Irrigation canals in Spain: the integral process of modernization
Date
2005-10
Authors
Montañés, José Liria, author
Fernández, Laura Cózar, author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
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Abstract
Efficient use of water is a driving force in Spain, a mostly an arid country, having an adverse hydrological regime and insufficient rain for the practice of irrigation. Water needs increase continuously and there are almost no suitable places for new dams. The irrigation demand is the most important consumption use. Saving water would be the solution. This paper will focus on the first element of the irrigation net; that is, water transportation / distribution by canals. Many irrigation canals are old and regulated by elemental systems, with frequent water losses. In order to improve them, there are several structural and non-structural responses under way now, fostered by the Spanish Government. Regulation was introduced in Spain forty years ago with downstream and upstream constant water level gates. Nowadays the use of mixed gates combined with an upstream reservoir, completely centralized from a remote command centre, is becoming very frequent and profitable. The system is complemented with "all or nothing" jump distributors moved by compressed air, which regulate lateral turnouts.
Description
Presented at SCADA and related technologies for irrigation district modernization: a USCID water management conference on October 26-29, 2005 in Vancouver, Washington.