We present a new semi-discrete central scheme for one-dimensional shallow water flows along channels with non-uniform rectangular cross sections and bottom topography. The scheme preserves the positivity of the water height, and it is preserves steady-states of rest (i.e., it is well-balanced). Along with a detailed description of the scheme, numerous numerical examples are presented for unsteady and steady flows. Comparison with exact solutions illustrate the accuracy and robustness of the numerical algorithm.
