Erosion Control for Drinking Water and Reservoir Maintenance:

Soil erosion is defined as the physical-mechanical loss of the soil, affecting its functions and ecosystem services, which produces, among others, the reduction of their productive capacity (Lal, 2001). It can result from natural processes caused by weather action: water, wind and temperature changes, coinciding with the characteristics of the place with respect to the type of soil, vegetation, location and orography. It is also attributed to deforestation or loss of vegetation cover, by climatic agents or by the development of human activity.

The quantity and quality of sediments can alter the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, etc. In addition, soil erosion also generates maintenance problems in artificial drainage systems and in drinking water supply networks. In other words, erosion control that keeps sediments out of water courses can also prevent their deposition in reservoirs, where the production capacity of hydroelectric facilities can be reduced or damage reservoirs and irrigation infrastructure (turbines, pumps, etc.), shorten the life of the reservoir or increase the costs of sediment management (such as dredging).

In this regard, it is important to analyze the capacity of the soil to hold sediments, which would prevent them from being transported and deposited downstream. Retention efficiencies vary by land cover class and are affected by factors such as geomorphology, climate, vegetation cover, and management practices.

Among the factors that influence erosion are:

• Rainfall erosivity: it depends on the intensity and duration of rainfall in the area of ​​interest. The greater the intensity and duration of a storm, the greater the potential for erosion. This factor represents the relative impact that rainfall intensity will have on the amount of sediment produced in a given area.


• Soil erosion: refers to the susceptibility of soil particles to detachment and transport by rainfall and runoff. This factor represents the soil component of erosion; the relative impact that different types of soil can have on the sediment produced in a given area.


• Soil depth: The soil depth factor represents the total amount of sediment available to erode and be transported downhill. Areas with greater soil depth have a greater potential for soil loss over time than those with shallower soil.


• The Universal Soil Loss equation uses the C factor, or clipping factor, to represent the susceptibility of each type of soil use to erosion. An average factor of C reported for different types of cover is used to represent the contribution of the soil cover to determine the relative erosion of a given area.

To control erosion there are technologies such as bioengineering, especially using grasses, vecht, bamboo or guadua and trees; runoff water management works, , stream breakers, stone and concrete lined channels, torrents; vegetation barriers, placement of organic soils, revegetalization with cabuya fiber cloth (fique); use of bamboo with metal mesh; the "trinchos"; slopes reinforced with geotextiles; stone gabions and sandbags; the secret bag and the reinforced concrete exopods. It is possible to use [1]:  

Location of grass squares measuring 0.30 x 0.30m, with a layer of black soil of at least 0.05 m. These frames are fixed to the surface by preferably live stakes, for which it is recommended to do a previous fertilization of the area to be recovered.

• The sowing of dense rows or lines of plants, shrubs and trees of medium size, at distances that vary depending on the species, climate, soil and slope of the terrain, these distances range from 0.20m to 3.00m


• Establishment of transverse structures made of guadua mat and live or immunized roundwood as vertical elements allow the accumulation of sediments of materials with healing and rooting substances, which, thanks to the previous treatment of the soil and the clogging of the structure, are formed 14 Image taken from: elnuevodia.com.co, consulted January 2012 34 terraces that allow the sowing of grasses, legumes or other species recommended by the agronomist or forester


• Use of transverse barriers in wood or guadua


• Resurfacing of slopes


• Planting of 0.30m wide hedge fences arranged transversely and is applicable within small basins and low slopes


• Conformation of terrace levels, with a width of 0.60m, and a vertical height of 0.20m, with a slight difference in level towards the interior to prevent the leakage of water


• Use of earthen embankments with grass


• Formation of furrows parallel to contour lines and depths up to 0.35m deep and 1.50m separations between them

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