The system allows installation into flowing water without significantly disturbing the flow. This greatly reduces the visible ponding upstream of the measuring device, making them more acceptable to water users. The increased flow velocity in the throat section discourages sediment accumulation in this important part of the flume. The approach section near the gauge, while somewhat less self-cleaning, is tolerant of considerable sediment accumulation before significantly altering the flume function. This produces long periods of time between required cleaning and maintenance.
Irrigation is seen by some as an environmental disaster to the earth.
But placed in perspective with what might have been, we should remember that irrigated agriculture grows one-third of the total crop harvested. Without irrigated agriculture, expansion of cropped land into humid areas would have been needed, and it is doubtful that the rainforests of the world would still exist. The measurement of applied irrigation water is one of the major links in the efforts to improve irrigation management to achieve this needed efficiency. In practice, for canal measurements, these flumes must be accurately positioned vertically o cause this needed water surface drop. If they are too high, the upstream canal may overflow.