Canals

CANALS
• Definition,
• Types of canals,
• Alignment of canals,
• Design of canals by Kenedy’s and Lacey’s methods
• Problems
• Defined as –
Canal is a artificial channel, generally trapezoidal in section,
constructed to carry water to fields from source (River/
Reservoir).
Classification of canals based on
1. Nature of source of supply
2. Financial output
3. Function of canal
4. Discharge & Relative importance of canal in network
5. Canal Alignment
1. Nature of source of supply
i. Permanent canal –
– Is fed from permanent source of water
– Aka perennial canal
– made of well graded channel with permanent structures
– Non-perennial canals – get supply only during particular time
of year
ii. Inundation canal –
– Gets water when stage in river is higher
– Headworks for diversions are not provided
– Head regulators are provided, generally 5-6 km d/s from
offtake point
2. Financial output
i. Productive – once fully developed yields
enough revenue to recover initial investment
ii. Protective – after construction serves as relief
work during famine and protect area against
future famines, generates employment
3. Function of canal
i. Irrigation canal – carries water to the agricultural field
ii. Carrier canal – along with irrigation, carries water for other
canals
iii. Feeder canal – it feeds 2 or more canals
iv. Navigational canal – used for navigational purposes
v. Power canal – carries water from reservoir to turbine
houses, it is located on canal where fall is available.
4. Based on Discharge and relative importance of Canal
i. Main canal – carry water from rivers (dams) and feed to

branch canals, distributaries. They do not supply water
directly to fields. Q will be in range of 30 – 150 cumecs
ii. Branch canal – they branch out at regular intervals from
main canal on either sides. They are feeder canals &
supply water to major and minor distributaries. Not for
direct irrigation. Q in range of 10 – 30 cumecs.
iii. Major Distributaries – aka Rajbha – take off from
branch canal and/or main canal & distribute water to
field. Q in range of 1 – 40 cumecs.
iv. Minor distributaries – aka Minors – similar to major
distributaries, but have Q in range of 0.3 – 1 cumecs
v. Field channel – small channels, carry water from outlets
to fields. Owned and constructed by farmers.
5. Canal Alignment
• Such that it commands entire area under irrigation with

shortest length and least cost of construction
• Shorter length- reduces frictional head loss, evaporation & seepage
losses.
• Additional irrigation can be achieved by reduced losses.
Based on alignment we have Ridge/Watershed, Contour and

Side slope canals.
• Ridge canal – runs along the

watershed for most of its length. Can
irrigate on both sides of canal.
Do not require cross drainage works (CDW).
In case of sharp loops, then alignment will be along
straight line, which may need CDW.
Contour canals
These canals are aligned nearly parallel to

the contour.
They can irrigate only on one side.
Ground level on one side is higher, so no
need to construct bank.
There can be single and or double bank
canal
CDW are required for these canals.
In case of hilly area, it can be aligned
along watershed
These canals cannot follow single contour
throughout as canal bed continuously
changed. Hence shifted from one to
another contour
• Side slope canal
Aligned roughly at right angles to the contour

Canal is almost parallel to natural drainage, hence no CDW required
Irrigation is possible only on one side.
Canals have very steep bed slope, because the direction of
steepest
slope of ground is at right angles to contour.
Considerations for Canal alignment

• Canal alignment shall be such that it should
distribute the water in most economical way and
larger command area
• Number of CDW shall be minimum
• Length of main canal between source to watershed shall be
minimum
• When the canals deviate from one contour to another,
the alignment shall have less number of CDW
• Alignment should avoid places of importance and valuable
properties.
• Alignment shall follow balanced depth of cutting and
filling or minimum depth of cutting or filling
• Number of curves should be minimum
• Alignment shall not be through rocky or fishered rocks
• Field canals shall be laid along boundaries
• Separate field canals for high and low lands
• In hilly areas, it is difficult to align canal along ridge, as
water flows in valley and ridge may be several hundred
meters high. A contour canal may be adopted.
Curves
• Should not be provided along the length
of canal, except if necessary.
• Curves disturb the regime of channel
• Concave side will have erosion
and Convex side will have
deposition/silting.
Hydraulic design of a channel is governed by
– Quantity of silt in water carried in the channel
– Type of boundary surface of channel
• 3 types: Alluvial, Non- Alluvial, Lined/Rigid body
Alluvial Channels
• Excavated in alluvial soils
• Generally carry a lot of silt with water
• Velocity of flow: if high-scouring and if low then shilting.
• Aim of designer: to keep the velocity such that,
no silting/ scouring occurs.
Non-alluvial channel
• Excavated in soils other than alluvial (loam/red/clay etc)
• Generally free from silting problems
• Higher velocity of flow than alluvial channels
Rigid/Lined Channels
• Sides & bottom are made of rigid material
There are 4 unknowns, 2 equations are required.

Additional equations may be obtained from
a. Use channel of bed discharging section getting eq’n
b/wn A and R
b. Limiting eq’n of velocity from considerations of
scouring & silting
c. Using slope by available ground slope
d. Fixing suitable B/D ratio by experience.
• Criteria a. is not suitable for alluvial soil – where non-

silting/ non-scouring velocity is must
• Woods table provides B/D ratio for various discharges
• Silt is carried in channel getting supply from river

• Silt is either in suspension or along the bed
• Silt load imposes difficulty in designing
• Velocity of flow – higher than silting, lower than scouring
• Known data For design are ‘Q’, surface & soil
properties – rugosity coefficient – ‘N’ & silt factor
–

Canals

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CANALS

i. Main canal – carry water from rivers (dams) and feed to

• Such that it commands entire area under irrigation with

Based on alignment we have Ridge/Watershed, Contour and

• Ridge canal – runs along the

These canals are aligned nearly parallel to

Aligned roughly at right angles to the contour

Canals have very steep bed slope, because the direction of

Considerations for Canal alignment

There are 4 unknowns, 2 equations are required.

• Criteria a. is not suitable for alluvial soil – where non-

• Silt is carried in channel getting supply from river

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