DESIGN OF CANAL BASED

IRRIGATION SYSTEM
IRRIGATION ENGINEERING CE-431 L
Week 8
ALIGNMENT OF CANALS AND LOCATION OF OUTLETS
According to the CCA of each outlet, divide the whole irrigation scheme into no. of
blocks (small areas) and the show the proposed alignment of canals and watercourses
on the contour map of the area keeping in mind the following points: 
 The area commanded by each outlet should be irrigated under gravity flow.
 The length of water courses should not be more than 3Km or 2 miles.
 Minimum idle length of canals in the system.
Based on these conditions, the area allocated for each outlet may be altered and
hence the no. of outlet calculated at the start will be different from what are being
actually provided in the distribution scheme.
ALIGNMENT OF IRRIGATION CANALS
 The canals and distributaries should be aligned in such a manner that the
entire tract (land) should be irrigated by flow-irrigation. In order to achieve this
objective and also to cut down cost in construction channels should be aligned along
ridges. If this fact is overlooked the channel will run through filling which will not
only entitle higher cost but will also jeopardize the area with water logging.
 Unless otherwise specified by higher authority, the contour plan with scale 2”
to a mile and having contour at 5’ interval should be used for studying the
alignment of canals and distributory. The contour plan should be studied
thoroughly and different proposals should be marked on plan and their merits and
demerits should be weighted. The most economical and practical should be
adopted.
 Care should, however be taken that the irrigation channel do not cross the
drainage system of the area.
ALIGNMENT OF IRRIGATION CANALS
 Obstacles, such as roads, towns, railway lines, canals etc should be avoided.
 An irrigation channel should not as far as possible cut an area which is irrigated
by wells.
 The main as well as branch canals are carrier canals, and so no direct irrigation
should be done from them.
 The main channel should be split into moderate sized branch canals and the
splitting point should be so located that maximum area is irrigated economically.
ALIGNMENT OF IRRIGATION CANALS
 The distributaries should be so aligned that length of a water course taking off
from it should in no case exceed two miles.
 Effort should be made to keep the channel straight. When it is not possible, the
minimum radii of curves should be kept as follows;
Capacity of Channel (Cusecs) Minimum Radii of curves (feet)
Over-3000 5000
3000-1000 3000
1000-500 2000
500-100 1000
100-10 500
  Less than 10 300

 As maintenance cost of a distributary is inversely proportional to its

discharge, large sized distributaries are better than small ones.
ALIGNMENT OF CANALS AND LOCATION OF OUTLETS

`
ALIGNMENT OF CANALS AND LOCATION OF OUTLETS

MINOR RIGHT – MR 1
MINOR RIGHT – MR 2
`

DISTRIBUTORY - D

MINOR LEFT – ML 1
MINOR LEFT – ML 2
ALIGNMENT OF CANALS AND LOCATION OF OUTLETS

MR 2

MR 1
`

ML 1
ML 2
ALIGNMENT OF CANALS AND LOCATION OF OUTLETS

MR 2

MR 1
`

DR 1
D
DL 1

ML2-R1

ML 1
ML 2
ML2-L1
ALIGNMENT OF CANALS AND LOCATION OF OUTLETS

MR 2

MR 1
`

DR 1
D
DL 1

ML2-R1

ML 1
ML 2
ML2-L1
PREPRATION OF DISCHARGE / CAPACITY STATEMENT

MR 2

MR 1
`

DR 1
D
a b c de f g hi j k l m
DL 1

ML2-R1
ML1 R1

ML 1
ML2-L1
ML 2

ML1 R2
DESIGN DISCHARGE FOR OUTLETS
RD of
Side GCA NCCA CCA Q outlet Qs QT
Sr # outlet Designation
L/R (Acres) (Acres) (Acres) (Cusecs) (losses) (Cusecs)
(ft)
Main canal
WA × CCA 20 %
R DR1 a 0 A / 1000 of Q outlet
1 1+500
L DL1 a 0 A
2 2+000 R DR2 b c b-c
L
3 4+000 DL2 d e d-e
l
4 4+500 L DL3
R DR3 f 0 F
5 5+500
L DL4 g 0 g
Minor on Left (ML1), at 2+500 RD from Source
R ML1R1
6 1+000
L ML1R2
CLASS WORK

 Alignment of canals on contour map.

 Division of area into outlet command areas on contour map.
 Calculations for design discharge for outlets.