Cross Drainage Work

Cross drainage work
In an irrigation project, when the network of main canals, branch canals, distributaries, etc are
provided, then these canals may have to cross the natural drainages like rivers, streams, nallahs,
etc. at different points within the commanded area of the project. The crossing of canals with
such obstacle cannot be avoided. Therefore, suitable structures must be constructed at the
crossing point for the easy flow of water of the canal and drainage in the respective directions.
These structures are called cross – drainage works. Thus a cross drainage work is a structure
which is constructed at the crossing of a canal and a natural drain, so as dispose of drainage
water without interrupting the continuous canal supplies.
The cross – drainage work is required to dispose of the drainage water so that the canal supply
remains uninterrupted. The canal at the cross – drainage work is generally taken either over or
below the drainage. However, it can also be at the same level as the drainage. When canals are
aligned on the watershed then there are no drainage crossings, unless the canal alignment is
deviated from the watershed line. However, it is not possible to avoid the drainages in the initial
reach of a main canal because it takes off from a diversion headworks (or storage works)
located on a river which is a valley.
A cross-drainage work is an expensive structure and should be avoided as far as possible. The
number of cross-drainage works can be reduced to some extent by changing the alignment of
the canal. However, it may increase the length and hence the cost of the canal. Sometimes it is
possible to reduce the number of cross-drainage works by diverting the small drainages into
large drainages or by constructing the cross-drainages work below the confluence of two
drainages by shifting the alignment. However, the suitability of the site for the construction of
the structure should also be considered while deciding the location of the cross-drainage works.
Types of Cross-Drainages Works:
Depending upon the relative positions of the canal and the drainage, the cross-drainage works
may be classified into 3 categories as:
1. Canal over the drainage
(a) Aqueduct: An aqueduct is a structure in which the canal flows over the drainage and the
flow of the drainage below is open channel flow. An aqueduct is similar to an ordinary road
bridge (or railway bridge) across drainage, but in this case, the canal is taken over the drainage
instead of a road (or a railway). A canal trough is to be constructed in which the canal water
flows from upstream to downstream. This canal trough is to be rested on a number of piers. An
aqueduct is provided when the canal bed level is higher than the H.F.L. of the drainage.
(b) Syphon aqueduct: In a syphon aqueduct also the canal is taken over the drainage, but the
flow in the drainage is pipe flow (i.e. the drainage water flows under syphonic action and there
is no atmospheric pressure in the drainage). A syphon aqueduct is constructed when the H.F.L.
of the drainage is higher than the canal bed level. When sufficient level difference is not
available between the canal bed and the H.F.L. of the drainage to pass the drainage water, the
bed of the drainage may be depressed below its normal bed level.
2. Canal below the drainage

(a) Super-passage: In a super-passage, the canal is taken below the drainage and the flow in
the channel is open channel flow. A super-passage is thus reverse of an aqueduct. A super-
passage is required when canal F.S.L is below the drainage bed level. In this case, the drainage
water is taken in a trough supported over the piers constructed on the canal bed. The water in
the canal flows under gravity and possess the atmospheric pressure.
(b) Canal syphon: A canal syphon (or Simply a syphon) is a structure in which the canal is
taken below the drainage and the canal water flows under symphonic action and there is no
presence of atmospheric pressure in the canal. It is thus the reverse of a syphon aqueduct.
A canal syphon is constructed when the F.S.L. of the canal is above the drainage bed level.
Because some loss of head invariably occurs when the canal flows through the barrel of the
canal syphon, the command of the canal is reduced. Moreover, there may be silting problem in
the barrel. As far as possible, a canal Syphon should be avoided.
3. Canal at the same level as drainage
(a) Level crossing: A level crossing is provided when the canal and the drainage are practically
at the same level. In a level crossing, the drainage water is admitted into the canal at one bank
and is taken out at the opposite bank.
A level crossing usually consists of a crest wall provided across the drainage on the upstream
of the junction with its crest level at the F.S.L. of the canal. The drainage water passes over the
crest and enters the canal whenever the water level in the drainage rises above the F.S.L. of the
canal.
(b) Inlet and outlet: An inlet-outlet structure is provided when the drainage and the canal are
almost at the same level, and the discharge in the drainage is small. The drainage water is
admitted into the canal at a suitable site where the drainage bed is at the F.S.L. of the Canal.
The excess water is discharged out the canal through an outlet provided on the canal at some
distance downstream of junction. There are many disadvantages in use of inlet and outlet
structure, because the drainage may pollute canal water and also the bank erosion may take
Selection of a suitable type of cross-drainage work:

The following points should be considered while selecting the most suitable type of cross –
drainage work:
1. Relative levels and discharges: The relative levels and discharges of the canal and of the
drainage mainly affect the type of cross – drainage work required. The following are the broad
outlines:
• If the canal bed level is sufficiently above the H.F.L of the drainage, an aqueduct may
be provided.
• If the F.S.L. of the canal is sufficiently below the bed level of the drainage, a super-
passage is provided.
• If the canal bed level is only slightly below the H.F.L. of the drainage, and the drainage
is small, a syphon aqueduct is provided.
• If the F.S.L. of the canal is slightly above the bed level of the drainage and the canal is
of small size, a canal syphon is provided.
• If the canal bed and the drainage bed are almost at the same level, a level crossing is
provided when the discharge in the drainage is large, and an inlet-outlet structure is
provi1ded when the discharge in the drainage is small.
2. Performance: As far as possible, the structure having an open channel flow should be
preferred to the structure having pipe flow. Therefore, an aqueduct should be preferred to a
syphon aqueduct. Similarly, a super-passage should be preferred to a canal syphon. The
performance of inlet-outlet structures is not good and should be avoided.
3. Provision of road: A aqueduct is better than a super-passage because in the former, a road
bridge can easily be provided along with the canal trough at a small extra cost, whereas in the
latter, a separate bridge is required.
4. Size of drainage: When the drainage is of small size, a syphon aqueduct will be preferred to
an aqueduct as the latter involves high banks and long approaches. However, if the drainage is
of large size, an aqueduct is preferred.
5. Cost of earthwork: The type of cross-drainage work which does not involve a large quantity
of earthwork should be preferred.
6. Foundation: The type of cross-drainage work should be selected depending upon the
foundation available at the site.
7. Material of construction: Suitable types of material of construction in sufficient quantity
should be available near the site for the particular type of cross – drainage work selected.
8. Cost of construction and overall cost: The cost of construction of cross-drainage work should
not be
9. Subsoil water table: If the subsoil water table is high, the types of cross – drainage works
which require deep excavation should be avoided.
10. Permissible loss of head: The cross-drainage works should be selected based on the
permissible loss of head. Where the head loss cannot be permitted, a canal syphon should be
avoided.
11. Canal alignment: The canal alignment is sometimes changed to achieve a better type of
cross-drainage work. By changing the alignment, the type of cross- drainage work can be
altered. The canal alignment is generally finalized after fixing the sites of the major cross –
drainage works.

Cross Drainage Work

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Cross drainage work

2. Canal below the drainage

Selection of a suitable type of cross-drainage work:

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