Irrigation Safety

Canal Safety

• Canals contain water that is quickly moving. Fast-moving water in a narrow channel can knock a person off their feet. Even water that is only a foot deep, if it is moving fast enough, would cause you to lose your balance and be carried away.
• For this reason, we do not allow any swimming, fishing, playing, or other recreational activities in or around our canals.
• Debris (trash and garbage) and other dangerous things can be found
• Dry canals are not safe because there is no way to know when water may be released and you may be trapped by a surge of water.
• Canals can have deep water. If you cannot swim or if you are hurt, falling into deep water could prove fatal. In addition to swift currents, irrigation canals may have undertows and turbulence that could drag even a strong swimmer under water.
• Canals have steep slopes and slippery walls. The concrete or earthen sides of ditches and canals are sometimes steep and possibly slippery, making them difficult to climb out.
• Canals have grates, culverts, spillways and in-water energy dissipation devices. If a person were to fall into a water-filled ditch or canal, additional hazards include becoming caught up in or striking an object or structure. This may cause someone to become submerged and/or lose consciousness.
• There are pipelines and sidegates in the canals and laterals where water is being diverted. These structures can cause a suction effect trapping a person underwater.
• The water’s helical motion makes it difficult to swim to safety.

During hot weather, the water may look still and inviting but, there are strong currents underneath the surface which can trap even a strong swimmer very quickly. Please stay away from canals, they’re not safe places for anyone to play around or swim in – big or small, young or old.

Keep in mind, canals are private property and it’s considered trespassing should you enter without permission. We have regular canal patrols and camera systems monitoring our facilities in order to ensure the safety and security of our canal system and those near it.

Water & Electricity

Because electricity and water are often in close proximity to each other in agricultural applications, it’s important to keep a few safety rules in mind at all times.

When moving equipment or irrigation pipes, survey your surroundings and look up and all around you for power lines that could come in contact with the equipment or pipes you’re attempting to move. Any contact with electrical lines can cause serious injury or death.

Keep these tips in mind for safe operation of irrigation equipment.

• Make sure that irrigation system wiring is properly grounded. Before the start of each irrigation season, have a qualified electrician check the pump and wiring.
• If fuses continually blow or circuit breakers repeatedly trip, have a professional check the wiring. This could indicate a potential electrical hazard.
• If you’re using irrigation pipe, be sure to store any unused pipes far away from power lines or electrical equipment and position irrigation pipes at least 15 feet away from any power lines when in use. In case of lightning, stay away from the piping and install lightning arresters to protect your equipment.
• When moving irrigation pipe, keep them parallel to the ground rather than vertical to minimize the risk of contact with power lines. If an irrigation pipe comes in contact with a power line, never try to remove it yourself. Stay away from it and call TID for help.
• Always shut off and lock the master electrical control switch before servicing equipment.