By Gary Vert, PE, CFM

Completing canal-to-pipeline conversion projects can be challenging for irrigation districts throughout the western United States. Many districts seek ways to conserve water, improve efficiency, and modernize their water delivery system. While irrigation districts may be able to address these needs by lining their canals, it may be more beneficial to convert your canal into a pipeline instead. From our experience, there are seven major advantages to this solution.

The truth is that many irrigation systems are old, with deteriorating infrastructure that needs to be repaired or more often, replaced. Because of this, the focus tends to be on structures, with less attention given to the conveyance systems such as canals or laterals.