Canal Falls

Whenever the available natural ground slope is steep than the designed bed slope of the channel, the
difference is adjusted by constructing vertical ‘falls’ or ‘drops’ in the canal bed at suitable intervals, as
shown in figure below. Such a drop in a natural canal bed will not be stable and, therefore, in order to retain
this drop, a masonry structure is constructed. Such a structure is called a Canal Fall or a Canal drop.

Irrigation canals are designed for a prescribed bed slope so that velocity becomes non-silting or nonscouring.
But if the ground topography is such that in order to maintain the canal designed slope, indefinite filling
from falling ground level is to be made. This indefinite filling is avoided by constructing a hydraulic
structure in the place of sudden bed level. This hydraulic structure is called canal fall or drop. Beyond the
canal fall, canal again maintains its designed slope.
Thus, a canal fall or drop is an irrigation structure constructed across a canal to lower down its bed level to
maintain the designed slope when there is a change of ground level to maintain the designed slope when
there is change of ground level. This falling water at the fall has some surplus energy. The fall is constructed
in such a way that it can destroy this surplus energy.
 Necessity of Canal Falls
• When the slope of the ground suddenly changes to steeper slope, the permissible bed slope
can’t be maintained. It requires excessive earthwork in filling to maintain the slope. In such a case
falls are provided to avoid excessive earth work in filling.

• When the slope of the ground is more or less uniform and the slope is greater than the
permissible bed slope of canal.

• In cross-drainage works, when the difference between bed level of canal and that of drainage is
small or when the F.S.L of the canal is above the bed level of drainage then the canal fall
is necessary to carry the canal water below the stream or drainage.
 Types of Canal Fall
Depending on the ground level conditions and shape of the fall the various types of fall are:

• Ogee Fall
• Stepped Fall
• Vertical Fall (Sarda Fall)
• Rapid Fall
• Straight Glacis Fall
• Trapezoidal Notch Fall
• Well or Cylinder Notch Fall
• Montague Type Fall
• Inglis or Baffle Fall

Ogee Fall
The ogee fall was constructed by Sir Proby Cautley on the Ganga Canal. This type of fall has gradual convex
and concave surfaces i.e. in the ogee form. The gradual convex and concave surface is provided with an aim
to provide smooth transition and to reduce disturbance and impact. A hydraulic jump is formed which
dissipates a part of kinetic energy. Upstream and downstream of the fall is provided by Stone Pitching.

Stepped Fall
It consists of a series of vertical drops in the form of steps. The stepped fall is suitable in places where
sloping ground is very long and requires a long glacis to connect the higher bed level u/s with lower bed
level d/s. it is practically a modification of rapid fall. The sloping glacis is divided into a number drops to
bring down the canal bed step by step to protect the canal bed and sides from damage by erosion. Brick
walls are provided at each drop. The bed of the canal within the fall is protected by rubble masonry with
surface finishing by rich cement mortar.

Vertical Fall (Sarda Fall)

In the simple type, canal u/s bed is on the level of upstream curtain wall, canal u/s bed level is below the
crest of curtain wall. In both the cases, a cistern is formed to act as water cushion. Floor is made of concrete
u/s and d/s side stone pitching with cement grouting is provided. This type of fall is used in Sarda Canal UP
and therefore, it is also called Sarda Fall.

Rapid Fall
When the natural ground level is even and rapid, this rapid fall is suitable. It consists of long sloping glacis.
Curtain walls are provided on both u/s and d/s sides. Rubble masonry with cement grouting is provided from
u/s curtain wall to d/s curtain wall. Masonry surface is finished with a rich cement mortar.
Straight Glacis Fall
It consists of a straight glacis provided with a crest wall. For dissipation of energy of flowing water, a water
cushion is provided. Curtain walls are provided at toe and heel. Stone pitching is required at upstream and
downstream of the fall.

Trapezoidal Notch Fall

It was designed by Reid in 1894. In this type a body or foundation wall across the channel consisting of
several trapezoidal notches between side pier and intermediate pier is constructed. The sill of the notches is
kept at upstream bed level of the canal. The body wall is made of concrete. An impervious floor is provided
to resist the scouring effect of falling water. Upstream and downstream side of the fall is protected by stone
pitching finished with cement grouting.
Well or Cylinder Notch Fall
In this type, water of canal from higher level is thrown in a well or a cylinder from where it escapes from
bottom. Energy is dissipated in the well in turbulence. They are suitable for low discharges and are
economical also.

Montague Type Fall

In the straight glacis type profile, energy dissipation is not complete. Therefore, Montague developed this
type of profile where energy dissipation takes place. His profile is parabolic and is given by the following
equation,
Inglis or Baffle Fall
Here glacis is straight and sloping, but baffle wall provided on the downstream floor dissipate the energy.
Main body of glacis is made of concrete. Curtain walls both at toe and heel are provided. Stone pitching are
essential both at u/s and d/s ends.

Canal Escape
It is a side channel constructed to remove surplus water from an irrigation channel (main canal, branch canal,
or distributary etc.) into a natural drain.

The water in the irrigation channel may become surplus due to –

• Mistake
• Difficulty in regulation at the head.
• Excessive rainfall in the upper reaches.
• Outlets being closed by cultivators as they find the demand of water is over.
It is the structure required to dispose of surplus or excess water from canal from time to time. Thus, a canal
escape serves as safety valve for canal system. It provides protection to the canal from possible damage due
to excess supply which may be due to mistake in releasing water at head regulator or heavy rainfall that
makes sudden regular demand of water. The excess supply makes the canal banks vulnerable to failure due
to overtopping or dangerous leaks.
Therefore, provision for disposing this surplus water in form of canal escapes at suitable intervals along the
canal is essential. Moreover emptying canal for repair and maintenance and removal of sediment deposited
in the canal can also be achieved with the help of canal escapes.

Escapes are usually of the following three types.

• Surplus Escape
• Tail Escape
• Scouring Escape

Surplus Escape
It is also called regulator type. In this type sill of the escape is kept at canal bed level and the flow is
controlled by a gate. This type of escapes are preferred now-a-days as they give better control and can be
used for employing the canal for maintenance.
Tail Escape
A tail escape is provided at the tail end of the canal and is useful in maintaining the required FSL in the tail
reaches of the canal and hence, they are called tail escape.

Scouring Escape
This escape is constructed for the purpose of scouring of excess silt deposited in the head reaches from time
to time. Hence, it is called scouring escape. Here the sill of the regulator is kept at about 0.3 m below the
canal bed level at escape site. When deposited silt to be scoured, a higher discharge than the FSL is allowed
to enter the canal from the head works. The gate of the escape is raised so as to produce scouring velocity
which removes the deposited silt. This type of Escape has become obsolete as silt ejector provided in the
canal can produce better efficiency.

Head Regulator
Regulators Constructed at the off taking point are called head regulators. When it is constructed at the head
of main canal it is known as canal head regulator. And when it is constructed at the head of distributary, it is
called distributary head regulator.
Function:

• To control the entry of water either from the reservoir or from the main canal.
• To control the entry of silt into off taking canal or main canal.
• To serve as a meter for measuring discharge of water.
Construction:
The components of head regulator depend upon the size of canal and location of head regulator. It consists of
one or more gated research openings with barrels running through the bank. For large canals head regulators
are flumed to facilitate the measurement of discharge.

Cross Regulator
A Regulator Constructed in the main canal or parent canal downstream of an off take canal is called cross
regulator. It is generally constructed at a distance of 9 to 12 km along the main canal and 6 to 10 km along
branch canal.
Functions:
• To Control the flow of water in canal system
• To feed the off taking Canals

• To enable closing of the canal breaches on the d/s  To provide roadway for vehicular traffic.

Construction:
For Cross Regulators abutments with grooves and piers are constructed parallel to the parent canal. The sill
of regulation is kept little higher than the u/s bed level of canal across which it is constructed. Vertical lift
gates are fitted in the grooves. The gates can be operated from the road.
 Silt Control Devices

• Scouring Sluices or Under sluices,

• silt pocket and  silt excluders

The above three components are employed for silt control at the head work. Divide wall creates a silt pocket.
Silt excluder consists of a number under tunnels resting on the floor pocket. Top floor of the tunnel is at the
level of sill of the head regulator.
Various tunnels of different lengths are made. The tunnel near the head regulator is of same length of head
regulator and successive tunnels towards the divide wall are short. Velocity near the silt laden water is
disposed downstream through tunnels and under sluices.

Silt Excluder:
The silt excluder is located on the u/s of diversion weir and in front of the head regulator. The object is to
remove silt that has entered in the stilling basin through scouring sluices.
Silt Ejector:
Silt Ejector is located in the canal take off from the diversion weir at 6 to 10 km in the canal reach. It ejects
the silt that has entered in the canal.
 Canal Outlet/Modules
A canal outlet or a module is a small structure built at the head of the water course so as to connect
it with a minor or a distributary channel.
It acts as a connecting link between the system manager and the farmers.

Non-Modular Modules
Non-modular modules are those through which the discharge depends upon the head difference between the
distributary and the water course. Common examples are:

• Open sluice
• Drowned pipe outlet
Semi-Modules or Flexible modules
Due to construction, a super-critical velocity is ensured in the throat and thereby allowing the formation of a
jump in the expanding flume.
The formation of hydraulic jump makes the outlet discharge independent of the water level in water course,
thus making it a semi module. Semi-modules or flexible modules are those through which the discharge is
independent of the water level of the water course but depends only upon the water level of the distributary
so long as a minimum working head is available.
Examples are pipe outlet, open flume type etc.

Rigid Modules or Modular Outlets

Rigid modules or modular outlets are those through which discharge is constant and fixed within limits,
irrespective of the fluctuations of the water levels of either the distributary or of the water course or both.
An example is Gibb’s module.