Current Canal Modernization from an International Perspective
DEFINITION OF MODERNIZATION Irrigation project modernization is defined (FAO, 1996) as: A process of technical and managerial upgrading (as opposed to mere rehabilitation) of irrigation schemes combined with institutional reform, with the objective to improve resource utilization (labor, water, economic, environmental) and water delivery service to farmers. Modernization differs from rehabilitation, which simply returns a deteriorated project or structures to their original new state. Rehabilitation by itself typically only perpetuates the vicious cycle of rehabilitation, deterioration, rehabilitation, etc. A modern irrigation design is the result of a thought process that selects the configuration and the physical components in light of a well-defined and realistic operation plan that is based on the service concept. A modern irrigation design is not defined by specific hardware components and control logic. Advanced concepts of hydraulic engineering, irrigation engineering, agronomy, and social science should be used to arrive at the most simple and workable solution (Plusquellec et al., 1994). QUICK REVIEW OF CONDITIONS IN THE U.S.A. Prior to discussing irrigation projects in Less Developed Countries (LDCs), it can be instructive to note key factors which exist in many irrigation projects here in the U.S. First, in the intermountain states many of the irrigation districts are far from modernized. Many have large amounts of conveyance losses, poor on-farm irrigation efficiencies, and poor budgets and maintenance programs. Some operate on very rigid rotation schedules. In other areas of the western U.S. irrigation districts have very high district-level irrigation efficiencies (as high as 80%, including impacts of both delivery and on-farm), and have very flexible water delivery schedules to farmers. But the point to make is that a consultant 1 Professor and Director, Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC), BioResource and Agricultural Engr. Dept., California Polytechnic State Univ. (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, CA 93407. Current Canal Modenization From An International Perspective http://www.itrc.org/papers/pdf/keynotespeech.pdf ITRC Paper 99-003 Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) www.itrc.org from the U.S., or any other country, might have a long experience with irrigation districts but that experience may have nothing to do with modernization. In the U.S. we also have a considerable amount of literature and research on sophisticated canal control algorithms. However, in the field almost all control on canals is upstream control, with a few districts having extensive computer controlled upstream control. Certainly there are numerous examples of SCADA systems and downstream control, but most of the complex control is found on a few very large canals such as the California Aqueduct or the Central Arizona Project. Such large canals are inherently simpler to manage on a minute-tominute basis than are small canals because of their excellent maintenance and communications systems and the lack of wide fluctuations in flow rate in a short time. There is a special environment in irrigation projects in the U.S. that has a bearing upon successes and failures in the U.S. Aspects of this environment include:  Most consultants in the U.S. must live with the results of their work. News travels fast. And most consultants in U.S. modernization (that is implemented) are private local consultants who are professional engineers, as opposed to researchers.  U.S. projects have very stable workforces. Many irrigation district employees spend almost their whole career in the district.  The U.S. projects benefit from water rights, and (extremely importantly) the ability to enforce water rights and rules.  U.S. projects have excellent legislation for the formation of Water User Associations (WUAs). And most WUAs are operated as not-for-profit businesses with professional management staff that are responsible to elected Boards of Directors.  Various agencies such as the US Bureau of Reclamation have provided long term financial and technical assistance to irrigation districts.  There is an excellent supply infrastructure for spare parts and new equipment.  Even in remote projects, the life of irrigation professionals is good. Schools in remote areas are sometimes better than schools in more urbanized areas. Furthermore, good housing and medical care are available, and the transportation network is excellent so that even at remote projects, one does not typically feel "isolated".  While there is often undue influence in irrigation districts by some board members or difficult individual farmers, corruption is very rare. Current Canal Modenization From An International Perspective http://www.itrc.org/papers/pdf/keynotespeech.pdf ITRC Paper 99-003 Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) www.itrc.org STATUS OF MODERNIZATION IN LDCs
Model Predictive Control on Open Water Systems
Human life depends on water daily, especially for drinking and food production. Also, human life needs to be protected against excess of water caused by heavy precipitation and floods. People have formed water management organizations to guarantee these necessities of life for communities. These organizations manage a water system within the community and manipulate the water flows in this system to fulfill the water related requirements. To do so, controllable structures, such as gates and pumps are used. The way these structures are controlled, depending on the requirements of the communities, is part of the research field of control on water systems, often referred to as operational water management. In the research "Model Predictive Control on Open Water Systems", the relatively new control methodology Model Predictive Control is configured for application of water quantity control on open water systems, especially on irrigation canals and large drainage systems. The methodology applies an internal model of the open water system, by which optimal control actions are calculated over a prediction horizon.
Parboiled rice effluent: A wastewater niche for microalgae and cyanobacteria with growth coupled to comprehensive remediation and phosphorus biofertilization
Abstract The potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria for bioremediation of wastewater by nutrient uptake combined with simultaneous biomass production is a well recognized perception of today's world. The present study illustrates the treatment of a highly polluted wastewater generated during parboiling of paddy in rice mill industries, widely operational in developing countries where rice is the staple food crop, with the help of microalgal and cyanobacterial isolates capable of growing at high rates in parboiled rice mill effluent (RME). This endeavor leads to comprehensive bioremediation of the said effluent and subsequent use of the harvested biomass as slow release phosphorus biofertilizers and the treated effluent for crop irrigation. The RME-acclimatized algal consortium demonstrated highest growth in terms of fresh weight and greatest remediation efficiency at the end of 36 days' treatment of RME, with 93.9% phosphorus and 100% ammonia-nitrogen removal, 98.7%, 91.6% and 93.5% reduction in biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and total dissolved solid, respectively, and an increment of 186 ± 0.3 mg L − 1 dissolved oxygen, bringing down the pollutants level well below the discharge limits suggested by Central Pollution Control Board, India. Additionally, microalgae in the consortium aggregated in clumps spontaneously in presence of the filaments of Phormidium sp. facilitating easy harvest. The RME-acclimatized algal consortium demonstrated highest accumulation of polyphosphate (poly-P) (0.76 ± 0.01% of dry weight) as well as highest release of phosphorus in non-sterile soil emphasizing the essential role of soil phosphorus solubilizing organisms to leach soluble phosphorus from the insoluble poly-P present in the biomass. The rice seedlings watered with treated RME also showed improved growth effect on shoot height and leaf width. The study results establish the suitability of RME as an excellent growth media for microalgae and cyanobacteria.