Classifying Iranian Irrigation Networks Based on Regulating Structures Problems and Proposing a Common Solution to Enhance Their Performance

Water shortage and limited water resources, reveals the importance of optimum utilization of irrigation water networks more than ever. In most of the previous studies performance improvement options are given based on individual networks condition, without considerations of providing common solutions for other networks. In this study similar Iranian irrigation networks are classified in different clusters based on the problems of control structures in the main canals, and common improvement options are given. The classical K-Mean clustering method is used for classification. For this purpose the criterion are analysed using AHP technique. The criterion with more than 7 percent rankings are selected for clustering. The most important criterion are network’s covered area, age and capacity of the networks, and No. of structures. 32 of Iranian irrigation networks are clustered in 7 clusters. 38 questionaires collected by Iranian National Committee of Irrigation and Drainage were analysed. The common problems of the networks were determined for each cluster. The most common problems are determined to be operational deficiencies, repairmen requirements, and farmers intervention and manipulation in operation. The common improvement options to resolve the identified problems for each cluster are given.