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A comprehensive water balance methodology for collective irrigation systems

Author

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  • Cunha, Henrique
  • Loureiro, Dália
  • Sousa, Gonçalo
  • Covas, Dídia
  • Alegre, Helena

Abstract

This paper presents the development and application of a comprehensive methodology for the systematic water balance calculation in collective irrigation systems (CIS), applicable to pressurized pipelines or open canals. Existing approaches focus solely on the assessment the water resources use efficiency of CIS single components (e.g., leakage in some canal reaches), without a system-wide approach. A water balance approach allows accounting for the different system volume inputs (i.e., water abstraction, imported water, water volume due to precipitation or surface runoff), authorized and non-authorized consumptions and water losses either in canal, mixed or pressurized CIS, which has never been presented in literature. The proposed methodology allows the assessment of different water loss components (i.e., evaporation losses, unauthorized uses, metering errors, leakage and discharges) and the calculation of water loss performance indicators that allow the identification of the main problems in terms of water losses and provides guidance about measures to control water losses. Although based on the existing and consolidated water balance schemes specifically developed for urban water supply systems, the proposed methodology includes novel components in terms of system input volume, authorized consumption and water loss that are specific of CIS. The methodology is tested and applied to a mixed collective irrigation system. Results show that the water losses due to discharges in canal systems can be one of the most relevant component of the non-revenue water, representing approximately half of its total volume, followed by leakage in canals and metering errors. These results highlight the importance of improving daily operation of these systems and also rehabilitating ageing infrastructures.

Suggested Citation

  • Cunha, Henrique & Loureiro, Dália & Sousa, Gonçalo & Covas, Dídia & Alegre, Helena, 2019. "A comprehensive water balance methodology for collective irrigation systems," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 1-1.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:223:y:2019:i:c:42
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2019.05.044
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Molden, David, 2007. "Water for food, water for life: a comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture: summary. In Russian," IWMI Books, Reports H041260, International Water Management Institute.
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    1. Mao, Wei & Zhu, Yan & Huang, Shuang & Han, Xudong & Sun, Guanfang & Ye, Ming & Yang, Jinzhong, 2024. "Assessment of spatial and temporal seepage losses in large canal systems under current and future water-saving conditions: A case study in the Hetao Irrigation District, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    2. Avargani, Habib Karimi & Hashemy Shahdany, S. Mehdy & Kamrani, Kazem & Maestre, Jose, M. & Hashemi Garmdareh, S. Ebrahim & Liaghat, Abdolmajid, 2022. "Prioritization of surface water distribution in irrigation districts to mitigate crop yield reduction during water scarcity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    3. Laura Monteiro & Raquel Cristina & Dídia Covas, 2021. "Water and Energy Efficiency Assessment in Urban Green Spaces," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, September.
    4. Loureiro, Dália & Beceiro, Paula & Moreira, Madalena & Arranja, Carina & Cordeiro, Diana & Alegre, Helena, 2023. "A comprehensive performance assessment system for diagnosis and decision-support to improve water and energy efficiency and its demonstration in Portuguese collective irrigation systems," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    5. Laura Ávila-Dávila & José Miguel Molina-Martínez & Carlos Bautista-Capetillo & Manuel Soler-Méndez & Cruz Octavio Robles Rovelo & Hugo Enrique Júnez-Ferreira & Julián González-Trinidad, 2021. "Estimation of the Evapotranspiration and Crop Coefficients of Bell Pepper Using a Removable Weighing Lysimeter: A Case Study in the Southeast of Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, January.

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