Circular Concrete Irrigation Turnout: Design and Construction
Improved conveyance channel water control structures are very important for bettering on-farm water management and increasing irrigation efficiency. This handbook describes the design, construction, and use of an irrigation channel turnout for rotational distribution systems in Pakistan. Initial sections provide a background explanation of the need for technological improvements in water diversion structures in traditional irrigation systems which suffer high losses of scarce water resources. The authors then describe the evolution of circular concrete check and turnout structures which was designed to be structurally sound, technologically efficient (i.e., made of local materials), and socially acceptable. Initial structural flaws and subsequent improvements to achieve optimum performance are indicated, allowing inferences on how irrigation structures to meet other needs might be developed. Explicit, illustrated instructions for fabricating and installing the concrete turnouts and panels are given in succeeding sections. Finally, alternatives to the basic circular design are examined. Information on the manufacture of concrete for small jobs is appended.