necessity of CDWs
• Types of cross drainage works
• Selection of suitable CDW
• Classification of aqueducts and siphon
aqueducts
 Introduction
A cross –drainage work is a structure built on a canal where it is
crosses a natural drainage such as a stream or river.
This work is required when the canal crosses the another canal.
It requires to dispose of the drainage water so that the canal
supply remains uninterrupted .
The various types of structures that are built to carry the canal water
across the above mentioned obstructions or vice versa are called
cross drainage works.
The canal at a cross drainage work is generally taken either over
or below the drainage.
It is generally a very costly item and should be avoided by
Diverting one stream into another.
Changing the alignment of the canal so that it crosses below
the junction of two streams.
 NECESSITY OF CDWs
• The water-shed canals do not cross natural drainages but in actual
orientation of the canal network, this ideal condition may not be
available and the obstacles like natural drainages may be present
across the canal. So, the cross drainage works must be provided
for running the irrigation system.
• At the crossing point, the water of the canal and the drainage get
intermixed. So, far the smooth running of the canal with its design
discharge the cross drainage works are required.
 TYEPS OF CDWs

Depending upon the relative positions of the canal and drainage, the
CDWs may broadly divided into 3 categories
(1) Canal over the drainage
(a) Aqueduct,
(b) Siphon aqueduct.
(2) Canal below the drainage
(a) Super passage,
(b) Siphon super passage.
(3) Canal at the same level as drainage
(a) Level Crossing,
(b) Inlet and outlet.
1.Canal over the drainage

a. Aqueduct

The hydraulic structure in which the

irrigation canal is taken over the
drainage (such as river, stream etc..)
is known as aqueduct.

 This structure is suitable when bed

level of canal is above the highest
flood level of drainage.

 In this case, the drainage water

passes clearly below the canal.
1.Canal over the drainage
b. Siphon Aqueduct
In a hydraulic structure where
the canal is taken over the
drainage, but the drainage
water cannot pass clearly
below the canal.
 It flows under siphonic
action. So, it is known as
siphon aqueduct.
 This structure is suitable
when the bed level of canal is
below the highest flood level.
Canal over the drainage
2. Canal below the drainage

a. Super Passage
The hydraulic structure in which
the drainage is taken over the
irrigation canal is known as
super passage.
 The structure is suitable when
the bed level of drainage is
above the full supply level of
the canal.
 The water of the canal passes
clearly below the drainage.
2. Canal below the drainage
b. Siphon Super Passage
The hydraulic structure in
which the drainage is
taken over the irrigation
canal, but the canal water
passes below the drainage
under siphonic action is
known as siphon super
passage.
 This structure is suitable
when the bed level of
drainage is below the full
supply level of the canal.
2. Canal below the drainage
 3.Canal at the same as drainage
a. Level Crossings
When the bed level of canal and the stream are
approximately the same and quality of water in
canal and stream is not much different, the cross
drainage work constructed is called level crossing
where water of canal and stream is allowed to
mix.
 With the help of regulators both in canal and
stream, water is disposed through canal and
stream in required quantity.
 Level crossing consists of following components
(i) crest wall
 (ii) Stream regulator
 (iii) Canal regulator.
3.Canal at the same as drainage
b. Inlet and Outlet
 When irrigation canal meets a small
stream or drain at same level, drain is
allowed to enter the canal as in inlet.
 At some distance from this inlet point, a
part of water is allowed to drain as outlet
which eventually meets the original
stream. Stone pitching is required at the
inlet and outlet.
 The bed and banks between inlet and
outlet are also protected by stone
pitching.
 This type of CDW is called Inlet and
Outlet.
3.Canal at the same as drainage
 Selection of suitable types of CDWS
1. Relative levels and discharges
2. Performance
3. Provision of road
4. Size of drainage
5. Cost of earthwork
6.Foundation
7.Material of construction
8. Cost of construction and overall cost.
9.Discharge of the drainage
10. Subsoil water table.
11. Construction Problems
1. Relative levels and discharges:-
The relative levels and discharges of the canals and of the drainages affect
type of cross-drainage works required. The following are broad outline
 If the canal bed level is sufficiently above the HFL of the drainage, and
aqueduct is selected.
 if the FSL of the canal is sufficiently below the bed level of the drainage the
super passage is provided.
 If the canal bed level is only slightly below the HFL of the drainage and
drainage is small a syphon aqueduct is provided .
 If the FSL is slightly above the bed level of the drainage and canal is small size
the canal syphon is provided.
 If the canal bed and drainage bed are almost at the same level, a level crossing
is provided, when the discharge in the drainage is large, and an inlet-outlet
structure is provided when discharge in the drainage is small.

some problems may come at the crossing point

The following points should be remembered while recommending the type of work,
(a) The crossing should be at right angle to each other,
(b) Well defined cross-section of the river or drainage should be available.
(c) At the crossing point the drainage should be straight for a considerable length.
(d) The width of the drainage should be narrow as far as possible.
2. Performance :-
As far as possible the structure having an open channel flow should be performed
to the structure having a pipe flow. Therefore, an aqueduct should be preferred to syphon
aqueduct. Like wise, a super passage should be preferred a canal syphon.
In the case of syphon aqueduct and a canal syphon silting problem usually occur at
the crossing. Moreover, in the case of canal syphon, there is considerable loss of command
due to loss of head in the canal .
The performance of inlet-outlet structures is not good and should avoided.
3.Provision of road:-
A aqueduct is better than a super passage because in the former, a road bridge can
easily be provided along with the canal through at a small extra cost, whereas in the latter, a
separate road bridge is required.
4. Size of drainage:-
1. when the drainage is small size, a syphon aqueduct will be preferred to an
aqueduct as latter involves high banks and long approaches.
2. when drainage is large size, aqueduct will preferred.
5. Cost of earthwork:-
The type of CDWs which does not involve a large quantity of earth work of the
canal should be preferred.
6. Foundation:-
The type of CDWs should be selected depending upon the foundation available
at the site of the work.
The construction of cross drainage works suitable foundation is required.
By boring test, if suitable foundation is not available, then the type of cross
drainage work should be selected to site Condition.

7. Materials of construction:-
suitable types of material of construction in sufficient quantity should be
available near the site for the type of CDWs selected.
The soil is sufficient quantity should be available for construction of canal
banks if the structure requires long and high canal banks.
8. Cost of construction:-
The cost of construction of cross drainage works should be justified with
respect to the project cost and overall benefits of the project. So, the type of works should
be selected considering the economical point of view.
9.Discharge of the drainage
Practically the discharge of the drainage is very uncertain in rainy season. So,
the structure should be carefully selected so that it may not be destroyed due to
unexpected heavy discharge of the river or drainage.
10. Sub soil water table:-
If it is high, the types of CD which requires excessive excavation
should be avoided, as it would involve dewatering problems.

11. Construction Problems

Different types of constructional problems may arise at the site such as sub soil
water, construction materials, communication, availability of land etc. So the type of works
should be selected according to the site condition.
Classification of aqueducts and siphon
aqueducts:-
Depending upon the cross-
section of the canal over the barrel, the
aqueducts and syphon aqueducts are
classified into the following three types;
Type I Aqueducts:-
 In this type of aqueduct the cross-
section of the canal is not changed.
The original cross-section of the canal
with normal side slopes is thus retained.
The length of barrel through which the
drainage passes under the canal is
maximum in this type of structures,
because the width of the canal section is
maximum.
In this type of structure, the canal wings
are not required.
This type is suitable when the width of
the drainage is small (<2.5m).
Type II Aqueducts:-
In this type, the outer slopes
of the canal banks are
discontinued and replaced by
retaining wall.
The length of barrel is
reduced, but the cost of
retaining wall is added to the
overall cost.
This type of structure is
suitable when the width of the
drainage is moderate(say 2.5 to
1.5 m) so that the cost of
retaining wall is less in
comparison to the saving
resulting from the decreasing
the length of barrel.
Type III Aqueducts:-
In this type, the entire earth
section of the canal is
discontinued and replaced by a
concrete or masonry through
over the drainage.
This type of structure is
generally suitable when the
width of the drainage is very
large(say 15m), so that the
trough and canal wing wall is
less in comparison to the
saving resulting from
decreasing the length of barrel.
In this type of structure the
canal can be easily flumed
which further reduced the
length of barrel.
Selection of suitable type:
The selection of suitable type of canal cross-
section depends upon the width and discharge of the
drainage.
A very small drainage requires type-I aqueduct,
which in many cases may be merely a pipe or a small
culvert passing under the canal.
Over the river of a large size type – III aqueduct
would be most economical .
For moderate size of the drainage type –II aqueduct
may be most suitable.