JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
OF
AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
ECE 2413 IRRIGATION ENGINEERING II
Lesson 1: Theory and design of irrigation systems
1.1 Analysis of proposed irrigation system
1.2 Gravity –Basic considerations; Basin Irrigation; Boarder, Furrow,
design of supply canal, design of intake works
1.3 Sprinkler – Hydraulics of pipe system, drop size, spray evaporation, types of
sprinkler irrigation systems,
1.4 Trickler – Components and equipment, hydraulics of drip irrigation
Lesson 2: Drainage
2.1 Theory
2.2 Design
2.3 Construction
2.4 Operation and maintenance
Lesson 3: Efficient use of water and integrated projects
3.1 Irrigation water management
3.2 Scheduling Irrigations to meet objectives
Lesson 4: Pumps
4.1 Types
4.2 Selection
4.3 Operation
4.4 Maintenance
Assessment
CAT 1 – Week 4; CAT 2- Week 8; CAT 3 – Week 12; UNIVERSITY EXAM – WEEK 14-16
CATS – 30%; Main exam – 70%
Reference Materials
1. Design and operation of Farm Irrigation Systems (1983). M.E. Jensen
2. Open Channel Hydraulics, Ven Te Chow
3. Nalluri, C & M. Marriot (2009), Civil Engineering Hydraulics, Wiley-Blackwell
4. Rex M. Mark R.M. & Harry L. S., (2004), Pumps and Hydraulics, Wiley publishers
5. Lecture Notes and additional reading materials from course instructor
6. FAO design manuals
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11 FEASIBILITY STUDY
A feasibility study for small scale storage looks at most of the same issues that the full design looks at.
The main difference between the feasibility and design reports are that the feasibility report looks at a
broader selection of options and does not address the same level of detail that the design report covers
once a recommended option has been agreed upon.
In general, the field work required for a feasibility report is the same fieldwork required for a full design.
This includes a complete survey of the site as well as visits throughout the catchment and downstream
areas.
The following sections describe the steps that should be taken when conducting a feasibility study for a
proposed site.
11.1 Location
The location of the proposed project should be correctly identified and detailed. This includes land
registration details where available, ownership details, GPS coordinates and datum. This information will
be used to develop the relevant layout maps. Ideally, at least two maps should be produced. One should
show the proposed storage location and the extents of the catchment area and the other should show the
site layout that shows possible dam alignments and flooded areas.
Details of the county, sub-county, location and sub location should be captured, as well as a summary of
how to access the site. This information will be included in the feasibility report.
11.2 Stakeholders
An assessment should be made of the project stakeholders and contact details for relevant people (owners,
managers, caretakers, local WRUA, etc) should be obtained.
11.3 Analysis of Water Demand
The study should look at the expected water requirements. Expected water use figures for a variety of
design options.
For specialized water use or requirements, the details should be clearly captured and documented in the
feasibility report.
11.4 Impoundment Area Details
A full survey of the impoundment area will be required. This will also include identification and marking
out of the possible locations of dam components (spillway, embankment, etc…). A contour map of
suitable scale should be produced. Various dam alignments and heights can then be considered to produce
a selection of possible storage options.
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11.5 Inflow Estimation
Catchment details should be determined. They should include catchment area, soil types, vegetative cover
and catchment condition. Catchment elevations and flow path elevation and length details should be
determined.
Inflows for the dam should be estimated. This can be done based on general annual rainfall averages, on
monthly or daily stream flow or on monthly or daily rainfall data. See Section XX for further details.
All data (and where it was sourced from) should be recorded in the report.
11.6 Reservoir Simulation or Modelling
Based on the storage options, the expected water use and the inflow estimations, as well as evaporation
and seepage estimates, reservoir simulation can be carried out. This is discussed in Section 6.10 and can
be done graphically, via spreadsheet calculations or via commercial software.
The result of the reservoir simulation is to examine a selection of storage options to determine which
option best fits the inflows and water use.
11.7 Estimated Spillway Sizes and Inflow Design Flood
In order to produce a cost estimate as part of the feasibility study, a spillway design must be carried out.
At this stage, it is sufficient to base the spillway design on an estimated flood based solely on the
catchment area.
Once a design flood has been estimated, initial estimates of spillway details (width, depth, alignment, etc)
can be calculated and presented in the report.
11.8 Results of Geotechnical Investigations
The results of any geotechnical investigations should be presented. At a minimum these should include
test pit details and borrow material details, plus the laboratory analysis of the soils sampled from the test
pits.
This section should also identify any further investigations that may be needed as part of the final design.
11.9 Offtake and Other Structures
This will involve the identification of possible sites for offtakes, community water points, cattle troughs,
pump houses, fencing and other associated structures. These points can be mapped out and detailed on the
layout map submitted in the feasibility report.
This section is mainly to help finalize cost estimates. Final details and drawings for offtakes and structures
will be concluded in the design process.
11.10 Environmental Considerations
Any emerging environmental considerations should be identified and examined in this section. Essentially
the feasibility provides an opportunity to scope out the work involved in conducting the Environmental
and Social Impact Assessment,.
In arid areas, special attention should be paid to grazing concerns and the potential for human/wildlife
conflict.
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In more built up areas, the risk failure of the embankment on downstream settlements should be examined.
11.11 The Feasibility Report
Once the feasibility assessment has been conducted and all relevant information collected, the design
engineer should prepare a feasibility report. The information presented in this report will guide decision
makers on whether or not to proceed with the proposed project.
Below is a summary of the sections that should be examined in the report, some of which have already
been discussed above:
1. Location;
2. Analysis of water requirements;
3. Impoundment area details;
4. Inflow estimation;
5. Reservoir simulation or modelling;
6. Estimated spillway sizes and inflow design flood;
7. Results of geotechnical investigations;
8. Off-take and other structures;
9. Environmental considerations;
10. Summary of project details;
11. Construction plan;
12. Cost estimations;
13. Recommendations.
In addition the following information should be presented in the feasibility report:
11.11.1 Summary of Project Details
Details of the proposed project can be presented here. If several options are possible, each option should
be presented and the merits and limits of each should be discussed.
11.11.2 Construction Plan
A tentative construction plan should be drawn up. In general, with mechanized construction, 500 to 1000
cubic meters of material can be placed and compacted in a single day. Time must be budgeted for any
offtake structures and for spillway excavations and construction.
The plan should consider rainfall patterns to avoid scheduling construction at the height of a rainy season.
11.11.3 Cost Estimations
A detailed budget for each option should be produced based on the BoQ and estimated rates
11.11.4 Recommendations
Final recommendations on the project should be presented.
If desirable a brief summary report on the proposed project can be prepared for distribution to the local
WRUA, local Govt offices, neighbours and local communities. The brief report should be structured to
address:
1) Social feasibility
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2) Environmental feasibility
3) Technical feasibility
4) Financial details/feasibility
Irrigation Engineering II
Lecture 1
Lesson 1: Theory and design of
irrigation systems
Introduction to surface irrigation
In this technique, water is applied and
distributed over the soil surface by gravity.
There are two features that distinguish a surface
irrigation system namely:
(a) The flow has a free surface responding to the
gravitational gradient
(b) The on-field means of conveyance and
distribution is the field surface itself.
Surface irrigation
Broadly classified of surface irrigation:
(1) Basin irrigation;
(2) Border irrigation;
(3) Furrow irrigation;
4) Uncontrolled flooding.
Furrow Irrigation
A furrow irrigation system consists of
furrows and ridges.
Best suited to row crops such as maize,
potatoes, onions, tomatoes
Furrow system
Basin irrigation
Are Level surfaces that are surrounded by earth banks.
The water is applied rapidly to the entire basin and is
allowed to infiltrate.
Variables in Surface Irrigation System
Important variables in surface irrigation system
include the following:
(i) infiltration rate, (ii) surface roughness,
(iii) size of stream, (iv) slope of land surface,
(v) erosion hazard, (vi) rate of advance,
(vii) length of run, (viii) depth of flow,
(ix) depth of water applied, (x) infiltration depth
Schematic showing of different variables in a
surface irrigation system
Hydraulics in Surface Irrigation System
there are the following three phases of
water-front in a surface irrigation
system
advance
wetting (or ponding) and
recession
Hydraulics in Surface Irrigation System
The process of surface irrigation can be described using four phases.
As water is applied to the top end of the field it will flow or advance
over the field length.
The advance phase refers to that length of time as water is applied to
the top end of the field and flows or advances over the field length.
Hydraulics in Surface Irrigation System
After the water reaches the end of the field it will either
run-off or start to pond. The period of time between the
end of the advance phase and the shut-off of the inflow is
termed the wetting, ponding or storage phase. As the
inflow ceases the water will continue to runoff and
infiltrate until the entire field is drained. The depletion
phase is that short period of time after cut-off when the
length of the field is still submerged. The recession phase
describes the time period while the water front is
retreating towards the downstream end of the field. The
depth of water applied to any point in the field is a
Hydraulics in Surface Irrigation System
Surface irrigation system
may be divided into the
following four component
of the system:
1) water supply;
2) water conveyance or
delivery;
3) water use; and
4) drainage
Border Irrigation System Design
Factors Affecting Border Performance and Design
Soil Type and Infiltration Characteristics
Soil infiltration characteristics
Border Inflows
The length of border run and width varies with the available flow
rate.
Longitudinal Slope
Optimum longitudinal slope may aid in achieving better uniformity
and efficiency
Irrigation Depth
The duration of irrigation is dependent on the depth to be applied.
Border Irrigation Design Parameter
The main design parameters for border
irrigation system include the following:
• unit flow rate, Q
• length of border, L
• width of border, W
• slope, S
• cutoff time, tco
Design Approaches and Procedures for Border
Approaches Design parameters of border irrigation
system can be determined using either of the following
two approaches:
(a) Design discharge (Q) for a predetermined border
size and slope (L, W, S)
(b) Design L, W, S for a given Q
Empirical Models for Designing
Border Irrigation System
1. SCS Method
To ensure adequate spread of water over the entire border, a
minimum allowable inflow rate qmin must be used.
The following equation was proposed by SCS (USDA, 1974) to
estimate qmin:
qmin = discharge per unit width, m3/s/m
L = border length, m
S0 = border slope, m/m
n = roughness coefficient (0.15–0.2),
Question 1
Question 2
