Hydraulic flushes to manage algal communities in canals

Abstract

Hydraulic control can be used to control algal communities, which are likely to cause physical disturbances in canals, or even to deteriorate the water quality. Here we present original management strategies implemented on two real irrigation canal networks. These strategies consist of regular flushes in order to cut-off fixed algae. During a flush, canal control methods are used in real-time to control the turbidity generated by the entrainment of the fixed matter.