Ahmed, H., Gaber, M., Mohamed, H., El Sadek, W. (2025). Quantifying Seepage and Evaporation Loss Reductions through Canal Lining: A Field Study from Nakada, Egypt. JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 53(5), 199-214. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.378449.1489
Hassan Ahmed; Muhammad Gaber; Hassan Mohamed; Wael El Sadek. "Quantifying Seepage and Evaporation Loss Reductions through Canal Lining: A Field Study from Nakada, Egypt". JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 53, 5, 2025, 199-214. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.378449.1489
Ahmed, H., Gaber, M., Mohamed, H., El Sadek, W. (2025). 'Quantifying Seepage and Evaporation Loss Reductions through Canal Lining: A Field Study from Nakada, Egypt', JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 53(5), pp. 199-214. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.378449.1489
Ahmed, H., Gaber, M., Mohamed, H., El Sadek, W. Quantifying Seepage and Evaporation Loss Reductions through Canal Lining: A Field Study from Nakada, Egypt. JES. Journal of Engineering Sciences, 2025; 53(5): 199-214. doi: 10.21608/jesaun.2025.378449.1489
Quantifying Seepage and Evaporation Loss Reductions through Canal Lining: A Field Study from Nakada, Egypt
1Civil Engineering Dept., Faculty of Engineering, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
2Central Administration of Water Resources and Irrigation, MWRI, Qena, Egypt
3Civil Engineering Dept., Faculty of Engineering, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of canal lining on agricultural water efficiency in Nakada, Egypt, by analyzing seepage and evaporation losses. The study area irrigation network covers a length of 110 kilometers and serves an area of 98,600 hectares of agricultural land. Findings reveal a significant 81% reduction in seepage losses due to lining, reduction from an average of 4,776 m³/day in unlined sections to 906 m3/day in lined sections in the case of canals, annual working days (210 days). Using empirical formulas and field ponding tests, the study calibrated seepage models to reflect local soil and canal conditions. Furthermore, evaporation losses also recorded measurable improvement, underscoring the effectiveness of canal rehabilitation in enhancing water management. The study provides a reproducible framework for quantifying water savings in arid regions and offers data-driven recommendations for water policy and canal rehabilitation programs. While emphasizing long-term sustainability, operational efficiency, and the integration of field-based hydraulic assessments.
Abd-Elaty, I., Said, A. M., Abdelaal, G. M., Zeleňáková, M., Jandora, J., & Abd-Elhamid, H. F. (2021). Assessing the impact of lining polluted streams on groundwater quality: A case study of the eastern Nile delta aquifer, Egypt. Water (Switzerland), 13(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/w13121705
El Gamal, T., & Zaki, N. (2017). Egyptian irrigation after the Aswan high dam. Irrigated Agriculture in Egypt: Past, Present and Future, 47-79. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30216-4_4
Baradei, S., & Sadeq, M. (2020). Effect of Solar Canals on Evaporation, Water Quality, and Power Production: An Optimization Study. Water, 12(8), 2103. https://doi.org/10.3390/W12082103
De Boer, J., Garrigues, P., Gu, J.-D., Jones, K. C., Knepper, T. P., Newton, A., & Sparks, D.L. (2019).TheHandbookofEnvironmentalChemistry. http://www.springer.com/series/698
Abd‐Elaty, I., Pugliese, L., Bali, K. M., Grismer, M. E., & Eltarabily, M. G. (2022). Modelling the impact of lining and covering irrigation canals on underlying groundwater stores in the Nile Delta, Egypt. Hydrological Processes, 36(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14466
Nikiel, C. A., & Eltahir, E. A. B. (2021). Past and future trends of Egypt’s water consumption and its sources. Nature Communications, 12(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41467-021-24747-9
Eltarabily, M. G., Eltarabily, M. G., Moghazy, H. E., & Negm, A. M. (2019). Assessment of slope instability of canal with standard incomat concrete-filled geotextile mattresses lining. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 58(4), 1385–1397. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEJ.2019.11.010
Elkamhawy, E., Zelenakova, M., Straface, S., Vranayová, Z., Negm, A. M., Scozzari, A., & Abd-Elaty, I. (2022). Seepage loss from unlined, lined, and cracked-lined canals: a case study of Ismailia canal reach from 28.00-49.00 Km, Egypt. In EGU General Assembly.
Swamee, P. K., & Kashyap, D. (2003). Closure to “Design of Minimum Seepage-Loss Nonpolygonal Canal Sections.” Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering-Asce, 129(1), 70.
Martínez-Granados, D., Maestre-Valero, J. F., Calatrava, J., & Martínez-Alvarez, V. (2011). The Economic Impact of Water Evaporation Losses from Water Reservoirs in the Segura Basin, SE Spain. Water Resources Management, 25(13), 3153–3175.
Ghazaw, Y. M. (2011). Design and analysis of a canal section for minimum water loss. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 50(4), 337–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEJ.2011.12.002
Abuzeid, T. S. (2021). Conveyance losses estimation for open channels in middle egypt case study: almanna main canal, and its branches. 49(1), 64–84. https://doi.org/10.21608/JESAUN.2021.57454.1027
Aly, A. M., Kitamura, Y., & Shimizu, K. (2013). Assessment of irrigation practices at the tertiary canal level in an improved system—a case study of Wasat area, the Nile Delta. Paddy and Water Environment, 11(1), 445–454. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10333-012-0335-1
Mupenzi, J. de la P., Li, L., Ge, J., Ngamije, J., Achal, V., Habiyaremye, G., & Habumugisha, J. de D. (2012). Water losses in arid and semi-arid zone: Evaporation, evapotranspiration and seepage. Journal of Mountain Science, 9(2), 256–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11629-012-2186-Z
Zhang, Q., Chai, J., Xu, Z., & Qin, Y. (2017). Investigation of Irrigation Canal Seepage Losses through Use of Four Different Methods in Hetao Irrigation District, China. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 22(3), 05016035. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001470
Tabari, M. M. R., Tavakoli, S., & Mari, M. M. (2014). Optimal Design of Concrete Canal Section for Minimizing Costs of Water Loss, Lining and Earthworks. Water Resources Management, 28(10), 3019–3034. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11269-014-0652-9
Reyes, M. L. F., Reyes, M. L. F., David, W. P., Schultz, B., & Prasad, K. (2015). Assessment of the process, nature and impact of rehabilitation for development of a moderniZation strategy for national irrigation systems in the Philippines. Irrigation and Drainage, 64(4), 464–478.
Chauhan, M. K., & Ram, S. (2022). Rehabilitation of canal irrigation schemes in India: a qualitative analysis. Water Policy, 25(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2022.237
Han, X., Wang, X., Zhu, Y., & Huang, J. (2021). A fully coupled three-dimensional numerical model for estimating canal seepage with cracks and holes in canal lining damage. Journal of Hydrology, 597, 126094. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JHYDROL.2021.126094
Gujarati, K. B., Khasiya, R. B., Patel, J. N., Batliwala, B. J., & Ghandhy, S. S. (2014). Economics of Canal Lining for Trapezoidal Section. International Journal for Scientific Research and Development, 2(2), 144–146. http://www.ijsrd.com/Article.php?manuscript=IJSRDV2I2072
Ashour, M., Sayed, T., & Atef, A. (2021). Water-Saving from Rehabilitation of Irrigation Canals Case Study: El-Sont Canal, Assiut Governorate. 2(3), 190–201.
El-Molla, D. A., & El-Molla, M. A. (2021). Reducing the conveyance losses in trapezoidal canals using compacted earth lining. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 12(3), 2453–2463.
Sadek, M., & Hagagg, K. (2020). Impact of reduced flow on 137Cs behavior in Ismailia Canal and surrounding groundwater systems. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(35), 44279–44291. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11356-020-10242-Z
Wang, G. Y., & Zhao, J. W. (2012). The Fuzzy Matter-Element Comprehensive Evaluation Model for Erosion Stability of Geocell Protection of Slope and its Application. Advanced Materials Research, 2945–2950. https://doi.org/10.4028/WWW.SCIENTIFIC.NET/AMR.594-597.2945
Costa, C. M. L., Zornberg, J. G., & Costa, Y. D. J. (2016). Reply from authors Costa, C. M. L., Zornberg, J. G., Y. D. J. Costa. “Centrifuge evaluation of the time-dependent behaviour of geotextile-reinforced soil walls.” Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 44(6),888–890.
] Ashour, M., Aly, T. E., Abu-Zaid, T. S., & Abdou, A. (2022). A comparative technical study for estimating seeped water from irrigation canals in the Middle Egypt (Case study: El-Sont branch canal network). Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 14(3), 101875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2022.101875
Khairy, W. M., El-Motasem, M., Mehanna, A., & Hefny, K. (2019). Estimation of evaporation losses from water bodies in the Sudan and Ethiopia. 3(3), 233–246.
View on SCiNiTO
Top