Economic assessment of an irrigation canal automation and control project

Irrigation is by far the largest user of water, especially in developing countries. Continued population growth and the limited amount of fresh water demands an improved management of irrigation water. Automation using computer control techniques and tools is being used to meet these needs. This paper briefly describes the system and techniques used to control the water level at different sections of an irrigation canals in Egypt. The canal has a peak design flow of 87 m(3)/seconds and is controlled by six major regulating structures [1]. This paper also describes the experience and economic assessment of the implementation of the automation and control system. Implementation of an automatic control system at six main regulators of the main canal was completed in 1994. The economic assessment presented herein indicates that the costs of the system can be justified by improvements in overall irrigation efficiency of 4 to 6% based on irrigation water valued at $6.2 per 1000 M-3, interest rates of 4 to 12% and a cost recovery period of 15 years. As the system has only recently been commissioned, increases in overall efficiency of about 10% are considered to be realistically achievable through conscientious operation of the control system. Therefore, this assessment concludes that the system is economically justifiable on the basis of potential improvements to overall irrigation efficiency alone. The values of other benefits have not been quantified; however, the important ones are described.