Amibara Drainage Project Operation and Maintenance Manual
Date: January 1996
Prepared by: Sir M. MacDonald & Partners Limited, Cambridge, England
1. Project Overview
The Amibara Drainage Project Phase I includes:
- Sub-surface drainage system (1010 km total length)
- Surface drainage system (50.24 km total length)
- Maintenance of existing and new infrastructure
Key Components
System | Components | Total Length |
---|---|---|
Sub-surface | PVC pipe drains (65mm-335mm), manholes, outfall structures | 1010 km |
Surface | Deep open drains, tertiary drains, cross drainage structures | 50.24 km |
2. Sub-Surface Drainage System
2.1 Design Criteria
- Drain spacing calculated using Hooghaudt Formula
- Minimum slopes: 0.001 for laterals, 0.0005 for collectors
- Drain depths: 1.6-2.1m (laterals), 2.5-3.0m (collectors)
- Manhole spacing: ~350m on collector drains
2.2 Maintenance Requirements
Component | Maintenance Activities | Frequency |
---|---|---|
Pipe Drains | Flushing, inspection for blockages | Every 5 years (more frequent initially) |
Manholes | Inspection, removal of deposited material | Annual inspection |
Outfall Structures | Inspection for damage, rodent nests | Annual inspection |
3. Surface Drainage System
3.1 Maintenance Requirements
- Annual silt removal (estimated 75,360 m³/year)
- Weed control in shallow drains
- Inspection of cross drainage structures
3.2 Equipment Requirements
- Long-reach excavators (14m+ outreach)
- Bulldozers for spoil spreading
- Tipper trucks for spoil removal
4. Maintenance Equipment
Provided Equipment
Equipment | Quantity | Purpose |
---|---|---|
L-90 Super Drain Cleaners | 2 | Pipe flushing (80 bar pressure) |
WT-6000 Water Tank Trailers | 2 | Water supply for flushing |
Excavators | 3 | Surface drain maintenance |
Magnetic Locators | 4 | Locating buried structures |
5. Maintenance Organization
5.1 Staffing Requirements
- 2 drain flushing crews (each: machine, tanker, tractor, 3 personnel)
- 1 repair crew (backhoe, 3 personnel)
- Additional engineer for supervision
5.2 Maintenance Priorities
- Areas where leaching has been completed
- Previously abandoned land back in production
- Banana growing areas with history of high water tables
- Cotton growing areas in production
- Areas currently under bush but potentially cultivable
6. Appendices Summary
- Appendix 1: Methods for checking pipe system functionality using piezometers
- Appendix 2: Information on iron ochre clogging in drains
- Appendix 3: Sample Form M11 for reporting sub-surface drainage issues
- Appendix 4: As-constructed drawings of drainage systems
- Appendix 5: Operation manuals for L-90 Super and WT-6000 equipment
Key Recommendations
- Implement comprehensive inspection program starting 1996 irrigation season
- Focus initial maintenance on priority areas with active irrigation
- Control bush growth along drain lines to prevent root intrusion
- Maintain spare parts inventory for quick repairs
- Monitor system performance and adjust maintenance schedule as needed