The balancing of incoming and outgoing water allows the Canal du Midi to operate as it does. Each time a lock operates, large quantities of water are either required to fill it or dump from it into the lower level pound. There must be a constant source of water in order to fill and the excess water dumped must have a place to exit the canal without it overflowing. Being able to provide this water source was one of the most important problems to be solved by Pierre Paul Riquet, its creator.

In the canal's original configuration of 1687, water was provided by the Rigole de la plaine from the River Sor and from the Bassin de Saint-Ferréol. The Bassin de Lampy was added later. Since the drought of 1989–1990, water can also be made available from the Lac de Montbel.[1]

Water leaving the canal between locks, will exit through either a weir (French: déversoir) or a siphon (French: Épanchoir). Leaving through the weir, the water simply flows over the side of the canal via a stone or concrete ledge. If the water reaches a specific level, it may be siphoned off via a stone siphon.

Water Features on the Canal du Midi
Code: WS=Water Source, W=Weir S=Siphon
CodePK[A]NameLat/Lon Comment
WS52.0Rigole de la plaine43°21′01″N 1°49′26″E / 43.35041°N 1.82377°E / 43.35041; 1.82377 (Rigole de la plaine)Water from the Bassin de Saint-Ferréol reaches the canal at the Bassin de Naurouze
S68.5Épanchoir du Vivier43°17′51″N 1°59′35″E / 43.29763°N 1.99319°E / 43.29763; 1.99319 (Vivier Siphon)Near the triple locks of Vivier Lock
W75.8Déversoir de Villepinte43°16′33″N 2°04′41″E / 43.27596°N 2.07812°E / 43.27596; 2.07812 (Déversoir de Villepinte)
S77.5Épanchoir de Villepinte43°16′28″N 2°05′38″E / 43.27432°N 2.09388°E / 43.27432; 2.09388 (Épanchoir de Villepinte)
S92.9Épanchoir de Villeséque
S101.8Épanchoir de Foucaud43°13′39″N 2°19′12″E / 43.2274°N 2.3201°E / 43.2274; 2.3201 (Épanchoir de Foucaud)Originally, the canal went around Carcassonne at this point.[1] There is a botanical garden of the same name, Épanchoir de Foucaud.
W106.6Déversoir de St-Jean43°13′27″N 2°22′00″E / 43.22413°N 2.36674°E / 43.22413; 2.36674 (Déversoir de St-Jean)
WS109.0Rigole d'Alimentation du FresquelA stream provides water from Barrage de la Chaux[1]
S109.5Épanchoir de Charques43°14′36″N 2°23′03″E / 43.24333°N 2.38409°E / 43.24333; 2.38409 (Épanchoir de Charques)
W115.6Déversion de la Raye43°12′57″N 2°25′32″E / 43.21594°N 2.42553°E / 43.21594; 2.42553 (Déversion de la Raye)
WS116.5l'OrbielNot sure exactly what this is. The reference[1] shows the stream l'Orbiel splitting north of the canal. One side of the stream joins the canal and the other goes under the canal via the Orbiel Aqueduct. So, it could either be a source of water or a release path. The reference[2] calls it the French: canal d'alimentation d'Orbiel and the canal vieux.
S119.0Épanchoir de Ste-Julia43°12′01″N 2°27′34″E / 43.20023°N 2.45944°E / 43.20023; 2.45944 (Épanchoir de Ste-Julia)
W125.1Déversoir de Marseillette43°12′06″N 2°31′24″E / 43.20155°N 2.52342°E / 43.20155; 2.52342 (Déversoir de Marseillette)
S140.5Épanchoir d'Argentdouble43°15′01″N 2°40′02″E / 43.25030°N 2.66719°E / 43.25030; 2.66719 (Épanchoir d'Argentdouble)
S167.7Épanchoir des Patiasses43°16′47″N 2°54′54″E / 43.27973°N 2.91489°E / 43.27973; 2.91489 (Épanchoir des Patiasses)

See also

Notes

A Distance in km from the beginning of the canal in Toulouse.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Midi Camargue Waterways Guide 7. Editions Du Breil. ISBN 2-913120-04-0.
  2. ↑ Vois Navigables Canaux du Midi. Editions De L'Ecluse. 2008. ISBN 978-2-916919-09-6.
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