Cross Drainage and Diversion Head Works
Cross Drainage and Diversion Head Works
Cross Drainage and Diversion Head Works
WORKS
WHAT IS CROOS DRAINAGE
WORK
Irrigational Canals while carrying water have to
cross few natural drainage streams, rivers, etc..
To cross those drainages safely by the canals,
some suitable structures are required to
construct. Works required to construct, to cross
the drainage are called Cross Drainage Works
(CDWs). At the meeting point of canals and
drainages, bed levels may not be same.
Depending on their bed levels, different
structures are constructed and accordingly they
are known by different names.
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.
Cross drainage works are costlier, hence to be
avoided as far as possible.
It can be avoided in two ways
By changing the canal alignment
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.
Super Passage
Canal Syphon
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 canal siphon. This structure is
suitable when the bed level of drainage is below
the full supply level of the canal.
Super passage is more preferred than Canal
Syphon because the sediment deposited in the
canal cant be removed effectively since canal is
under drainage.
Type 3: Drainage admitted into canal
Level Crossings
Drainage water is mixed with canal water
and regulated by provision of regulators
Construction cost is less
Clearance and maintenance are difficult
Level Crossing
Canal Inlets and Outlets
Advantages:
A sound rocky foundation is usually available at the site. Thus cost of
The ground has a steep slope and therefore a number of canal falls are
required.
The river is usually very flashy and there is sudden rise and fall of the
water level.
The number of cross drainage works on the canals is usually very
large.
Boulder Stage
Advantages:
The length of weir is generally shorter in boulder stage.
Because the banks are high, the cost of river training works is low.
Construction materials such as stone, aggregates, sand, gravel are locally
available.
Since the ground slope is quite steep, the falls on the canals can be utilized
for hydropower generation.
The silt charge is less and the associated problems of excessive silt are small.
Disadvantages:
There is a large loss of stored water due to sub soil flow at the site of
diversion headworks.
Idle length of canal is more.
More cross drainage works are required.
In the head reaches of canal, seepage losses are high.
Trough or Alluvial stage
Advantages:
The site is near the commanded area and hence the length of the canal is
small.
The seepage losses are less in the canal.
The land is fertile demand of irrigation water is high.
Less number of cross drainage works required
Sub soil flow is comparatively less.
Disadvantages:
The river section is quite wide and hence the length of the weir structure is
large.
Meandering tendency of river demands extensive river training works.
Construction material is usually not available locally.
The cost of headworks is usually more due to poor foundation
There is problem of silt in the canal.
Delta stage
The delta stage is not suitable for location of a diversion headworks because the
river section is excessively wide, and the river has a shifting tendency.
Since the water table is also high, there is not much need of irrigation.
Therefore the choice is usually between the locations of diversion headworks in the
boulder stage and in the trough stage.
Ideal site for a diversion headwork
WEIR BARRAGE
Raised concrete crest wall with small It has a low crest wall, with high gates.
shutters on its top
Most of the pounding is done by gates
Most of the pounding is done by the solid
wall and very little, if any, by the shutters Better control over the water levels by a
No control over the water level suitable manipulation of gates
After long period, it becomes ineffective No silting problem
due to silt deposition.
Costly
Less costly
Types of Weir
1. Vertical Drop Weir
2. Rockfill Weir
3. Concrete Glacis or Sloping Weir
Types of Weir
Vertical Drop Weir
Consists of a masonry wall with a
Guide Bank