A study on Improvement of Automatic Water Management System in Uiryeong Watershed Area

의령수역의 자동화 물관리 시스템 운영개선연구

Uiryung Watershed area, located at the confluence of Nam River and Nagdong River has 9000 ha of agricultural land area and 3024 ha of paddy rice field have been reclaimed and managed by Korean Agricultural and Rural Infrastructure Corporation(KARICO) in the riparian area since 1954. In spite of irrigation and drainage improvement projects in last 3 decades since 1970, there are severe drought and innundation problems in the area. To improve the difficulties and efficient usage of irrigation water not only for agriculture but also for environmental conservation and cultural ceremony, Automatic Water management system has been installed supported by Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery in Korean Government. The control office in Uiryung Branch Office of KARICO, receive all the water management records from Remote Terminal Units in 7 reservoirs and 26 Pump stations to operate the decision supporting system of irrigation and drainage facility during cropping period. Since the completion of the water management system at the end of 2003, the electric cost decrease in 80 % than average years. In spite of decrease of two technical assistants since 2004, complains from farmers for the water management are very rare. The technological experience from the automatic water management system would contribute not only for the efficient water management of Uiryang area but also for the modernization of water management of other watershed areas in the future.