Maximizing Water Use Efficiency through Intra-Basin Canal System: The Case of Awash River Basin
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The pressure on the world’s fresh water is increasing from time to time due to rapid population growth, agricultural expansion and industrialization. This situation is also observed in the Awash River Basin which calls for water resource management measures. In situations where developing new water sources has difficulties, effective use of the available water is the management measure that can be applied. The agricultural sector, which is the major water user and the base for the economy of the country, is the sector where management of existing resource is critical. For one thing the sector is facing competition for water from other sectors such as industries, domestic water supply and livestock. Also, the sector has one of the least water use efficiencies due to loss of great volume of water in conveyance and application. This research was carried out with the objective of maximizing agricultural water use efficiency in Awash River Basin by improving conveyance and application efficiencies. The research tried to meet this objective by proposing artificial waterway (canal system) instead of the current natural river-course to convey the water exiting Koka dam. A specific study area within the Awash River Basin was first identified. Within this study area canals were designed to convey water exiting Koka dam to irrigation schemes. The canal system improves conveyance efficiency and deliver the head required to operate pressurized irrigation systems without external energy requirement. In addition, land suitability analysis was carried out to identify total area suitable for irrigation within the study area by considering slope, soil type, and land use. The results of the suitability analysis show that there is 298,709.2 ha of land suitable for irrigation within the study area. The results of the canal design indicate that conveyance and application efficiencies were improved. This improvement in water use efficiency resulted in water saving that is estimated to irrigate 134,299.6416 ha of land which is twice the area of the existing irrigation schemes. The water saved could be used to irrigate the unirrigated land or it could be released downstream. With additional control structures, the canal system will also help manage the released water better through transparent and equitable allocation and pricing.
KEYWORDS: Water Use Efficiency, Conveyance Efficiency, Application Efficiency, Canal, Suitability Analysis
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Keywords
Water Use Efficiency, Conveyance Efficiency, Application Efficiency, Canal, Suitability Analysis