Small Scale Irrigation (SSI) Project at Abba Samuel River Watershed
University of Connecticut Engineers Without Borders Student Chapter Kelsey Reeves
Fiona O’Donnell
New England Water Environment Association 2016 Annual Conference - Water for People Session 8
Partners
• University of Connecticut Engineers Without Borders
(UCONN EWB)
• University of Connecticut Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering
• Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa
University (EIWR)
• Bahir Dar University (BDU)
Presentation Overview • Location
• Goal
• Existing Irrigation Structures
• Design Process
About Ethiopia (ኢትዮጵያ) • Population: 97 million
• Kiremt – July through to Sept.
• Fogera District, Woreta Zuria Kebele Administration
• Ethiopia in Crisis
• Recurring droughts, 2015 one of worst droughts in
decades
• 8.2 million in need of food assistance
• 80% of population work in agriculture
Left: http://www.africaguide.com/image/maps/africa_map.png
Right:http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Ethiopia+Map+Africa&view=detailv2&&id=EFE0AAE862C8A6A69C7FF355E08A9241FD277009&selectedIndex=209&ccid=hXzfVWsw&simid=607994858116679008&thid=JN.qYGgNEA2lkoMv4Zixz7%2fHw&ajaxhist=0
Location Village located in Fogera District, Woreta Zuria Kebele Administration, Amhara region
Average Rainfall for Bahir Dar
h"p://us.worldweatheronline.com/bahir-dar-weather-averages/et.aspx
Local Community
Agriculture in the Community • 150 households, 3 fields at most per household • Wet season:
• June to August – rice • September – oats • wheat & beans
• Dry season: • mostly onion • millet, corn, oil seeds
Existing
Needed
Goal • Extend the period of agricultural productivity for
currently irrigated fields and extend the irrigation system into currently unirrigated fields
Objectives
• Rehabilitate existing storage and distribution systems
• Store more water
• Design second distribution system
Existing Storage
Traditional Irrigation
• Dam structure
• Supplies irrigation water for all but two months of the year
• Stored water also is used for: drinking, washing, cattle, sheep, donkeys
• Site assessments in January and May to determine seasonal conditions
Traditional Irrigation - May
Beginning of wet season
• Reliance on seasonal stream
• Stagnant water
Traditional Irrigation - January
Traditional Irrigation - January
Middle of dry season
• Leakage from both gates
• Evaporation losses
Existing Distribution
Photo
Photo
Conclusions on Existing Distribution
• Water losses
• Leaks in bridges
• Many repairs needed
• Many breaks between built structures and open land
Site Overview
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Design
Design Breakdown
1. Watershed model
2. Water storage
3. Distribution
4. Irrigation
5. Crop Selection
6. Logistics
Watershed Model
Watershed Model Focus on Abba Samuel River Watershed in Blue Nile River Basin
• Visual development in ArcGIS with LANDSAT add on
• CT 2004 Stormwater Quality Manual as reference combined with TR-55 calculation to estimate water quality volume based on storms
• Use the watershed model to determine how much water we can store for irrigation purposes
• Calculate the required water for irrigation and figure how many fields we can irrigate
Watershed Model Data required:
• Precipitation – EIWR
• Soil types - EIWR, field tests, BDU soils mechanics lab
• Evaporation - BDU
• Infiltration - field tests
• Topography - field tests, EIWR
Collection of Soils for Testing
Soils Testing - N, K, P, pH
Stream Measurements
GPS
Water Storage
Water Storage Options:
• Second dam structure upstream
• Ferrocement tanks
Secondary Dam Structure • Created by the placement
and compaction of various soils, sands, clays or rocks
• Semi-pervious natural waterproof covering for its surface with a dense impervious core
• The friction and interaction of the particles binds them together to create a stable mass
• Low construction cost
http://www.motherearthnews.com/
Potential Damming Site
Ferrocement Tanks • Water tanks made from reinforced
cement mortar
• Widely used in many parts of the world for domestic, stock and irrigation purposes
• Made from commonly available materials
• Simple skills needed
• Simple equipment, techniques are straightforward and do not require use of expensive and sophisticated machinery
http://www.ewbchallenge.org/nepal-water-health-newah/design-area-2-wash
http://www.aprovecho.net/2009/09/constructing-a-ferrocement-tank/
Ferrocement Tank Placement
Distribution
Existing
Needed
Irrigation
Irrigation Techniques
Drip Irrigation
http://techie2aggie.blogspot.com/2014/07/drip-irrigation-be-ready-for-maintenance.html
Furrow
Crop Selection
Crop Assessment • Sustenance crops vs. cash crops vs. maintenance
• space constraints, soil types, utilization & culture, water needs, climate
• 1838 meters, north, highlands
• pulses, niger seed, flaxseed, teff, wheat, barley
• Community would like to grow: mango, avocado, potato, carrot, corn and tomatoes in the dry season or continue growing current wet season crops
• Cowpeas, legumes, beets, sweet potatoes, yams
Logistics
Meeting with Government Leaders
Sustainability
Factors that contribute to sustainability of the system: • Sense of ownership • Economical and maintainable system • 5% cash contribution • Operations and maintenance manual • Water Users Authority • Government owned land • Ensure that benefits are felt by all in the community
How well with the design fit into the culture of the community?
Special Thanks
Acknowledgments Partners
• Mamo Kassegn, EIWR
• Shimelis Abebe, EIWR
• Dr. Geremew Sahilu, EIWR
• Dr. Seifu Tilahun, BDU
• Dr. Habtamu Tsegaye, BDU
• Dr. Maria Chrysochoou, UCONN
• Dr. Timothy Vadas, UCONN
UCONN Engineers Without Borders Members
Local Community Government
Professional Mentors
• Dr. Jonathan Mellor, UCONN
• Yigrem Dingo, UCONN
• Joe Thompson
UCONN Senior Design Team
• Alexander Curry
• Lori Fomenko
• Yamil Roman
Winter Semester EWB Travel Team
• Kristin Burnham
• Ryan Cordier
Questions? (photos of Addis Ababa)