Projects
Lining irrigation channels with precast U-sections
Earth channels can lose much of their water before it reaches the field. Notes from the field on lining them with precast sections.
TopicProjects
Published
Reading time1 min read
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Unlined earth channels lose water through seepage, weeds and collapsing banks. Replacing them with precast U-sections keeps the cross-section constant and the water moving.
On site
- Excavate and compact a level bed with a thin layer of sand or lean concrete
- Set each section by crane or excavator, working upstream
- Seal the joints with mortar or a flexible sealant
- Backfill and compact both sides evenly to keep the walls plumb
A small crew can place a long run of channel in a single day, and the channel can carry water as soon as the joints have set.
The best channel is the one nobody has to think about for the next thirty years.
