Water Efficiency
Readings
Agricultural Water Efficiency Innovations
Water revolution creates investment potential - Rod Meyer, The Age, 17 July 2004
Australian companies are taking a leading role in a smarter, more sustainable use of water.
Water, once taken for granted, is becoming a valuable commodity [due to] federal and state government reforms. The future lies in smarter use, not increased supply.
Australian companies including Agrilink and Rubicon Systems have developed technological solutions to manage water from catchments to crops.
Australian water company, Agrilink, uses computer technology to monitor crop moisture. The technology means farmers can ensure water is sent to crops exactly when and where it is needed.
The system uses computer-enabled probes placed in the ground to accurately measure soil moisture. The probes use wireless technology to send data to a software centre on the internet. Farmers log in using their own password and find out the state of soil moisture, making irrigation an exact science. The result is "increased productivity and water savings of up to 25 per cent", says [Agrilink].
Because the system is web-based it can be operated from anywhere. "There is a large Tasmanian walnut orchard where the irrigation schedule is run by a consultant living in California." Agrilink manufactures about 2000 probes a year at its Adelaide factory. They retail at about $3000 each.
Agrilink is currently negotiating with US irrigation machine manufacturer Valmont to install its equipment in automatic spray irrigation machines. A successful deal would allow the linking of the monitoring and watering processes.
Rubicon Systems has developed computer technology to manage the other end of the irrigation chain, the dams, channels and pipes that supply water to the farms.
Currently manual operation of gates through the irrigation system means that "turning water on and off or increasing and reducing the quantity sent is very hard to do".
Rubicon sets up computer-controlled, radio-operated water gates that can manage water flows as needed. [Currently] "farmers have to order water four days in advance. With this system you only need to give an hour's notice." As a result, farmers can take account of weather conditions in ordering water and, combined with Agrilink-style technologies, get water quickly to exactly where it is needed.
Rubicon's systems also save water by offering quick responses to channel-wall leaks, which can be detected and isolated by the computer systems. The system is being tested on part of the Goulburn-Murray system. The Victorian white paper estimates the system could save 350 gigalitres, or 12 per cent, of the 3000 gigalitres used in the district each year.
Rubicon manufactures its systems in Shepparton and, like Agrilink, already exports to the US.
Israeli group Netafim uses that country's expertise in drip irrigation to supply both the agricultural and garden sectors. Netafim's drip systems, manufactured in Laverton, feature in-pipe valves that turn off as soon as the water supply is cut, to ensure water in the pipes is not wasted. Now it is developing kits for domestic grey-water recycling.
Melbourne-based Waterwise Systems is also in the household grey-water business, selling and installing recycling kits to take water from the washing machine to the garden. The system uses gravity and low-speed valves to drip-feed water to plants.
A $1990 system can replace with grey water a significant amount of the 350,000 litres soaked up by a large garden each year, [the company] says, giving significant savings on new Victorian water charges that penalise high consumption users.
Library
Improving Water Use Efficiency in Queensland’s Urban Communities. Natural Resources. Queensland. 2000.11
Water Efficiency Guide: Office and Public Buildings. Environment and Water Resources. Australia. 2006.10
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme. Government. Australia - The WELS Scheme labels products for water efficiency, helping Australian households save water and money.
Water Efficiency. Greenhouse Challenge Plus Factsheets. Australian Greenhouse Office.
Links
Water Management. Natural Resources. Queensland
2007.7.3