CENGR4150 – Irrigation Engineering 1

SOURCES AND STORAGE OF IRRIGATION WATER

IRRIGATION
If the rainfall in a region is in adequate amounts and well distributed, you can expect
bumper crops, provided all other inputs are in order. Nevertheless, quite often, one has to
confront two situations regarding the availability of rainwater. The first is a situation of too little
rainwater as in arid and semi-arid regions. One has to face this situation during summer in humid
and semi- humid regions as well. This situation can be tackled well by resorting to irrigation, the
controlled application of water to soil for supplementing moisture indispensable for crop growth.
The other is a situation of too much rainwater as in humid climates, where drainage may become
necessary.

Main objectives of irrigation:

1. When the rainfall at a place is insufficient for crop growth, irrigation is employed to
supplement rainwater and capillary contribution from low water table.
2. Irrigation loosens the soil for proper plant root development.
3. Irrigation cools the soil and surroundings of plants, thus ensuring more favorable environment
for plant growth.
4. Irrigation allows cropping throughout the year
5. Irrigations helps to reduce hazards from frost
6. Irrigation provides crops an insurance against short duration drought.
7. In certain cases, irrigation is done to dilute and leach down injurious salt contents present in
the soil.
8. Pesticides and nutrients can also be applied through irrigation water (e.g., fertigation,
herbigation, etc.).

CONJUNCTIVE USE OF WATER

Conjunctive use of multiple sources of water needs to be considered to optimize the
development, management, and conservation of water resources within a watershed or farm.
Conjunctive use of water means harmoniously combining the use of water from multiple sources,
for example, surface and ground water, in order to minimize undesirable physical,
environmental, and economical effects of each source and to optimize the water demand-supply
balance. Common conjunctive use systems are:

□ Surface water and groundwater

□ Rainfall and irrigation water
□ Saline water and freshwater
□ Fresh water and used water
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a. Surface Water and Groundwater System

There is immense scope for conjunctive use of surface water and ground water resources.
Considerable quantities of water diverted for irrigation from reservoirs are lost through seepage
and percolation from canal systems. These ‘lost water’ and return flows from irrigation contribute
to ground water recharge. The water thus stored in ground water reserves can be extracted and
conjunctively used for irrigation in command areas to tide over the peak demands and water
shortages. Use of ground water helps to reduce peak demands of irrigation, and therefore, size of
canals can be reduced leading to savings in construction costs. Supplemental groundwater use
promotes multiple cropping ensuring proper irrigation scheduling. It also helps to go for early
sowing of crops, even if rainfall is delayed. Similarly, increased water resources ensure water
supply to tail end areas and higher elevation areas. In waterlogged areas, groundwater exploitation
lowers the water table and reduces the danger of water logging.
Conjunctive use of surface and ground water when integrated with an artificial recharge
project reduces the need for lining canals as seepage from canal recharges ground water.
Moreover, during periods of peak water demand, as irrigation requirement can be met from
surface water sources, pumping is not needed, and power saved can be used for other purposes.

b. Conjunctive use of Rainfall and Irrigation

In most parts of the world, rainfall occurs during a particular season of the year only, and
during this time, water requirement of plants is met from rainfall. Because of seasonal rainfall,
peak runoff corresponding to substantial part of the total discharge of rivers also occurs during
this season. Although water availability is high during the rainy season, total water demand may
be low. Therefore, the efforts must be to transfer excess water from the high supply season to the
high demand season. This can be achieved by storing surface water in ponds, tanks, and
reservoirs. Direct utilization of rainfall, storage of excess rainfall, and irrigation during rainless
periods using the saved water are excellent examples of conjunctive use of rainfall and irrigation.

c. Conjunctive use of Freshwater and Saline Water

Sometimes, we may confront situations where good quality water is not available for
irrigation in adequate quantities but saline water is available in excessive quantities. In such
situations, conjunctive use of freshwater and saline water is a good option.

d. Conjunctive use of Freshwater and used Water

Any domestic wastewater produced, for example, water from bathroom sinks, showers,
tubs, and washing machines excluding sewage is grey water. Probably, the term “wastewater” is
a misnomer as grey water can be reused, and a more appropriate term for wastewater would be
“used water”. By appropriate treatments, grey water including water from laundry and toilet
flushing can be reused. There is no harm in using treated grey water for irrigating both food and
non-food crops. The elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus in grey water are good sources of
 CENGR4150 – Irrigation Engineering 3

nutrients for these plants. Sometimes, fresh water and treated used water can be mixed and
reused. Reusing grey water reduces the need for fresh water, reduces water footprint, and
optimizes domestic as well as industrial requirements and costs.
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IRRIGATION ENGINEERING

INTRODUCTION
 The artificial application of water to land for supplementing the naturally available
moisture in the root-zone soil for the purpose of agricultural production is called as
IRRIGATION.
 The artificial removal of the excess water is called as DRAINAGE which, in general, is
complementary to irrigation.
 To keep the optimum content of water in soil, irrigation supplies water to the land where
water is deficient, and drainage withdraws water from the land where water is in excess.
 WATER MANAGEMENT is often defined as the process of integration of all the
activities aimed at exploiting water in a technically and economically optimal way, but
minimizing damages caused by it.

The application of water to soil is essential for plant growth and it serves the following function:

1. It supplies moisture to the soil essential for the germination of seeds, and chemical and bacterial
processes during plant growth.

2. It cools the soil and the surroundings thus making the environment more favorable for plant growth.

3.It washes out or dilutes salts in the soil.

4. It softens clods and thus helps in tillage operations.

5.It enables application of fertilizers.

6.It reduces adverse effects of frost in crops.

7.It ensures crop success against short- duration droughts.

ADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION

1.Increase in Food Production

Irrigation helps in increasing crop yields, and hence, to attain self-sufficiency in food.

2.Optimum Benefits
Optimum utilization of water is made possible by irrigation. By optimum utilization, we
generally, mean, obtaining maximum crop yield with required amount of water.
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3.Elimination of Mixed Cropping

4.General Prosperity
Revenue returns with well-developed irrigation, are sometimes, quite high, and help in all
around development of the country and prosperity of the entire nation and community.

5.Generation of Hydro-electric Power

Cheaper power generation can be obtained from water development projects, primarily
designed for irrigation alone.

6.Domestic Water Supply

Development of irrigation facilities in an area helps in augmenting the water supply in
nearby villages and towns, where other sources of water are not available or are scarcely
available.

7.Facilities of Communication
Irrigation channels are generally provided with embankments and inspection roads. These
inspection paths provide good roadways to the villagers for walking, cycling, or sometimes
even motoring.

8.Inland Navigation
Sometimes, larger irrigation canals can be used and developed for navigation
purposes.

9.Afforestation
Trees are generally grown along the banks of the channels, which increase the timber wealth
of the country and also help in reducing soil erosion and air pollution.

DISADVANTAGES AND EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION

 Irrigation may contribute in various ways to the problem of water pollution.

 Irrigation may result in colder and damper climate.
 Over-irrigation may lead to water-logging.
 Procuring and supplying irrigation water is complex and expensive in itself.

TWO CATEGORIES OF IRRIGATION SCHEMES

1. Surface water irrigation schemes

It uses diversion and storage methods and both supplies are from rivers.
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2. Ground water irrigation schemes

It uses open wells, and deep and shallow tube wells to lift water from the water-bearing strata below the
Earth’s surface.
Choices of irrigation scheme depends on several factors:
- Surface topography - Type of source available

- Rainfall characteristics - Subsoil profile

SOURCES AND STORAGE OF IRRIGATION WATER

1. Surface water resources

Surface water resources include the natural flowing water through the rivers and streams and the
still water stored in ponds, tanks, lakes, or artificial reservoirs such as dams, barrages, and
diversionary weirs. Precipitation including rainfall and melting snow act as the primary contributor to
various surface water resources.

a. Rivers
- rivers and their tributaries and stream network constitute the major share of surface
water resources. A river is a big natural water course flowing towards an ocean, a sea, an
estuary, a lake, or another river.

b. Reservoirs
- a reservoir is often used to store water, which may be an enlarged lake (natural or
artificial), storage pond, or impoundment from a dam. Reservoirs are created in many ways
including controlling a river, or interrupting a watercourse by building an embankment, or
excavated in the ground.

c. Canal Irrigation
- water flowing through rivers, streams, and other surface water resources can be used
for irrigation directly or by diverting through canals from big reservoirs constructed for the
purpose.

d. Lake
- a lake is an inland water body with still water of considerable size. Lakes can serve as
a source or termination point for rivers or smaller streams. Unlike lagoons, estuaries, or
backwaters, which are part of seas or oceans, lakes are unique as they are not part of any
oceans. A lake is bigger and deeper than a pond.

e. Ponds
- a pond is also a body of still water either natural or human-made but smaller than a
lake. Ponds often carry shallow water with aquatic flora and fauna.

f. Tanks
- tanks are excavated storage structures for storing water.
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2.Groundwater Resources
Groundwater is an important life supporting resource. It is estimated that groundwater accounts for
more than 95 % of all the fresh water available for use.

a. Wells
- a water-well is a hole made into the water bearing formation below the ground surface
to extract ground water for domestic or irrigation purposes.

b. Springs
- a spring is a point on earth’ surface where groundwater from an aquifer discharges
naturally as a stream like flow. Springs are usually found in mountainous regions at the toe of
hill slopes, along depressions such as stream channels, and when the ground surface
intercepts an aquifer. In most cases, springs form the headwaters of streams.

c. Horizontal Wells
- a horizontal well can be considered as a cased spring. Horizontal wells are drilled at
potential sites where springs, seeps, or traces of water are found. A horizontal rig boring is
used to drill a hole and install a steel pipe casing into a mountain or hillside to tap a trapped
water supply.

3.Conjunctive use of water

Conjunctive use of water means harmoniously combining the use of water from multiple sources, for
example, surface and ground water, in order to minimize undesirable physical, environmental, and
economical effects of each source and to optimize the water demand-supply balance.

a. Surface water and groundwater

b. Conjunctive use of Rainfall and Irrigation
c. Conjunctive use of Freshwater and Saline Water
d. Conjunctive use of Freshwater and used Water