Irrigation Structures | Bakenaz A.

Zeidan

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO CANAL HEAD WORKS
Introduction to headwork:

The river discharge is never constant and regular. Obviously when a permanent
canal system is taken-off from the river some works are to be provided at the off-
take to take care of irregularities in river flow condition. Since these works are
constructed at the point of takeoff that is at the head of the canal system they are
termed as canal headworks. The main object of the canal headworks is to divert
the water from the river into the canal. It is sometimes termed diversion
headworks also. Canal Headwork is a civil engineering term for any hydraulic
structure constructed across a river and supplies water to the off taking canal.

Any hydraulic structure which delivers water to off-taking canal is called a

headwork. Canal Headworks are classified to:

Diversion Headworks: A weir or a barrage is constructed across a river to raise

water level and to divert water to a canal is known as a diversion headwork.

Storage Headworks: A dam is constructed across a river valley to form a storage

reservoir is known as a storage headwork.

FUNCTIONS OF
CANAL HEADWORKS
Canal headworks

the following purposes

1.A headwork raises the water level in the river
2.It regulates the intake of water into the canal
3.It controls the entry of silt into the canal
4.A headwork can store water for small periods
5.A headwork can reduce fluctuations in the level of river supply
SITE LOCATION OF CANAL HEADWORKS
Site choice of a canal headwork may be:

1.Rocky Stage :River steep slope with high velocity

2.Sub mountainous or boulder stage: boulder or gravel
3.Alluvial plan: Bed slope small with gentle velocity

A headwork site selection should satisfy the following rules:

1.The river section at the site should be narrow and well-defined.

2.The river should have high, well-defined, erodible and non-submersible
banks so that the cost of river training work is minimum
3.The canals taking off from the diversion head works should be quite
economical and should have a large commanded area.
4.There should be suitable arrangement for the diversion of river during
construction.
5.The site should be such that the headwork can be aligned at right angles to
the direction of flow in the river.

1.Diversion Headwork
DIVERSION
HEADWORKS
The works, which are constructed at the head of the canal, in order to divert the
river water towards the canal, so as to ensure a regulated continuous supply of silt-
free water with a certain minimum head into the canal, are known as diversion
heads works. A diversion headwork is constructed across a river to raise water
level and to divert water to a canal. When a weir or barrage is constructed across
a river to raise the water level and to divert the water to the canal, then it is known
as diversion head work. The flow in the canal is controlled by canal head regulator.

Components of a
Diversion Headwork
 Weir or barrage
 Under sluices
 Divide wall
 Fish ladder
 Canal head regulator
 Pocket or approach
channel
 Silt excluders/ Silt
prevention devices
 River training works
(Marginal bund and guide
banks)
Components of a
Diversion Headwork
 Weir or barrage
 Under sluices
 Divide wall
 Fish ladder
 Canal head regulator
 Pocket or approach
channel
 Silt excluders/ Silt
prevention devices
 River training works
(Marginal bund and guide
banks)
Components of a
Diversion Headwork
 Weir or barrage
 Under sluices
 Divide wall
 Fish ladder
 Canal head regulator
 Pocket or approach
channel
 Silt excluders/ Silt
prevention devices
 River training works
(Marginal bund and guide
banks)