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The impact of design approximations on the operational performance of an irrigation scheme: A case study in Malaysia

Lookup NU author(s): John Gowing

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Abstract

A method is presented to analyse the impact of the selection of irrigation gates on operational performance of the Sungai Muda Irrigation Scheme in Malaysia. The method examines the discharge capacity of the water control gates at all levels in order to compare the specific water supply (the ratio of supply to command area) with the specific water demand which is the required hydromodule. The term hydromodule is the reciprocal of "water duty" and thus has units of litres/second/hectare. The greater the deviation between the two, the greater the potential loss of control during the operation of the scheme. The method is relatively simple but is more complex in this particular example as two hydromodules are used for the irrigation of basin rice; one for the presaturation period and one for the normal supply period. The most common cause of loss of water control is found to be provision of oversized turnout gates at the head of secondary and tertiary canals. Such design approximations enable more water to be used in those command areas thus leading to waste and to shortage of water in other areas. It is suggested that during design and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, the operational implications of design approximations should be examined more carefully. © 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Lankford B, Gowing J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Irrigation and Drainage Systems

Year: 1996

Volume: 10

Issue: 3

Pages: 193-205

Print publication date: 01/08/1996

ISSN (print): 0168-6291

ISSN (electronic): 1573-0654

Publisher: Springer

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102806

DOI: 10.1007/BF01102806

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