ARUSHA TECHNICAL COLLEGE

JUNCTION OF MOSHI-ARUSHA AND NAIROBI ROADS

P.O. BOX 296, ARUSHA-TANZANIA

TELEPHONE: +255-27-2503040/2502076, FAX: +255-27-2548337

WEBSITE: http://www.atc.ac.tz, E-MAIL: principal@atc.ac.tz

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

BACHELOR DEGREE IN CIVIL&IRRIGATION ENGINEEERING
GROUP ASSIGNMENT 1
MODULE NAME: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

MODULE TUTOR: MSUYA, A

MODULE CODE: CIU 0741

TASK: STUDY TOUR REPORT AT OLJORO TRAINING FARM

 GROUP MEMBERS
NO: NAMES REGISTRATION SIGNATURE
NUMBER

1 LUGANO EMMANUEL 18020413030

2 MUSA NGELIME 18020413036

3 RAMADHANI OMARY 18020413051

4 BENJAMIN KISIVAN 18020413010

5 ELIAS MSAFIRI 18020413014

6 ERICK BAZILIO 18020413017

7 STEPHEN STEPHEN 18020413045

8 DENIS KIHEDU 18020413012

9 SLYVESTER DOMINIC 18020413047

10 BALTAZAR MANDAKI 18020413008

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES.........................................................................................................................
CHAPTER ONE..............................................................................................................................
1.0 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................
2.0 PURPOSE OF THE SITE VISITING....................................................................................
2.1 MAIN OBJECTIVE.............................................................................................................
2.2 ACTIVITIES UNERTAKEN................................................................................................
2.3 OBSERVATIONS..............................................................................................................
CHAPTER TWO.............................................................................................................................
3.0 CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................
4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………………………………….
LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Overview location of Veta-oljoro earth dam.

Figure 2: Location of downstream spillway along reservoir.

Figure 3: Location of upstream intake structure.

Figure 4: Location of intake point on reservoir.

Figure 5: Location of oljoro Google earth map.

Figure 6: Non-return valve water control supply structure.

Figure 7: Location of intake gate structure.

Figure 8: Cross drainage structure, aqueduct type 3.

Figure 9: Water distribution structure, division box type.
Figure 10: Location of underground water storage tank.
Figure 11: Location of catchment area or discharge system.
Figure 12: Location of square tank and ventilation pipes structures.
Figure 13: Location of pump house and pump power unit.
Figure 14: Design of local bucket drip irrigation system on farm training plot.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION

OLJORO IRRIGATION TRAINING FARM

For the purpose of strengthening more practical skills to Civil and Irrigation Engineering
students, the College in the year 2011 acquired 150 acres (60 ha) of land at VETA Oljoro to
be used as demonstration irrigation farm. The farm is located about 15 kilometres South
West from Arusha Municipality along Arusha-Naberera- Kibaya main road. The farm is
intended for demonstration of various irrigation methods/systems both pressurized and
gravity irrigation systems that include furrow irrigation, basin irrigation, border strip
irrigation, drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation systems.

The project is now under construction, and for near future the college intends to develop it
further so as it become a campus for Civil & Irrigation Engineering Program which will save
as center for Agricultural Mechanization in training, Research and production and
community consultation. After completion of the project, it will comprise the following
infrastructures:
1.Water Storage and distribution structures (Dam & overhead tanks)
2. Boreholes for supplementary irrigation
3.Water conveying structures (Open & Closed channel)
4.Farm/Access road
5.Basin and furrow irrigation systems
6.Sprinkler and Drip irrigation systems
7.Agriculture resource center for students and farmers training
8.Center for agricultural mechanization
9.Farm and staff houses
10.Classes and social services facilities
 VETA-OLJORO EARTH DAM
An earth dam is well-compacted earth embankment designed for water storage. The storage is
normally used for water supply, agriculture activities and watering livestock around neighbors
surrounding the dam. Earth dams are generally economic structures compared with gravity dams,
which usually are constructed using huge masses of concrete. The failure of earth dams can be
caused by seepage, piping, foundation instability, deformation, deterioration, sedimentation and
from earth quakes. To avoid failure of earth dams due to seepage, sedimentation, settlement and
piping, observations before and after construction are essential.

Oljoro earth dam. Is a non-homogeneous earth fill embankment located about 15 kilometres
South West from Arusha Municipality along Arusha-Naberera- Kibaya main road as shown in
figure 1. The dam has its maximum active storage capacity about 4840 cubic meters. The dam
was yet under construction to supply water for irrigation. Veta-oljoro earth dam consists of a
main earth fill embankment, irrigation intake structure, and one auxiliary spillway.
The dam is seasonal depend on Rainfall.

Main components of Veta-oljoro earth dam

An earth dam is composed of three main components
 An earth embankment E.g. non-homogeneous
 A spillway
 Ancillary structures such as inlet or intake structure, intake point.
Embankment general description
The crest. Is the flat part at the top of the embankment. There are two sloping faces on the
embankment, the upstream slope on the dam side (on the upstream side of the catchment area or
river flow) and the downstream slope (situated on the dry side).

Slope protection. Using different materials such as stone rip rap and vegetation. Is required to
protect the slopes from erosion. The upstream slope is eroded by the impact of waves on it. The
downstream slope is eroded by drainage of rainwater. Both slopes also need to be protected
against the destructive action of animals.
The dam embankment. Is the entire earth fill. Composed two single material (non-
homogeneous fill) or several materials such as combination of stones and soil. A non-
homogeneous earth dam is composed of two double type of materials.
 OVERVIEW VETA-OLJORO EARTH DAM

Figure 1

Spillway. A structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a
downstream area. Flood gates and fuse plugs designed into spillways to regulate water flow and
dam level. This is an essential safety preventing the overtopping of the embankment by floods
when the dam is full. The spillway release surplus water that cannot be stored. All dams needs to
have spillway, overtopping can result in damage or even in total collapse of the dam
embankment. Spillway location depending on its position in relation to the embankment.
 SPILLWAY

Figure 2

The selection of this type of a central spillway mainly depends on the topographic features,
availability of construction materials and site conditions, usually if sufficient riprap stone and
boulders can be found near the dam site, then a central spillway made out of gabions may be the
best solution.
SPILLWAY LOCATION
Spillway locations can be categorized into two parts,
 Central spillway
 Side spillway

NOTE: The dam spillway location located at central spillway along embankment.
 Ancillary structures
Ancillary structures or draw-off structures serve to supply water downstream from the dam. They
are composed of the following elements.

 An intake made of concrete structure and sufficient riprap stones on top side of the
reservoir, a discharge flowing water from a river stream or catchment entering directly on
the dam during the rainy season.

INTAKE STRUCTURE

Figure 3
 Intake point. A cage which placed down the dam for measuring amount of water.

INTAKE POINT

Figure 4

OLJORO GOOGLE EARTH MAP.

Figure 5
2.0 PURPOSE OF SITE VISITING
The aim of the visit is to study on irrigation scheme infrastructures. These includes Storage
structures which are Earth dam, storage tanks and underground tank, Conveyance structure such
as canal(secondary canal, and tertiary canal) and pipes , Water distribution structures such as
division box and turnout, Cross drainage structures such as aqueduct type 3.
The following are the irrigation scheme infrastructures located nearly the dam.
1. Non- return valve to control the supply. Wherever possible, it’s necessary to
regulate amount of water going through distribution system of irrigation.

NON-RETURN VALVE

Figure 6
2. Intake gate. Necessary for taking water from the reservoir to the distributed tank
e.g. underground tanks.
Intake gate have two ways composed as,
 Closed canal.
 Secondary canal, either lined or unlined.

INTAKE GATE WAYS

INTAKE GATE

Figure 7
 3. Cross drainage structures. Is a structure constructed when there is a crossing of
canal and natural drain, to prevent the drain water from mixing into canal water.
By two or three streams into one and only one cross drainage work to be
constructed, making the structure economical.

CROSS DRAINAGE AQUEDUCT TYPE 3 STRUCTURE

Figure 8

Cross drainage Aqueduct can be categorized into three main parts,

a) Aqueduct type 1
b) Aqueduct type 2
c) Aqueduct type 3
NOTE: Generally aqueduct type 3 an embankment are constructed with combination of
Materials such as stones and concrete, which form strong rigid structure.
 4. Water distribution structures such as division box and turnout. Generally are used
to divide or direct the flow of water between two or more canals or ditches. Water
enters the box through an opening on one side and flows out through openings on
the other sides.

DIVISION BOX STRUCTURE

Figure 9

Note: Division box comprises a secondary canal which feeds all tertiary canal on distribution
System.
5. Underground water storage tanks. Can be supplied by gravity-minimizing the
need for pumps to supply the tank with water. Usually preventing algae growth,
the water is in complete darkness-preventing algae growth further.

UNDERGROUND WATER STORAGE TANK

Figure 10
 6. Catchment area or discharge system. Is an area where water is collected by the
natural landscape. In a catchment, all rain and run-off water eventually flows into
the groundwater system.

CATCHMENT AREA

Figure 11

Note: Through catchment area or discharge system you can easily obtain the rainfall data.
7. Square tank with ventilation pipes. Is a large tank used as water storage capacity
which designed with various ventilation pipes for allowing rotation of air within
the tank system.

Used as storage or collector water tank having capacity of 675 meters cubic
having inlet and outlet structures for allowing distribution of water systems for
irrigation activities.

SQUARE TANK

VENTILATION PIPE

Figure 12
8. Pump house with pumping power. A building in which are located and operated
the pumps of an irrigation system.
Design considerations done for located pump house in oljoro training farm.
 Pump house should be near the dam in order to,
a. To reduce cost (initial costs) examples cost of buying many
pipes, pumping power costs (fuel costs)
b. To reduce or minimize the head loss through friction in
pipes.
Note: The more the pipes the higher head loss and the
higher pumping power.
 Design life. Conversion of signals to numerical values design life
of pump station should be considered during designing.

PUMP HOUSE

PUMP POWER UNIT

Figure 13
 CAPACITY OF THE PUMP STATION.

The water delivering capacity, and thus the number of pumps is defined by the amount of water
to be pumped and its actual fluctuation in time and quantity (daily average, minimum or
maximum).
The total capacity of a pump station should be established in such a way that the water discharge
is ensured even if several pumps are broken down.

The pumping station are grouped as pumping water source or pumping stations for obtaining
water from a water source depending on pumping from surface water e.g. reservoir.

HOW SYTEMS OPERATES UNDER OLJORO TRAINING FARM.

1. Catchment area or river sources

2. Earth dam
3. Underground rain water harvest
4. Storage tanks
5. Drip distribution irrigation systems.

2.1 THE MAIN OBJECTIVES.

At the end the students should be able to,

 Carry out, in the field, a preliminary reconnaissance of appropriate dam sites, including
siting of spillway.
 Carry out site investigation including inspection of the foundation and identify suitable
construction materials.
 Calculate the estimated storage capacity of a proposed dam project.
 Describe the major work activities involved and precautions to be taken for each of the
operations entailed by dam construction. These operations include
a. Clearing the dam site
b. Construction of ancillary works.
c. Setting out the dam.
2.2 ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN.
1. Irrigation Agriculture, the main activity taking place at the Oljoro demonstration farm
is Agriculture. Different crops cultivated are maize, millet, beans and vegetables.
Irrigation methods used are;
Surface irrigation system
i. Open channel(canal)
Whereby water stored on the earth dam flows by gravity through the main canal
to the secondary and tertiary canal, and finally to the farm plots.
 ii. Closed pipe channel
In which water from the earth dam flows through the closed conduit to the secondary canal to the
farm.
Drip irrigation system
The local drip irrigation system (bucket system)

DESIGN OF LOCAL BUCKET DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Figure 14
Water is stored in a reservoir upstream of the dam to be used later when the rainfall and the river
flow are insufficient to meet the demand. The dam may store all or part of the flow. Thus, the
dam serves to store water collected during the rainy season to be used thereafter during the dry
season. The water stored in the dam can serve one or several purposes such as,
a. Domestic water supply
b. Livestock watering
c. Soil and water conservation
In general, water used for irrigation downstream from the dam is supplied by gravity, but it may
be pumped from the reservoir if gravity-fed irrigation is not feasible.

2.3 OBSERVATIONS.
The following observations has been observed during session,

Maintenance of ancillary structures

a) Intake structure. Branches, floating objects or sediments deposited on the reservoir bottom
can obstruct the entrance to the intake.

Intake should be located somewhat higher than the lowest point of the reservoir bottom to allow
for the inevitable deposit of sediments carried into the reservoir by the river flow or by erosion in
the catchment area.

b) Silting of reservoir. It is often the case that erosion in the catchment area over the years silts
up the reservoir more quickly than expected, with a consequent loss of storage capacity. This
common feature in arid and semi-arid areas.
The best way to fight siltation of the reservoir is to decrease the erosion in the catchment area by
a soil and water conservation programme.

c) Spillway. A blocked or improperly functioning spillway is a common cause of damage to

both the spillway and the dam itself. Any debris at the inlet should be cleared as soon as
possible.

d) Monitoring and inspection. Similar to other types of infrastructure are in need of regular
maintenance in order to protect the investments carried out during the initial construction
stage. After all, the main benefits from the construction of water harvesting structures are
accrued through a long-term operation of the facilities. To achieve this, there is a need for
continuous follow-up after the construction stage during which the performance of the dam is
monitored and when required provided essential maintenance and repair.

Inspection and monitoring of dams needs to be carried out in close collaboration with the users
of the dam. Maintenance works may have to be fully financed by the users of the reservoir.
CHAPTER TWO

3.0 CONCLUSIONS.
Generally, the best site is generally where the greatest volume of water can be stored
With the smallest possible and hence least expensive embankment. Other selection criteria
Suitable foundation, availability of building materials and location of the dam in relation to
The area to be supplied with water.

Our dam located in a places where there is valley narrows. Upstream from this narrow
Section, the valley are widen with a gentle gradient, thereby securing a sufficient storage
Capacity. The best areas are often found just upstream from the catchment areas.

4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The dam should be designed to satisfy the water needs for irrigation distribution systems.
Needs can be for irrigation purposes or for livestock watering. Usually water requirements
Vary depending on the type of crop and climate. If there is rainfall during the cropping
Season, the need for irrigation is reduced by a quantity of water equal to the total amount of
Rainfall.