Hope Canal

The East Demerara Water Conservancy-Northern Relief Channel, better known locally as the Hope Canal, is one of Guyana's largest drainage projects.

During periods of extended rainfalls, the water level in the EDWC tends to rise above the maximum safe storage level. This excess volume of water in the conservancy causes an increase in lateral pressure acting on the earthen embankment. This will eventually create failure; which will result in catastrophic floods, causing damages to both Agricultural and Residential areas.

In the year 2005, there was a breach in the embankment which resulted in floods to almost the entire East Coast of Demerara. This was caused by the excess water in the EDWC. The EDWC NRC (Hope Canal) project was designed in response to the 2005 floods. This canal serves as a medium to release excess water from the EDWC directly to the Atlantic Ocean, during periods of extended rainfall in order to prevent overtopping of conservancy embankment.

Construction of the Northern Relief Channel and Associated Drainage Structures Started on May 4, 2011 and concluded on November 9, 2013.

EDWC-NRC Associated Structures

There are four major components of the Hope Canal Project:

1. The Head Regulator

The head regulator is an intake structure located at the Southern end of the canal. It consist of a sluice with three green heart timber doors. This sluice allows excess water to flow from the EDWC into the Hope Canal. It is manually operated, and water levels in the canal can be monitored by lowering or rising sluice doors.

This structure is 17m across, with the three doors measuring 5.5m each. There is also be a bridge spanning the channel at the structure; this bridge is 5m wide and 18m long. The wing walls of the structure are reinforced with geotextile fabric and the channel bed is protected both at the inlet and outlet sides of the structure by gabion mattresses, extending several metres outwards.

Water Levels in the canal can be determined by graduated gauges (Unit being Ft GD) placed at specific locations in both the Hope Canal and the EDWC.

Construction of the Conservancy Head Regulator for the Northern Relief Channel started on August 8, 2011 and concluded on December 15, 2013. The construction of this structure was undertaken by recognized contracting firm BK International. The cost of the project was G$420,796,867.

2. The High Level Sluice

This structure is located at the Northern end of the Hope Canal, leading to the Atlantic Ocean. Excess water that entered the Hope Canal through the Head Regulator is conveyed to this structure which discharges directly into the Ocean. It consist of a drainage sluice with eight (8) doors. The overall width of the structure is 89.5m with the eight doors at each 4.875m in width. At the base of the gates there is a high level weir at 16.0mGD level in contrast to the 14.0mGD invert channel depth. This feature, along with the enormous size, discharge capacity, advanced motorized winches and control systems are what makes this structure different from the common sluices. The High Level Sluice is the largest sluice in Guyana.

The construction of this structure was undertaken by Courtney Benn Contracting Services Ltd (CBCSL)

Construction started on August 8, 2011 and was concluded on December 15, 2013 Total Cost of this Project was G$605,430,630.

3. The Public Road Bridge

At the point where the channel passes through the East Coast Public Road, a reinforced concrete bridge was constructed to close the gap. In an effort to maintain the integrity of the dam throughout the entire length of the channel, the bridge was constructed in such a manner as to go up and over the embankments. The bridge consist of two 47m sloped approach on both sides, along with the length of the deck being 74.4m. The bridge is designed to accommodate two lanes of traffic as well as protected sidewalks on both sides for pedestrians.

The construction of the Public Road Bridge was undertaken by DIPCON Engineering.

Construction Started on August 8, 2011 and ended on December 15, 2013.

Project Cost: G$349,654,353

4. The Canal

The channel has a length of 10.3 km and entirely straight with a bed width of 30m and a top width of 40m; the embankments are at least 8m higher than the surrounding land areas and the width across the top of the embankments is 5m.

During the construction, there were 18 hydraulic excavators and 1 bulldozer working full-time and it is estimated that approximately 660,520 cubic metres of soil had been excavated.

This excavated soil was then used for the construction of the channel embankments. Excavation had to be done through areas where the soil composition varied in the different strata from stiff clay to organic matter. However, organic matter is not suitable for earthen construction and as a result of this, added precautions had been taken into consideration in the design phase to ensure that the integrity of the embankments are maintained even under the harshest of conditions.

As such a geotextile fabric was used within the embankment for added strength.

The Hope Channel has a carrying capacity of 58 cubic metres per second and serves to drain the EDWC of excess water. The Conservancy is connect to the Channel through the three door Head Regulator and the water drains at the Northern end of the Channel through the eight door High Level Outfall Sluice.

Construction of the Canal itself was executed by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority. NDIA-MOA

Start Date: May 4, 2011 End Date: November 9, 2013 Project Cost: $252,434,000[1][2]

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References
  1. Pooran Ballchan- Engineering Student, University of Guyana
  2. NDIA Brochure "EDWC Northern Reilef Channel & Associated Works"

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