Canals are essential to water distribution throughout the Delta Lake Irrigation District, located in Edcouch, Texas. In order to expand the distribution and increase efficiency throughout the region, they are constantly evaluating current store/conveyance processes and ways in which those may be enhanced. A project was proposed under the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) to aid in the priority of water conservation. The main landmark to this enhancement was, of course, Delta Lake. With a capacity of 25,000 acre-feet of water and a surface area of 2,371 acres, the lake provided essential water storage diverted from the Rio Grande River. The diverted water is distributed to land from various canals during irrigation season or to a pumping plant and lift stations to hold surplus water for storage. When needed for irrigation, water is released from the lake and allowed to flow back to the main canal for distribution.
Part of the BECC project included the construction of a pilot 3-mile drainage collection system to collect water that seeps from the main canal. This new canal seepage recovery system was expected to reduce energy cost per acre-foot by 75%. Working with the project engineer, SWG Engineering, Inc., Delta Lake Irrigation District reached out to Contech Engineered Solutions for possible irrigation system solutions.
Ultimately, they determined that an A-2000™ PVC irrigation canal, manufactured by Contech Engineered Solutions, would be the most optimal solution. Its proven in-ground performance paired with cost-efficiencies made it an ideal solution. Ultimately, the entire system totaled 14,900 LF with diameters ranging from 18-inches to 36-inches. Nearly 34 truckloads were delivered to the site for installation. A-2000 proved itself yet again with its ability to handle a variety of height-of-cover requirements that were inherent with a project of this magnitude, and 22-foot lengths that provided additional ease of installation options with fewer joints.