Shatt Al-Arab Irrigation Project
Planning and design for expanded development of a large irrigation delivery system
- Location: Basra, Iraq
- Date: 2011 – 2015
- Client: Iraq Ministry of Water Resources
- Project Type: Water resources masterplanning
Engineering water infrastructure to irrigate 100,000 hectares and give downstream farmers a chance
The Shatt Al-Arab River in southern Iraq is the lifeblood for over 4 million farmers and the local economy. Recently, much of the irrigation infrastructure in the Shatt Al-Arab area was inadequate and unable to regulate flow in the canals. With farmers at the end of the tail of the network facing prolonged water shortages, there were potentially disastrous ramifications for the food and agriculture sector in the country. The Government of Iraq turned to Hydro Nova to design an upgraded irrigation system that keeps water flowing and ensure farmers stay productive during the driest periods.
The improvements included an extensive network of delivery and drainage canals, thousands of kilometers of pipelines, open channels, pumping stations, transportation and bridges, and tidal gates and barrages across the Shatt Al-Arab. When completed, the retrofitted system will irrigate over 100,000 ha (1,000 km2) of agricultural land.
Services Provided
Feasibility study
An intensive series of surveys and investigations was carried out to gather data for use in design. This included topographic and bathymetric surveys of canals, condition surveys of existing structures, ground investigations and sediment sampling and testing over an area of 1,600 km2.
Hydrodynamic study
We studied the complex hydrology of the basin and used mathematical modeling to simulate water flow in the Shatt Al Arab network.
Irrigation network planning
Our planning team designed a dual network of delivery and drainage facilities to service farming communities situated along the lower Tigris and Euphrates rivers and down the Shatt Al-Arab.
Irrigation infrastructure engineering
Our engineering team completed the geotechnical investigation, final designs and tender documents for all the irrigation components, including river flow regulators, pumping stations, pipelines, channels, major drains, roads, bridges, major tidal gates and barrages down to the hydrant.
