Water Control Structures

Water control structures are being used for Natural Resource

DEFINITION
Management (NRM) purposes in irrigation, drainage and
natural waterway systems to manipulate the flow of water
within the system with a view to improving the surrounding
environment.

These structures are used to manage the hydrological regime PURPOSE

by modifying the direction or rate of flow of water, and / or
to maintain a desired water surface elevation.
Water control structures can be designed to provide solutions to
suit a range of natural resource management issues, including:

Minimizing blackwater discharge

Improving water quality

Addressing low dissolved oxygen
content and eutrophication

Improving fish habitat and fish passage

Increased agricultural and grazing
productivity of back swamps

Wetland enhancement

Reducing fire risk

Maximizing frost control

Wetland hydrology restoration

Modifying the condition of
bottom sediments

Enhancing weed control

No two structures or designs will be exactly the
same.
Should two structures appear similar, they may in
fact be acting under significantly different
conditions.
GATED Control Structures
Used to control water levels in rivers, sluices or canals, for
water flow management, flood control and navigation.

Gates can be undershot (for example, a sluice gate) or overshot

(that is, acting like a weir). An undershot gate can be:

fully closed (allowing no flow)

partly open (see radial gate
illustration)
fully open (lifted clear of the water
surface)
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Radial/Tainter Gates
A type of radial arm floodgate used in dams and canal locks to control water flow.
Radial gates are rotary gates consisting of cylindrical sections. They may rotate vertically
or horizontally.
Tainter gates are a vertical design that rotates up to allow water to pass underneath.
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Vertically Hinged (Mitre) Gates

are the traditional installation for river and canal locks. Traditionally they are made of wood and hand
operated, but on larger and more frequently used locks, these have developed into steel construction and
powered operation. They are fitted with sluices within the gate or in the abutments for lock filling and
emptying and are operated by either water pressure (passive) as a non-return gate, or powered.
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Vertical Lift (Sluice) Gate

A sluice gate is traditionally a wood or metal barriers sliding in grooves that are set in the sides
of the waterway. Sluice gates commonly control water levels and flow rates in rivers and canals.
They are also used in wastewater treatment plants and to recover minerals in mining operations,
and in watermills.
WEIRS
are overflow structures that stretch across an open channel of water,
and are meant to alter the channel’s flow characteristics making it
easier to measure the volumetric rate of water flow. Weirs act like
miniature dams, blocking the flow of water, and causing it to pool
behind them until it is deep enough to flow over the top of the weir.
Main types of Weirs
1. Sharp-crested 2. Broad-crested
Triangular Rectangular

Rectangular
Trapezoidal
SHARP-CRESTED WEIRS BROAD-CRESTED WEIRS
Critical depth (𝑦𝑐 ) occurs off the crest of Critical depth (𝑦𝑐 ) occurs at the crest of
the weir the weir
Usually used to: Usually used to:
measure the discharge of smaller rivers measure the discharge of larger rivers
and canals
change water elevation of smaller rivers and canals
change water elevation of larger
and canals rivers and canals

SHARP-CRESTED vs. BROAD-CRESTED WEIRS

SHARP-CRESTED WEIRS
There are three main types of sharp-crested weirs:

Triangular – measure discharge

Rectangular – measure discharge and change
water elevations
Trapezoidal – measure discharge and change water
elevations with large head
Regardless of the type, sharp-crested weirs are usually used for
smaller rivers and canals.
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Triangular (V-Notch) Weir

Typically used in cases with small discharge. Because of the lower flow rate, these weirs are very
good for measuring the discharge in an open channel. This type of weir generally has the
highest accuracy in measuring flow rates.
 CONTRACTED RECTANGULAR WEIR SUPPRESSED RECTANGULAR WEIR

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Rectangular Weir
Typically used to control the elevation of water up and downstream of the weir and they usually
have higher discharge values associated with them.
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Trapezoidal (Cipolletti) Weir

This type of weir is used in cases where the discharge is too large for a rectangular notch weir to
handle.
BROAD-CRESTED WEIRS
Typically sturdier than sharp-crested weirs

Used in medium to large size rivers and canals (sturdier)

Used as a flow measurement and water level regulator

Necessary for flow to be in subcritical range – ensures smooth
water surface
 BROAD-CRESTED WEIR (concept)

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Common Faults:
- Accumulation of trash on the weir crest
- Foundation Failure
- Excessive Scour
- Undermining
PROS CONS
Cost effective installation Disrupt ecological life
Channel upstream is prone to sediment
Small head loss
deposition
Durable Head loss is across the weir
Capable of passing floating Low sediment flow
debris downstream
Best for measuring discharge in small Higher water levels upstream
to medium channels

BROAD-CRESTED WEIRS Pros and Cons

DROP Structures
Drop Structures are artificially constructed structures used in
creeks or dam spillway to control the velocity and energy of DESCRIPTI
ON
water as it flows from high to lower elevation. These
structures are also used to control erosion in streams or
creeks.

To reduce water velocity to non-erosive rates by reducing

PURPOSE
and stabilizing the grade of the drain, watercourse or gully
floor. When water flows, the reduced water velocity allows
sediment to be dropped between the structures
subsequently raising and stabilizing the floor levels.
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Vertical Hard Basin

Also called a dissipation wall, is the basic type of drop structure. The purpose of the vertical hard basin drop is to
force the water into a hydraulic jump (a small standing wave). Though the simplest type of drop structure, it is
highest in maintenance needs and less safe, with most problems related to the impact basin. Sediment is often
deposited in the basin, requiring frequent removal, and erosion downstream of the base of the structure.
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Grouted Sloping Boulder

The most versatile of drop structures. Able to accommodate both a broad floodplain or a narrow channel, they
can also handle many different drop heights. Heights of these structures usually range from 1 foot (0.30 m) to 10
feet (3.0 m). These structures are built by creating a slope of riprap, which consists of large boulders or less
commonly, blocks of concrete. These are then cemented together ("grouted") to form the drop structure.
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Baffle Chute
is built entirely of concrete and is effective with low maintenance needs. They typically consist of a concrete
chute lined with "baffle" teeth to slow velocity of water as it passes over the structure. Despite these
appeals, however, they have very "limited structural and aesthetic flexibility, which can cause them to be
undesirable in most urban settings.
BRIDGES
Carry transport routes over rivers and canals and come in a
very wide range of structural forms.

Most bridges that cross rivers are formed of the following three
main components that interact with a watercourse:

Piers
Abutment
Deck
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Piers
Can be formed from many different sections, generally streamlined to some extent to reduce local and
contraction scour. Simple cylindrical and rectangular sections tend to shed vortices, which travel for large
distances causing scour, and should be avoided. Scour protection may be needed.
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Abutment
Form the hard ends of the bridge. They contain flows and should be wide enough apart to function under
design conditions. Additional side spans can be used for extra capacity in flood flows. Scour protection
may be needed.
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Deck
Usually designed to be well above even extreme flood levels. If close to the water level, route
and depth markers can be used to guide vehicles across the bridge safely (where the bridge is
so designed) in the event of the deck being submerged by shallow flood flows.
CULVERTS
Structures, usually of tunnel type, that carries a stream or open
drain under a road, railroad or any other obstruction from one
side to the other side.
Provide closed passages for flow through transportation
embankments and for rivers passing under urban areas. Most
commonly made from precast reinforced concrete, but plastic and
steel are occasionally used. Historically, brick-lined culverts were
common and many are still in active service.
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Round
Precast circular pipes function satisfactorily in consistent flows; simple geometry and standard
fittings.
Some capability of self-removal of sediment build-up.
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Box
Standard precast units can provide a simple solution. Can use multiple culverts in parallel with
different invert levels to suit a range of flows. Liable to suffer sedimentation in low flows.
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Elliptical
Limits build-up of sediment and debris. A non-standard design and requires fabrication by
specialist.
FLUMES
A human-made channel for water in the form of an open declined
gravity chute whose walls are raised above the surrounding terrain,
in contrast to a trench or ditch. Flumes are not to be confused with
aqueducts, which are built to transport water, rather than
transporting materials using flowing water as a flume does.
Three Standard Types:
Rectangular Throated
U-throated
Trapezoidal
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Rectangular and Trapezoidal Flumes

Rectangular and trapezoidal flumes function by having a constriction at the throat and/or a raised invert
(bottom) at the throat. Either feature can cause critical flow at the throat in a properly operating flume.
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U-throated Flumes
U-Throated flumes are round bottom flumes but with a semi-circular throat, are ideal for use in
culverts or pipes. Critical flow is achieved by narrowing the throat or by raising the bottom of
the flume at the throat.
OUTFALLS
The discharge point of a waste stream into a body of water;
alternatively it may be the outlet of a river, drain or a sewer where
it discharges into the sea, a lake or ocean.
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Common
Most outfalls require scour protection, but hard protection (below) often creates more scour
problems than it solves. Scour is often worse at the edges of hard structure.
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Access Restriction
Larger outfalls require access restrictions – these must be at both ends to ensure people are
entirely excluded.
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Flap Gate
Fitted to stop flow reversal during flood flows – a common cause of flooding – these should be
accessible in design flows and not obscured from view by an overhang.
SCREENS
Screens are used for two reasons:

A trash screen is designed to prevent debris entering a

culvert or inverted siphon where it could cause a blockage.
A security screen is designed to prevent unauthorized access
to a culvert or inverted siphon, generally for health and safety
reasons.
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Single-stage
- Suitable for smaller streams and rivers
- Maximum length of raking bars is 2m
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Multi-stage
- For areas where water level variation requires raking bars longer than 2m
- Access platforms on each stage to allow safe cleaning by operatives
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Self-raking
- Trash loaded into hopper/skip for disposal
- Periodic or head-difference operated
- For systems in continuous operation
Pumping Stations and Intakes
Pumping stations are used for a variety of purposes, but their main
function in the fluvial environment is land drainage (raising water
from low level drains into rivers and streams). Pumping stations are
also be used to abstract water from a river for domestic or
industrial use. Sometimes pumps may be used to empty flood
storage
Pumpingreservoirs.
station intakes are always below water level.
Major Components in a Pumping
Station:
Major Components in a Pumping
Station:
Power supply – often requires grid connection; backup diesel
generator for critical locations
Pump - various types, often multiple pumps for redundancy and for
continued operation during maintenance or breakdown
Scour protection and stilling basin – designed to protect against
scour, dissipate excess turbulent energy and ensure subcritical
flow
Pumpofhouse
discharged water
– should be sensitive to architectural character of
area
LOCKS
Locks allow the passage of boats between water bodies or
channels with different water levels.

Can be used in series to traverse large inclines, or in parallel to

reduce waiting times for vessels.

Often used in conjunction with another means of water level

control such as a weir, a flume or a gated control structure.
LOCKS
 Principle of Operation of a Pound
Lock

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Pound Lock
A type of lock that is used almost exclusively nowadays on canals and rivers. A pound lock has a chamber
with gates at both ends that control the level of water in the pound.
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Single Lock with Side Weir

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Double Locks in Parallel

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Stepped Locks in Series

FISH PASSES
Employed to encourage movement of fish across obstacles such as
locks, weirs and pumping stations that interfere with migratory fish
routes. Success depends on selecting an appropriate type of pass,
good positioning and the provision of an adequate ‘attraction
flow’.
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Bypass Channel
- Simulates natural channel
- Not usually appropriate for large drops
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Pool and Traverse

Suitable mainly for salmonid fish unless underwater orifices between pools are included.
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Larinier
- Suitable for a wide variety of fish species, including non-jumping types
- Can be made as wide as required using replicated units