Water Loss in Concrete-Lined versus Earthen Irrigation Canals in Andijan, Uzbekistan: A Field-Based Seepage Assessment and Estimate of Potential Water Savings from Canal Lining
Xakimov Umidjon
11/08/2026
This study quantified seepage losses in twelve irrigation canal segments in the Andijan region of Uzbekistan, six concrete-lined and six earthen using the inflow–outflow method. Field measurements indicated a mean seepage rate of 0.92 ± 0.33 m³ s⁻¹ per 100 m of canal (mean ± standard error) for concrete-lined segments, compared with 12.51 ± 2.99 m³ s⁻¹ per 100 m for earthen segments a statistically significant and approximately 13.6-fold difference (Welch's t(5) = 3.85, p = 0.011; Mann–Whitney U = 36, p = 0.002). These results indicate that lining earthen canals with concrete could reduce seepage losses by approximately 93% in this region. Both cross-sectional area and the magnitude of velocity change along a canal reach were positively associated with seepage. Field-measured rates diverged substantially from estimates produced by the Davis–Wilson empirical formula, suggesting that this widely used formula requires region-specific recalibration before it can be applied reliably to Central Asian canal systems. These findings support prioritizing concrete lining as a practical, evidence-based intervention for reducing conveyance losses and improving irrigation efficiency in this water-stressed agricultural region.