DETERMINATION OF WATER CONVEYANCE LOSS IN THE AHMETLI REGULATOR IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN THE LOWER GEDIZ BASIN, TURKEY

Determining the water conveyance loss in large-scale irrigation systems is important not only from the points of view of irrigation programming and optimum allocation of deficit resources, but also for the sustainable operation of the system. The aim of this investigation is to determine the conveyance losses of the concrete-lined main, secondary and tertiary canals in the Right Bank Irrigation System of the Ahmetli Regulator in the Gediz Basin, Turkey. The investigation was carried out according to the inflow-outflow method. Average conveyance losses of the main (0.067 1 s(-1) m(-2)), secondary (0.119 1 s(-1) m(-2)) and tertiary canals (0.030 1 s(-1) m(-2)) were found to be higher than either the average conveyance loss of Turkey or the seepage standard of the Bureau of Reclamation. It may be suggested that associations responsible for maintenance, repair and operation of the system can be supported financially to reduce conveyance loss. Apart from this, application of new technologies with lower cost to the systems will reduce conveyance losses. In addition, the participation of farmers in the maintenance of the network will ensure that the system is used more rationally. In this way, most of the operational problems of the system can be solved. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.