Dams

Irrigation and drainage

Halcrow’s experience in irrigation and drainage covers a period of more than 50 years and includes projects in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America.

Halcrow has the worldwide experience and capability to study, plan, design, implement and advise on the operation of all types of irrigation and drainage development projects including: Gravity flow distribution systems, Pumped and pressurised irrigation systems, Spate and water harvesting systems, Groundwater development schemes, and Pumped and gravity drainage schemes. Halcrow has worked on irrigation and drainage projects at all levels, from the source works to primary and secondary canals to on-farm water management level.

Many irrigation schemes throughout the world operate well below their potential capacity and efficiency. Whilst this is often the result of insufficient planning, poor design and insufficient management, many of these problems can be overcome at the planning stage through an integrated consideration of:

	network layout
	field layout
	appropriate irrigation channel design
	appropriate control structure
	participation of the users at the planning stage
	incorporation of an adequate management information system
	detailed consideration of the institutional framework and management structure required.

The planning of the irrigation system involves consideration of the interaction between the above parameters and the physical characteristics of the system selected. Halcrow has over 15 senior irrigation engineers with the experience necessary to make appropriate recommendations which will produce an efficient irrigation system.

Our experience covers all aspects of irrigation and drainage project development from feasibility study, system design, supervision of construction to advice on operation and maintenance. Agronomists, hydrologists, and land use planners supported by state-of-the-art modelling and satellite interpretation techniques, all contribute to the development of irrigation and drainage solutions. The skills are integrated with those of our engineers, environmental scientists, sociologists and financial analysts to assess the holistic potential of schemes.