The　application　of　automatic　control　to　irrigation　canals　is　an　important　means　of　improving　the　efficiency　of　water　delivery.　The　Middle　Route　Project　(MRP)　for　South-to-North　Water　Transfer,　the　largest　water　transfer　project　in　China,　is　currently　under　manual　control.　Given　the　complexity　of　the　MRP,　there　is　an　urgent　need　to　adopt　some　form　of　automatic　control.　This　paper　describes　the　application　of　model　predictive　control　(MPC),　a　popular　real　time　control　algorithm　particularly　suited　to　the　automatic　control　of　multi-pool　irrigation　water　delivery　systems,　to　the　MRP　using　a　linear　control　model.　This　control　system　is　tested　in　part　of　the　MRP　by　means　of　numerical　simulations.　The　results　show　that　the　control　system　can　deal　with　both　known　and　unknown　disturbances,　albeit　with　a　degree　of　resonance　in　some　short　pools.　However,　it　takes　a　long　time　for　the　MRP　to　reach　a　stable　state　under　the　MPC　system　and　the　calculation　time　for　the　whole　MRP　network　would　be　too　long　to　satisfy　the　requirements　of　real-time　control.　Suggestions　are　presented　for　the　construction　of　an　automatic　control　system　for　the　MRP.