LINEAR ANIONIC PAM AS A CANAL WATER SEEPAGE REDUCING TECHNOLOGY

摘要

Reclamation has been collaborating with the Desert Research Institute and Colorado StaternUniversity to better understand the use of linear anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) to reduce canalrnseepage. The project has been divided into four main areas – laboratory experiments, quasi-fieldrnscale experiments, full-scale canal applications, and environment/human risk characterization.rnAn independent peer review panel of experts has convened several times to provide guidance onrnthe research that is being done for the field and laboratory studies as well as the riskrncharacterization report. A final Risk Characterization Report will be completed in 2007 and willrnprovide water managers with guidance on the use of dry PAM formulations and to what extentrnPAM is an environmentally acceptable technology. Most of the field experiments will berncompleted by the end of Water year 2007. If it is determined that PAM applications to canals isrnenvironmentally acceptable, guidance will be developed on how best to responsibly apply PAMrnand what field conditions are most favorable.rnDuring Water Year 2005 a series of 30 very controlled experiments were run in a 160-foot longrntest trough along with some quasi-field scale experiments, to gain an understanding on how andrnto what extent various application rates of PAM reduced canal seepage. Data from thesernexperiments were used in Water Year 2006 to design and carry-out full scale canal applicationsrnon six canals. The main focus of this paper will be on seepage results from applications on threerncanals in southeast Colorado.