Model Lift Irrigation Scheme

(Lecture notes by Dr.S.S.Rao)

Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................2
2. Guideline lines for small lift irrigation schemes. ................................................................................ 3
2.1. Lift irrigation on surface water............................................................................................................. 3
2.1.1 Size and Location .......................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.2. Command Area / Cropping Pattern .............................................................................................. 3
2.1.3 Design Discharge .......................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.4. Water Availability .......................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.5 Water Lifting Permission ............................................................................................................... 3
2.1.6. Soil Characteristics ...................................................................................................................... 3
2.1.7. Power ...........................................................................................................................................3
2.1.8. Civil Works ................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1.8.8. Pumping Machinery .................................................................................................................. 6
2.1.8.9. Number of Stages ..................................................................................................................... 7
2.1.8.10. Project cost ............................................................................................................................. 7
2.1.8.11. Command Area Map ............................................................................................................... 7
2.1.9 A typical design of small lift irrigation scheme on surface water ..................................................... 7
2.2 Groundwater based small lift irrigation schemes ................................................................................. 8

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1. Introduction

A conventional lift irrigation scheme consists of civil works like intake well, intake pipe, jack well, pump
house, rising main and distribution system to suit the command area. The lift irrigation schemes can
broadly be grouped as Medium / large and single stage and large & Medium with multi stage pumping
systems wherein water is pumped more than 50 m height and have a command area more than 40 ha.

Small river lift irrigation schemes whose cultural command varies between 10 and 40 ha with a total head
of less than 50 m of single stage pumping and which do not require conventional civil works like intake
well, intake pipe, jack well, pump house are more user friendly and can be operated by the local farmers
themselves without much problem. Generally, the lift irrigation systems have to be designed as per the
field requirements considering the land and water availability, the people’s participation and their
requirement etc. However, it is necessary to design a few models for easy physical and financial planning
and making people involve in their projects. Brief guidelines are given below for model small lift irrigation
scheme.

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2. Guideline lines for small lift irrigation schemes.
The following guidelines are prepared which would facilitate in designing as well as appraisal of such
schemes. These guidelines are only indicative and could be modified to suit the local conditions.

2.1. Lift irrigation on surface water

2.1.1 Size and Location
The cultural command area should be restricted up to 20- 40 ha only under small lift irrigation schemes.
Lift irrigation schemes on surface water source with command area more than 40 ha may be considered
as medium / large schemes and the technical and financial appraisal may be carried out as as per the
guidelines pertaining to large lift irrigation schemes.

The scheme area should be as close to source of water as possible and land holdings are contiguous as
far as possible from design optimization point of view.

2.1.2. Command Area / Cropping Pattern

The command area has to be demarcated and as far as possible to be adjoining. The cropping pattern
has to be fixed and water requirement has to be estimated.

2.1.3 Design Discharge

The design discharge for small lift irrigation scheme should be assessed based on peak water
requirements for envisaged cropping pattern and area of crops during kharif, rabi and summer seasons
based on water requirement norms.

2.1.4. Water Availability

It is necessary to ascertain the availability position of water from sources like river, canal, ponds, tanks or
any other surface water body.

It should preferably be perennial in nature and should have adequate flow to support the quantity of water
to be pumped for the proposed scheme.

2.1.5 Water Lifting Permission

Water lifting permission should be obtained for private individuals or societies from Government
Department authorized to issue such permissions. The water lifting permission should indicate the period,
area and percentage of different crops in each season.

Long duration water lifting permission is required if the implementing agency desires to take loan.

2.1.6. Soil Characteristics

Soil characteristic should broadly be known for its suitability for various crops proposed in the scheme.

2.1.7. Power
Normally the power availability for large schemes is considered to be 16 hours per day but in case of
small lift irrigation scheme up to 40 ha command area, power availability may be considered at maximum
of 12 hours.

If the command area is less than 10 ha then 8 hours of power supply can be considered on economic
considerations.

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2.1.8. Civil Works

2.1.8.1 Intake Well

This is a civil structure required for guiding the water in the sump well / jacks well. In some cases, this
structure is necessary even for small schemes to take care of water level fluctuations in the river. It also
provides silt free water for the pumping operations. However, for small lift schemes, this need not be
insisted upon.

2.1.8.2 Intake Pipe

This structure is not necessary for small schemes.

2.1.8.3 Jack Well and Pump House

This structure is not necessary for small schemes

2.1.8.4 Suction Pipes for Pump set

The following table may be followed in determining the diameter of suction and delivery pipes for various
discharge ranges:

Discharge Diameter of
(lps) Suction pipe
(mm)

5 65

10 80

15 100

20 125

30 150

50 200

100
300 (NABARD)

2.1.8.5 Rising Main

Rising main should be designed based on discharge and total pumping head. It is expected that the total
pumping head in normal cases will not exceed 50m. The total length of the rising main should not exceed
3000 m.

The diameter of rising main recommended for RCC pipes and Rigid PVC pipes for various discharges are
given below:

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 (a) RCC Pipes

Discharge Dia Discharge Dia

(lps) (mm) (lps)* (mm)
5 100 55 300
10 150 60 300
15 200 65 300
20 200 70 300
25 225 75 300
30 225 80 300
35 250 85 350
40 250 90 350
45 250 95 350
50 250 100 350

*(lps = litre per second)

(b) Rigid PVC Pipes

Discharge Dia Discharge Dia

(lps) (mm) (lps) (mm)
5 90 45 225
10 125 50 250
15 150 55 250
20 150 60 250
25 200 65 250
30 200 70 300
35 200 75 300
40 225 80 300

If direct tapping on the rising main is proposed for drawing partial discharge then such tapping should not
exceed 2 numbers.

Water hammer control devices in case of large schemes are necessary but in case of small lift irrigation
schemes, it may not be required. However, the accessories like air valve, drain valve may be provided as
per the topographic conditions.

Apart from the PVC and RCC pipes, HDPE and AC pipes of equivalent class and diameter can also be
allowed.

Cast Iron (CI) and Mild Steel (MS) pipes are not recommended except for road crossing and nala
crossing.

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2.1.8.6. Delivery Chambers
The delivery chamber of one minute retention capacity can be provided for release of water in the
command area.

2.1.8.7. Distribution System

Generally a chak size of 8 ha may be considered while designing the distribution system.

If scheme economics does not permit use of underground pipes then open channels can be provided.

For schemes up to 8 ha. command area only open channels need be provided.

2.1.8.8. Pumping Machinery

Most of the small lift irrigation schemes require centrifugal pump sets for pumping surface water /
groundwater.

In case the fluctuations between low water level and high flood level is less than 4.5 m, then the puppets
can be placed in the pump house subject to suitability of site conditions.

If the pump sets are to be operated with shifting arrangements then it should not exceed 20 HP per unit.

The permanent pump house can be provided if the water level in the river is more or less constant
throughout the year. This may vary from site to site depending upon the stream hydrology.

The centrifugal pump sets selected should conform to BIS standard i.e., IS:10804-94 for Complete
Pumping System.

The usual formulae that may be applied for calculating the horse power of the centrifugal pump sets and
discharge required to be pumped are given as under:

(a) Break Horse Power

BHP = (Q x H) / (75 x e)

Where, BHP = Break Horse Power of the Centrifugal Pump set

Q = Discharge in liters per second
H = Total Head in meters (including friction losses)
e = Overall efficiency of Pump set (as percentage)

(b) Discharge required to be pumped:

The discharge required for the envisaged command area may be calculated from the following formula:

Qr = (28 x A x I) / (R x t)

Where, Qr = Required discharge in litres per second (lps)

A = Crop area in ha
I = Depth of irrigation in cm
R = Rotation period in days
t = Working hours per day

The discharge required to be pumped during different crop seasons can be calculated for kharif, rabi and
summer seasons and the peak discharge i.e., maximum discharge should be adopted as the required
discharge (Qr).

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2.1.8.9. Number of Stages
From the management point of view, the number of stages should not exceed two. Especially small lift
irrigation projects, as far as possible, there should be only single stage pumping.

2.1.8.10. Project cost

The project cost of the scheme should be based on the schedule of rates prevailing in the area.

2.1.8.11. Command Area Map

A map of the command area showing layout drawing of civil works should be attached to the scheme
along with a longitudinal section (L Section) for rising main indicating the Low Water Level (LWL), High
Flood Level (HFL) position of fixed foundations, pump set, etc

2.1.9 A typical design of small lift irrigation scheme on surface water

A typical design of small lift irrigation scheme on surface water body is given below.

The details of the scheme are as under:

Basic details of the lift irrigation scheme

Details Quantity
Command Area (Ha) = 20
Cropping Pattern (ha)
Kharif:
Paddy = 10
Makai= 10
Rabi:
Wheat 8
Gram 5
Makai 2
Summer
Makai 5
Static Head (m) = 50
Length of rising main (m) = 3000
No of pumping hours (hrs) 12
The required design is as under:

Max discharge (cum/hr= 52.778

Total Head (m) 69.68

Hp of pump sets = 27.24
No of pump sets= 2
Diameter of rising main (m) 0.143
Class of pipes = varies from 2.5
kg to 8 kg of different lengths.

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Other details are shown in the design.

The design varies depending on various factors like, command area, static head, length of rising main,
cropping pattern etc. The actual design should be based on the field conditions.

2.2 Groundwater based small lift irrigation schemes

If the lift irrigation scheme is proposed on the sub surface flow in a given alluvial/ hard rock formation
then the intake well has to be designed as per the design criteria adopted for a dug well determined on
the basis of aquifer characteristics.

If the source of water is an existing irrigation well, the well discharge and command area to be adopted
under small lift irrigation scheme could be similar to one that is as usually considered under a dugwell
scheme. For schemes, contemplating well discharge of more than 6 lps in hard rock and 10 lps in alluvial
areas, the availability of groundwater from such dug wells has to be ascertained from local groundwater
department including stipulations of spacing criteria and clearance of scheme based on categorization of
blocks/watersheds etc..