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Spring Operation and Maintenance

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33 views2 pages

Spring Operation and Maintenance

Uploaded by

zewdu wossene
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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National Guidelines for Small Scale Irrigation Development MOA

7 SPRING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE


7.1 GENERAL

Spring catchments, as per Meuli & Wehrli, 2001, need very little operation and a lot less
maintenance than other catchment systems. A simple design combined with high-quality
construction for all structures in the catchment area will keep maintenance requirements to a
minimum. Nevertheless, all spring catchments need a periodic check-up. To ensure water quality
and to avoid operational problems at the catchment, a monthly control is vital. Minor jobs like basic
repairs or monitoring activities can be planned and carried out by the caretaker. In case of major
repairs (e.g. wet spots around the catchment, leaks at the spring chamber, etc.), the responsible
service should be consulted. The following sections show aspects that have to be checked during
regular visits to spring catchment area.

7.2 CHECK-UP AT THE PROTECTION ZONE

 The fence of the protection area,


 The diversion drainage above the catchment,
 Wet spots indicating a leakage from the catchment,
 Trespass such as prohibited farming in the intake area.

7.3 CHECK-UP AT THE SPRING CHAMBER

 Leakage at the chamber,


 The manhole cover,
 Blockage at the supply line - water comes through the reserve (overflow) pipe,
 The ventilation,
 The water quality and quantity (tested without equipment),
 Sedimentation in the chamber,
 If possible measure the yield of the spring and compare it with data of previous years.

7.4 MAINTENANCE OF SPRING BOXES & ITS APPURTENANCES

If properly installed, spring boxes require very little maintenance, however, it is recommended that
the water quality be checked before being put into use, as well as on a yearly basis or as needed.
It is also a good idea to check that the uphill diversion ditch is adequately diverting surface runoff
away from the spring box and is not eroding. One maintenance item that is frequently overlooked
is to ensure that the animal fence is in good repair.

Although some grazing area may be lost, the loss in grazing area is preferable to a contaminated
water source or compacted soil that could lead to decreased flow rates. For hillside collection
boxes, it is important to check that the uphill wall is not eroding and is maintaining structural
integrity.

The cover should be checked frequently to ensure that it is in place and appears to be watertight.
Make sure that water isn't seeping out from the sides or from underneath the spring box, and
check that the screening is in place on the overflow pipe.

Check also that:


SSIGL 14: Spring Development Study and Design 35
National Guidelines for Small Scale Irrigation Development MOA

 The gate valves are properly operating and require greasing,


 Check for stagnant water around water point and clear/open drain to soak away,
 Clear bush and keep compound around water point clean and free of rubbish and
animal or human waste,
 If the pipe is working properly and repair leaking or damaged parts,
 The fence requires to be kept in good condition and the entrance gate should be safely
secured,
 The capacity of a collection chamber is enough to hold the required volume of water at
every beginning of irrigation season.

7.5 FREQUENCIES & REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTENANCE

Once a year, disinfect the system and remove sediment from the spring box. To do so, open the
valve on the outlet pipe, allowing the spring box to drain. Remove any accumulated sediment from
the box and wash the interior walls with a chlorine solution (If it is in use for water supply).

As springs are supposed to serve for multipurpose, the spring box need to be treated with chlorine
as required. As per Michigan Technological University, the solution for this washing should be
mixed in a ratio of 10 lit water with 0.2 lit chlorine bleach. After washing the interior of the spring
box, chlorine should be added directly to the water in the spring box in a ratio of 100 parts chlorine
per million parts water, and allowed to sit for 24 hours. If it isn't possible to allow the chlorine to sit
for 24 hours, two consecutive applications twelve hours apart should provide for adequate
disinfection. If possible, water samples should be analyzed periodically for contamination.

It should be noted that chlorine and chlorine compounds might irritate eyes and skin; proper
protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing should be worn if
available when dealing with chlorine.

36 SSIGL 14: Spring Development Study and Design

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