The Importance of Maintaining Irrigation Channels
Hi steemians ... I will still discuss about the exact technique of irrigation channels. This time I will discuss about the need for maintenance of irrigation channels.
After the irrigation network is completed, then it is followed by the management of irrigation networks, which consists of operation, maintenance and rehabilitation.
Increased soil erosion so that the mud content in river water increased which resulted in silting both in irrigation network and in the river itself faster also. It affects the service function of the irrigation network that has been built. The recent increase in agricultural intensification and crop diversification efforts requires the support of water supply in terms of time, space, quantity and quality.
In order to overcome the above matters, efforts in the form of operations and maintenance are required, so that the irrigation networks that have been built can function and provide services as appropriate, for the planned timeframe.
The maintenance of irrigation infrastructure should be a priority by the local government, to support the sustainability of the agricultural sector, said Hydrological and Water Resources Expert, General Soedirman University, Yanto, Ph.D.
Maintenance of irrigation networks is very important for the sustainability of agricultural efforts
Damage to irrigation networks can be a serious problem as it may lead to a decrease in irrigation efficiency.
"In damaged irrigation networks, about 70 percent of the water supplied will disappear, whereas in good irrigation networks irrigation water losses generally range from 35 percent in the form of evaporation and seepage.
Increased water loss in damaged irrigation networks, he added, is caused by increased seepage water, coupled with the overflow of irrigation water channels. Damage to irrigation networks is generally damaged irrigation channel walls, either cracks on a light scale or burst on a weight scale.
Meanwhile, the decrease in drainage capacity, he added, due to sedimentation, as well as the non-functioning of irrigation buildings due to age and deposition. Such as water gates, tapping buildings, and buildings for which functions to divide water into the channel below.
Maintenance activities that need to be done on irrigation networks are as follows:
- Lifting of grass and shrubs, cleaning of sewage.
- Disposal of mud
- Maintenance of channel shape
- Seepage prevention and leakage on channel embankment
- Improved channel cliff protection
Below are some photos of irrigation channels that are never maintenance
Several efforts that can be made by the government include increasing the percentage of irrigation network maintenance budget in RAPBD, encouraging village government to allocate village funds for maintenance purposes, and reinvigorating P3A in irrigation management.
In order to meet the needs of irrigation water to support the business in the field of Agriculture, a regulatory and water distribution system is required for the preparation of the agreed Cropping Plan plan, taking into account the discharge conditions available for certain periods.
Important points to be obtained in the framework of arrangement and distribution of irrigation water is the schedule of distribution, the amount of discharge in each building for tapping on each segment of the channel and the turn schedule if necessary, as well as the procedure steps.
Reference:
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