Project Summary

Drinking Water-Irrigation

CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE LAND RECLAMATION PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE THIRD SUPPORT COMMUNITY FRAME WORK OF THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT. COMPLEMENTARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDIES FOR THE PROJECT: IRRIGATION NETWORK ON THE PLAIN OF FORMER KANDILA MARSH, AITOLOAKARNANIA PREFECTURE

Client: Ministry of Rural Development- Department of Land Reclamation
Year: 2003

ISSUE                                                                                    View of Candila region

The purpose of the study was the renewal and modification of the Environmental Terms of the project for the construction of the irrigation networks at the plain area of the former swamp of Candila and more specifically, the approval of the environmental terms for the drilling of three additional water wells which supplied water to the irrigation network in Candila.

SOLUTION

In the study area numerous wells have been drilled for irrigation purposes, resulting in the over-exploitation and quality deterioration of the groundwater aquifers.

The implementation of the irrigation network included the construction of two water equalization tanks (the first tank serves an area of 12.420 hectares and has an effective capacity of 23.900m3; the second tank serves an area of 8.030 hectares and has an effective capacity of 14.000m3). These tanks collect water from eleven (11) main wells –via forced main pipes- and three (3) additional wells in case of operational shutdown of the main wells or need for complementary water intake.

From the tanks the water is distributed in the project area through an underground force pipe network made of PVC. This network was routed in parallel to the existing canal network, downstream of the rural roadways. The irrigation network has the following characteristics:

• Highest water pressure at the intake is 3,5-4 atm
• Water intake orifice flow of 9lt/sec serving a pair of rotating irrigation systems
• Distance of tertiary irrigation network equivalent to the distance of the drainage canal network (approximately 200m)
• Irrigation system surface area of 38 hectares
• Continuous operation of the intake orifices for the rotational irrigation systems
• Irrigation with artificial rain or drop-irrigation systems depending on the type of the crops

In the current study, the exact locations for the construction of the works were identified and the existing condition of the natural and human environment was examined. Additionally, the feasibility of the works was demonstrated and a technical description of the works was performed.

Finally, the environmental impact from the construction and operation of the works was described and the mitigating actions during the construction and operation phases were provided.

BENEFIT

The study was submitted to the responsible public authority for renewal and modification of the environmental terms. The construction of the work contributed in resolving the problem of irrigation of the plain area of the former swamp in Candila region