Due to the displacement of the canal along the 4K+490 to 4K+685 section of the North Main Canal, the lining has been damaged and is experiencing severe leakage. To ensure the safety of water delivery, reduce water loss from leakage, and prevent downstream irrigation from being affected by canal damage, this project was proposed.
1. Construction of a 195-meter inverted E-shaped channel.
2. Installation of one minor turnout gate.
Innovation: The project adopted an inverted E-shaped channel, replacing the original thin lining.
Challenges: Water conveyance structures must be shut down for about 45 days in alignment with the construction schedule.
Thoughtfulness: The construction was scheduled during non-irrigation periods to minimize the impact on water scheduling.
Safety: The project aims to reduce flood damage and the risk of collapse of the North Main Canal.
Sustainability: The project is expected to reduce leakage and enhance the efficient use of water resources. To improve maintenance convenience and efficiency, an IoT sediment discharge system was installed, allowing for remote, scheduled sediment discharge control, thereby reducing manual clearance costs. Additionally, a solar power supply system and outdoor day-night surveillance cameras were installed to ensure canal safety and facilitate energy conservation and carbon reduction.
Inspection and Supervision Results: The Irrigation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a construction quality inspection on February 6, 2023, and rated the project as excellent.
Communication and Coordination: This project significantly impacted the scheduling of irrigation and industrial water supply. Coordination meetings were held during the planning, design, and construction phases with the relevant water users and agencies. In-depth discussions were conducted with local residents, and the improvements in water delivery efficiency after construction were widely acknowledged.
Project Benefits Analysis:
(1) Reduction in Leakage:
Based on the historical operational data of the North Main Canal, after the full improvement of the lining, it is estimated that the water leakage rate can be reduced by approximately 1 cubic meter per second. Calculated over 300 operational days per year, this would result in an estimated annual reduction of about 25.92 million cubic meters of water leakage. The length of the North Main Canal channels that have yet to be upgraded to the inverted E-shaped structure is 40,580 meters, while the improvement length under this project is approximately 195 meters, which is expected to reduce leakage by approximately 124,600 cubic meters annually.
(2) Enhancing Water Resource Utilization Efficiency:
In line with government policy, the water saved from reduced leakage due to improvements on the North Main Canal can be allocated for domestic and industrial use, addressing future growth in demand.
(3) Reducing Flood Damage and Risk of Collapse on the North Main Canal:
The improvement will prevent flooding caused by channel collapse and ensure the smooth flow of water for downstream agricultural, domestic, and industrial use.