Diversion Head Works

• The works which are constructed at the head of the

canal , in order to divert the river water towards the
canal , so as to ensure regulated continuous supply
of silt free water with certain minimum head into
that canal is called as diversion head works.
• These are constructed on a river where adequate
flow of river water is available throughout the year.
• If the storage on upstream of diversion head
works is significant, it is called storage weir.
• If it is constructed on downstream of dam for
purpose of diverting water from upstream side
of dam into canal, it is called pick up weir.
 LOCATION OF DIVERSION HEAD WORK
It should be near the command area, the site which gives
economical arrangement is usually selected

SITE SELECTION FOR HEAD WORK

• Good foundation should be available.
• The site should be such that weir can be aligned at right
angle to the diversion of water in the river.
• The site should be such that there should be sufficient
space for location of head regulator and other component
of the diversion headwork.
• The overall cost should be less.
• Proper approach way should be nearby site.

• On the upstream side where water is retained, should not

include costly land.
• While construction of weir or barrages river should be
available near the site.
• The material and labours should be available nearby site.
• The river should be perennial.
• The river should have non erodible as well as non
submersible banks.
• The site should be narrow and well defined.
 LAYOUT OF DIVERSION HEAD WORK
• 1) Under Sluice 2) Divide Wall 3) Fish ladder
• 4) Silt exclusion devices 5) Silt ejectors 6) Guide bank
• 7) Marginal embankment: 8) Canal head regulator 9) Weir/barrage
Layout of Diversion Head Works
 Weir & Barrage
Weir: It is an impervious barrier constructed across a river
to raise its water level on its upstream side
and divert the water into the canal taking off from its
upstream side.
Barrage: If storage of water is done by gates and very
small portion or nil portion of water is stored by raised
crest then the barrier is called as barrage. Barrage is a
gate controlled weir. The heading up of water is effected
by the gates alone.
• Weir afflux ( the amount by which the level rises above
the normal level ) chances are more in floods.

• Barrage afflux chances are reduced by gates.

 TYPES OF WEIR
• 1) gravity weir 2) non gravity weir
• 1) Gravity weir .
• Depending on material and design features, gravity weirs are subdivided
into following types-
• (i)Vertical drop weir.
• (ii) Sloping weir
• a. Rock fill weirs.
• b. Concrete weirs
• Weirs are also classified as follows :
• (1) According to use and function.
• (a) Storage weir. (b) Pick up weir.
• (c) Diversion weir. (d)Waste weir.
• (2) According to control of surface flow.
• (3) According to the design of floors.
• (4) According to constructional material
• a) Masonry weir
• b) Rockfill weir
• c) Concrete weir
Gravity weir: When the weight of weir balances the
uplift pressure caused by the head of the water seeping
below the weir

Non gravity weir: In non gravity weir the uplift pressure is

largely resisted by weight of concrete slab with the weight
of divide piers.
 UNDER SLUICE
• Under sluice are opening provided in the body of weir at
low level.
• These are located at same side from which canal is taking
off. The crest of under sluice is kept lower than crest of
weir due to which water is attracted towards it and thus
ensure easy diversion into canal.
 FUNCTIONS OF UNDERSLUICE
• it control entry of silt into canal.
• it lowers the HFL.
• it helps in passing low river flood without lifting
shutters.
• it helps to pass silt on downstream side of weir.
• whenever silt is removed, the gates of head
regulator are closed and of sluice are opened.
Through these sluice the silt which is deposited is
removed and it goes on downstream side. When all
silt is removed, silt gates are closed and regulator
gates are opened.
 DIVIDE WALL
• It is wall constructed between under sluices and
the weir at right angle to the axis of the weir to
divide the river channel.

Functions of Divide Wall

• it separates the under sluices from weir.
• it also helps in reducing velocity of flow near the
head regulator due to which silt is deposited and
clear water passes in to canal.
• it prevents vortices means flow in circular
motion.
 FISH LADDER

• It is passage provided adjacent to divide wall for the

movement of fish from upstream to downstream
and vice versa.
• It allows free access to fish so that they can travel
from colder water to hot water.
• It has been observed that fish moves from old
water to warm water and in monsoon they again
move towards upstream or downstream of the work.

• These are provided with various fashion like sluice

type in which the baffle wall is in zig zag way over flow
type in which V notches are provided in staggered
arrangement etc.
 Silt exclusion devices
The device which are constructed at the head of main
canal which prevents entry of silt particles into canal
are called as silt exclusion devices.

Silt ejectors/extractors
• The structure which is constructed across the canal
(a little distance downstream from head
regulators) to eject silt accumulated in canal
• Silt ejector consist of tunnel which is connected
parallel to the flow of the canal and then turns 90
degree to eject silt.

• The length of tunnel provided may be different. These

are provided with sufficient slope. So that silt should
not be deposited in its bed.
 Silt excluder

• It is structure in the under sluices to pass water

containing silt on downstream through under
sluices so that only clear water enters into the the
head regulator.
• These are constructed at the upstream of the head
regulator , thereby preventing the entry of silt into
the canal.
• It consist of number of small tunnels with their
roof slab at same level. The crest of the head
regulator and the tunnels are of different
length.
 GUIDE BANK
Guide banks are provided on either side of diversion head
work. In alluvial soil to prevent river from out flanking the
work.
The main objectives of guide banks are:
• it prevent oblique approach to the head regulator .
• it protect regulator from river attack.
• it increases maximum discharge at all point.
• it prevent out flanking of structure.
• it create reasonable water way for a weir.
• To separate flow from the scouring weir which is at lower
level than proper weir.
• To separate the silting packet from scouring sluices
• To prevent formation of cross currents to avoid domain
effects
• To cut off the main portion of the river and provide a
comparatively quite packet in front of the canal head
regulator resulting in deposition of silt in the pocket and
enter clear water in canal
 Marginal embankment
Marginal embankment are provided on either bank of
river upstream of diversion head work to protect the
land and property which is likely to be submerged during
flood.

It helps in :
• reducing the intensity of flood.

• it prevents bed level of the river by silting.

• it protect land and property which is likely to be

 Head Regulator
• It regulates the supply of water entering in canal.

• It controls the entry of silt into canal

• It prevents the river flood entering the canal
Stilling Pond
• In still can be taken outing pond water made stil
where deposition of silt takes place due to
sedimentation and from which silt can be taken out.
• To reduce velocity of water.
• To settle down the silt and allow clear water to
the canal.
Miscellaneous
.