Asset Management for Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure – Principles and Case Study

This paper presents the general principles and functions of asset management for irrigation and drainage infrastructure: Asset planning and creation strategies, operation and maintenance, performance monitoring, accounting and economics and audit and renewal analysis. The various elements of the program are conceptually defined and their application is illustrated with the asset management program (AMP) formulated for the La Khe Irrigation System in Vietnam. It also identifies the role of the AMP within the framework of service oriented management of irrigation and drainage services. An infrastructure and investment profile developed from the asset survey identified the investment requirement over the next 40 years. The analysis of cost of service and revenues shows a shortfall of US£17.00/ha/annum to meet the investment requirement over this period. The asset audit and renewal analysis shows the upgrades of the main system needed to improve the current level of service.