Overflow Magazine Summer 2020

Quarterly Publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region)

NO. 63 SUMMER 2020

IN THIS ISSUE Using garden bores better by being groundwater wise

Sabina's vertical living wall

Baldivis District sporting complex

Vertical garden walls best practice guide

Low pressure drip irrigation systems

Domestic private bores in Perth

2020 second-warmest year on record for WA

Soil requirements for growing vertical gardens

Gingin cooperation an example of shared responsibility responding to climate change

Margaret River wastewater facility upgrade Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme update

Keep up-to-date with irrigation in Australia, visit the IAL website at www.irrigationaustralia.com.au

Contents Using garden bores better by being groundwater wise

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Baldivis District sporting complex

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Mark Your Diary February 16-18 Meter Validation & Installation (virtual)

Hope Valley Nursery

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Low pressure drip irrigation systems

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March 2-4 Irrigation Pumps & Systems (virtual)

2020 was second-warmest year on record for WA

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9-10 Basics of Wiring & Electrical Troubleshooting (virtual)

Gingin cooperation an example of shared responsibility responding to climate change 18 Sabina's vertical living wall

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Vertical garden walls best practice guide for Perth and Peel region 26 Soil requirements for growing vertical gardens

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Domestic private bores in Perth: opportunities for improvement

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Western Australian Inland Waters Symposium

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23-25 Meter Validation & Installation (virtual) April 6-7, 15-16 & 22-23 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology - Block 1 (virtual) 8-9 & 15-16

Irrigation Efficiency Course

12-14 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology Upgrade Course (virtual) May 24-27 Urban Irrigation Design

Margaret River wastewater facility upgrade good news for local POS 39

31-4/6 IRRICAD Design Course (virtual)

Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme update

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Busselton Water puts water efficiency on the agenda

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June 14-15, 21-22 & 28-29

Introduction to Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) 2021 training sessions Cover: Whitford City Shopping Centre Vertical Garden, image supplied by Deep Green Landscaping

National Contacts Bryan Ward - Chief Executive Officer Geoff Harvey - National Training & Marketing Manager Marike Froneman - Accountant (part time) Andres Jaramillo - Training and Certification Officer Chris Delphin - Business Administration Manager Kahla McKinless - Training & Certification Assistant Tracy Martin-National Membership & Regions Manager

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology – Block 1(virtual)

15-18 Commercial Irrigation Design (virtual)

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August 25 Waterwise Irrigation Expo 2021 For further information please visit: www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/training/training

WA Contacts bryan.ward@irrigation.org.au geoff.harvey@irrigation.org.au marike.froneman@irrigation.org.au andres.jaramillo@irrigation.org.au chris.delphin@irrigation.org.au kahla.mckinless@irrigation.org.au tracy.martin@irrigation.org.au

Rebecca New – IALWA Administration Support (08) 6263 7774 email: adminsupport@irrigation.org.au Ellen Slobe – IAL WA Projects Officer (08) 6263 7774 Mobile: 0458 291 643 email: ellen.slobe@irrigation.org.au

Authorised sprinkler testing signs If you are testing a system outside of water rostering hours, as a gardening industry professional, you are not required to register for an exemption with the Water Corporation. However, to promote that you are doing authorized work and avoid a possible infringement, you might like to have a sign clearly displayed at the front of the property. These signs are available from the IAL (WA).

Now available in: Magnetic ($75) GST Exclusive.

All signs approximately 400mm x 300mm.

To download the order form please click here.

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The Overflow - Summer 2020

Chairman's Report

From the CEO Bryan Ward

Clinton Hort

Welcome to the first issue of Overflow for 2021. On behalf of the IAL WA Regional Committee, I’d like to wish all a very Happy New Year.

With soaring temperatures and very little rain on the horizon, most sectors of our industry are surely very much in the peak of the season. At the time of writing there have already been several bush fires across WA, resulting in at least one commercial operation losing an entire irrigation system; a 25,000-tree olive grove in Gingin. A previous Overflow edition (Spring 2020) featured a timely article with recent research results indicating the efficacy of living (irrigated) turf as a fire retardant. Balancing these considerations with water conversation is sure to be an ongoing concern for any commercial operation in fire-risk areas.

The WA Regional Committee have commenced meeting in person again since the Annual Regional Meeting in October and representatives in the overseeing sub-committees have been appointed. These committees include the Waterwise Sub-Committee, Members Interest/Technical Committee, Overflow and Training Committees. We thank all the volunteers who dedicate their time to the industry through their involvement at regional committee level and encourage industry to engage with Irrigation Australia if you have any feedback or queries in these areas.

While industry is at the peak of the irrigation season, the WA staff are busy planning another year of activities. There is some initial information available in the Regional Report on the 2020 Waterwise Expo, and there will be announcements in the upcoming weeks and months on more member breakfasts & events, which will be held from March onwards when the season slows. These are sure to generate a good amount of interest, so keep an eye on your emails and book early!

Enjoy the rest of the issue.

Clinton Hort IAL (WA) Industry Chairman

The Overflow is the quarterly publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region).

Articles published are views expressed by the authors. IAL(WA) is not responsible for their accuracy and disclaims any liability which may arise from any person acting on the materials contained within. Editorial content does not necessarily represent the views or policy of Irrigation Australia (WA Region)

Publisher/Editor: IAL WA Region, PO Box 3401 Success, WA 6964 Tel: (08) 6263 7774

Happy New Year to our members and readers of this edition of the Overflow.

Despite our collective wish to see the end of COVID-19, events in eastern states in early 2021 clearly demonstrate that the end of this pandemic is some way off and there continues to be a need to be extra vigilant, particularly with the presence of a new more virulent strain of COVID. Thankfully, vaccine rollouts will begin soon in Australia and we can then look forward to a return of a safer community and better economic conditions.

We have once again had to change the dates of the combined Irrigation Australia Conference & Exhibition and the ICID 74th International Congress due to COVID and a clash with the World Water Forum to be held in Dakar, which would have prevented many of our international delegates attending our event in Adelaide. The event will now be held from 29th May to 6th June 2022 at the Adelaide Convention Centre with the IAL conference running concurrently for three days from 31st May. An attractive and interesting program will be developed that will appeal to all sectors of the irrigation industry. Keep an eye on our event website at www.icid2022.com.au for further information.

An upside of the change in the national conference dates is that the Irrigation Australia WA Committee are now planning a return of the popular WA Waterwise Irrigation Expo and further information can be found in this edition of Overflow. We are confident of providing a great program focused on the efficient use of water and delegates will have the opportunity to meet and talk with most of the leading industry suppliers of equipment and technology.

It is pleasing to report that good summer rains have ended the drought for many Australian regions however we need to acknowledge that other parts of western and central NSW & QLD remain firmly in the grip of drought and in some locations, water is still being trucked into towns to provide adequate levels of drinking water. We hope that these regions receive their share of rain in coming months.

I was very pleased to be able to attend the recent member breakfast event at Hope Valley Nursery in November. I would also like to thank the many Irrigation Australia members who took time from their busy schedules to attend this breakfast and site visit.

Bryan Ward IAL Chief Executive Officer

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Regional Update Tracy Martin - National Membership & Regions Manager and Ellen Slobe - WA Projects Officer

Dear Members, Industry Colleagues and Interested Parties, Welcome Members to the Summer edition of The Overflow.

We trust all our members have enjoyed a safe and happy festive season celebrating with their family and friends.

With restrictions eased in Western Australia we have been fortunate to continue to host member events.

27th November 2020 saw us host an exclusive snapshot into water saving initiatives integrated with full climate control and remote sensing technology which are being used to grow indoor plants on a commercial scale at the Hope Valley Nursery in Hopeland. Since 2015 Matt and Andrew Hall have undertaken considerable capital works to ensure they optimise the various water sources available, and in doing so have reached a pinnacle in water use efficiency.

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Members were given a very thorough tour of the facility – looking at rainwater harvesting, catchment and storage; irrigation water harvesting, storage and treatment before re-use; groundwater bores; water treatment system; pump and filtration station; nutrient management system and overhead and drip irrigation systems.

Rick Charles of Western Irrigation (lead contractor on the project) led the presentations as the group moved around the various locations on the site with the assistance of both Andrew and Matt Hall intervening and sharing their passion for both their production of plants and the state-of-the-art facility.

Read more on page 12.

Delegates will participate in rotational educational seminars which will include a dedicated rotation in the trade show. Delegates will be assigned to a group for the duration of the day and be led by a dedicated tour guide to various locations within the Burswood Park Precinct where specific topics/ infrastructure will be discussed by industry experts.

Waterwise

The Waterwise Programs Bunbury Launch was held on 28th October at the Bunbury Bowling Club. Businesses operating in the irrigation industry were invited to attend the Launch to learn about the Programs. Smart Controller manufacturers were invited to exhibit and present on the features of these water efficient products and liaise with the business attendees.

CEO, Gary Hallsworth of Aqwest gave an introduction of their support of the Programs and highlighted the fact they have now aligned their leaks allowance with the Waterwise Programs. This means that Waterwise Garden Irrigators can undertake leak allowance repairs in irrigation systems for residential property owners in the Bunbury region that receive scheme water from this water utility.

The ability to undertake these types of works can add to the services of those working in the irrigation industry.

This biennial event attracts delegates from all sectors of the irrigation industry including Local Govt Parks & Gardens Teams, Landscapers, Irrigation Installers/Maintainers, Contractors, Retailers, Turf Managers and School Groundskeepers - we are sure the program will have something for everyone working in the industry.

2021 Expo

The 2021 Waterwise Irrigation Expo will be held at Crown Perth Conference Centre on Wednesday 25th August and provides Exhibitors a face-to-face opportunity with the urban landscape industry of Western Australia to showcase their latest irrigation technologies.

If you are interested in exhibiting at this highly successful event, you can download the Exhibitor Prospectus here: https://www.irrigationaustralia. com.au/documents/item/1249 and/or secure an exhibitor booth through the following links: Single booth: https://www. irrigationaustralia.com.au/events/ event/2021-waterwise-irrigation-expowa-exhibitors-single-booth Double booth: https://www. irrigationaustralia.com.au/events/ event/2021-waterwise-irrigation-expowa-exhibitors-double-booth Ticket sales will be available from April 2021 from the WA Region events page: https://www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/ events/category/wa-region-events

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Whether your garden bore is old or new, regular maintenance will help spot signs of scaling, corrosion, damage and leaks which can reduce a system’s performance and increase pump running costs.

Using garden bores better by being

groundwater wise Groundwater plays a vital role in supporting our natural environment, including wetlands, lakes, bushland and cave systems. It is also an important source of water for industry as well as Perth’s drinking water supply.

Reduced rainfall due to climate change is resulting in less water making its way into our groundwater aquifers so we need to use this precious resource sustainably.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is helping households to use garden bores wisely through the Be Groundwater Wise website.

The refreshed website went live in December as part of the McGowan Government’s Waterwise Perth Action Plan.

The website explains the importance of groundwater and shares practical information for garden bore owners including waterwise gardening and bore maintenance tips.

Current estimates are that one in four homes in Perth and Peel have a garden bore.

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The Overflow - Summer 2020

We recommend that garden bores are constructed by a Australian Drilling Industry Association (ADIA) licensed driller. DWER and the ADIA have prepared minimum construction requirements specifically suited to garden bores accessing the watertable aquifer.

Maintain your garden bore. Whether your garden bore is old or new, regular maintenance will help you spot signs of scaling, corrosion, damage and leaks which can reduce your system’s performance and increase your pump running costs. See the website for a full list of bore maintenance tips.

Waterwise garden design should incorporate waterwise plants and a functional mix of hard surface, garden beds and lawn species suitable for Perth’s climate.

The latest research indicates that on average, homes using bores to water gardens use twice as much water than those using scheme supply only.

The department is encouraging waterwise behaviour changes that improve garden bore watering practices and help conserve groundwater.

“As part of the Waterwise Perth Action Plan we are assisting householders to become smarter in all of their water use, outside as well as inside the home,” Director Science and Planning Susan Worley said.

“We are encouraging garden bore users to change the way they view and use bore water in the same way that households are valuing and finding ways to use scheme water more wisely.”

There has been a shift in the role that garden bores play in Perth’s water supply.

Using garden bores has, for many years, helped reduce demand for treated scheme water. However, with the impacts of climate change and reduced rainfall, and much of the available groundwater in Perth and Peel being used already, there is a risk that garden bore use will have negative impacts if not managed carefully.

“Overuse of your bore can have a significant impact on neighbours, surrounding parks, street trees, wetlands, bushland and even your own garden,” Ms Worley said.

“Over drawing your bore can also affect the water quality. If you are near wetlands, overdrawing can result in your water becoming more acidic. If you are near the river or coast, it can become salty.”

Collectively garden bore users take around 24 per cent of the groundwater used in Perth each year, and account for 18 per cent of all the water used across Perth and from all sources. The Waterwise Perth Action Plan has a target of a 10 per cent reduction in groundwater used by garden bores by 2030.

“Garden bores can still be a good option in the right locations and with wise water use. The future for Perth’s water supply is interconnected and we all need to contribute towards making Perth resilient to climate change,” Ms Worley said.

HOW DO WE BECOME MORE WATERWISE WITH OUR GARDEN BORES?

Automate your irrigation. Automatic irrigation controllers can be programmed to suit weather conditions, seasons and watering rosters. They will save you time and help prevent over or under-watering.

Choose the right sprinklers. The right sprinklers can prevent over-watering, save a lot of water and provide even distribution. For example, install dripline sprinklers in your garden beds and rotary sprinklers for lawns.

Water to match the weather. Switch off your controller when it’s raining, no matter what the season, and during winter. There are now many smart irrigation controllers available that will automatically adjust your sprinkler runtimes to local weather conditions.

Maintain your sprinklers. Regularly check and maintain your sprinkler fittings to avoid leaks and water wastage. Use catch cups to test whether your sprinklers are applying the 10 mm standard for Perth’s sandy soils in summer.

The Perth groundwater map is a simple tool to help understand groundwater in specific areas and where garden bores are suitable. The map and other data to help plan for a garden bore can be accessed online at begroundwaterwise.wa.gov.au

Use Waterwise service providers.

Using an endorsed Waterwise irrigation professional to design, install, repair and maintain your bore and irrigation systems will help you save water, power, time and money. Rather do it yourself? Then talk to an expert and get quality parts from your local Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop (retail outlet).

Improve your soil. Good quality soil is essential for a healthy Waterwise garden. Perth’s sandy soils have a low water and nutrient holding capacity.

Adding a soil conditioner and wetting agents to your soil will help plants develop strong root systems and become more drought tolerant.

Mulch your garden. Applying a 5-10cm layer of mulch to your garden will help keep the moisture in and reduce evaporation and weed growth. Look for a coarse mulch with the Waterwise and Smart Approved WaterMark symbols.

Choose Waterwise species. Droughttolerate Western Australian native plant species usually require less water and maintenance. Use hydrozoning by grouping plants with similar watering needs together.

You can find these tips, videos and more on the site at begroundwaterwise. wa.gov.au

The Overflow - Summer 2020

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Baldivis District Sporting Complex

Work on the City of Rockingham’s latest major infrastructure project in Baldivis is now underway.

By the City of Rockingham

The suburb of Baldivis, located approx.

45km south of Perth within the City of Rockingham, is experiencing rapid growth, particularly in the number of young families living in the area. This creates a high demand for sport and recreation facilities which play an important role in providing opportunities for social interaction and skill building, and creating stronger, safer and more inclusive communities.

A planning exercise in 2009 identified that Baldivis had a lack of large public open spaces for suitable for sport, and the City of Rockingham was in a strong position for the current and future supply of smaller public open spaces.

Council endorsed the concept of the Baldivis District Sporting Complex (BDSC), and the project was included in the 2010 Community Infrastructure Plan (CIP) to enable further investigations to occur.

Following extensive site investigations, the City purchased a 20-hectare site on Eighty Road to construct the BDSC.

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A team of specialist consultants were appointed in 2017 to undertake all site investigations and develop the Baldivis District Sporting Complex Master Plan. The Master Plan provides the blueprint for the development, and involved extensive consultation with

The Overflow - Summer 2020

the community, sporting groups and government departments to overcome a number of site constraints. Initial activity on site in January saw the City undertake extensive steps to protect the natural values of the area.

Civil engineering works at the BDSC site commenced in March 2020, and Stage One has a projected completion date of mid-2022. The first stage will deliver a district level pavilion and multiple playing ovals. In the longterm, once all stages are complete, the BDSC will provide about eight hectares of open space, two pavilions, a nature playground, youth space and an indoor recreation centre.

Groundwater Analysis

As part of the due diligence and early planning process, a hydrogeological assessment was undertaken to determine potential groundwater availability, access and extraction.

Five test bores were constructed.

Tests at each bore showed the potential of adequate extraction for irrigation delivery to the future 8ha site.

The City applied to Department of Water & Environmental Regulation (DWER) for an amendment to the existing licence on one of the lots to include the remaining 3 lots which form the site, increase the allocation, and applied for a construction watering license.

The groundwater aquifer within the Baldivis area generally contains a high iron content, however in this case

the static water level was approx.

4m which was unique in depth and provided an iron content of >0.01ppm in that specific corridor of groundwater.

Bore Construction

Assessment of the five test bores data confirmed the methodology of constructing 2 production bores to distribute water across the future sporting complex site.

Two production bore locations were nominated from Test hole 2 and Test hole 3. They were selected, as they were outside the 500m conservation and wetland parameters set by DWER as part of the City’s groundwater licence.

The two bores were constructed using 200mm PVC casing with a 9m stainless steel screen to a depth of 18 metres.

The test pumping results indicated that a delivery of 20L/PS out of each bore could be achieved with limited drawdown, which did not hinder abstraction from the bores with a near instantaneous recovery time over an 8 hour step-and-pumping test period Two SP 77 -8b 26KW pumps were constructed with an operating pressure of 770KPA at the bore head and a DWER approved headworks with

a MAGS1 digital water meter and flushing head.

Design Methodology

The irrigation design parameters were determined by the City's Irrigation Supervisor to consist of the following: • Achieve a CU/DU across the active sporting playing area of above 90% in testing environment • Focus on the delivery of water to the active areas only – incorporating hydrozoning and ecozoning. This included individual stations for particular parts of the field such as wing areas, interchange bench areas, inside 50m area, and additional focus on high wear zones such as the goal square and centre bounce areas.

• Providing individual valves within these key use areas to enable effective and efficient watering of future areas subject to being returfed each season, are all factors considered in the overall design • Hunter i40 sprinklers with opposing nozzles were the preferred sprinkler, due to the delivery performances as noted in the Hunter product manual. The expected higher pressure chosen for the pump would enable the higher sprinkler optimal pressure <550kpa at the head to be achieved and to potentially deliver the greatest level of precipitation and water application efficiency • Sprinkler spacings were nominated at 16x16m or as near as possible based on the CU/DU achieved, and to fit inside the oval parameters • 6-inch gear drives were requested for the design instead of the normal 4-inch as a City preference moving forward • Poly pipe was the chosen pipe work across the entire oval, lateral and mainline over the standard PVC pipework which has been typically chosen in the past • Rainman MPG TWIN board controllers were to be designed.

The Overflow - Summer 2020

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revisions to meet the complex design parameters.

Construction

The irrigation installation component of the project was put out for tender in 2020, and Newground Water Services was the successful tenderer to install the infield irrigation, using the Total Eden irrigation design.

Two controllers, one at each cubicle running two Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) drives next to each bore headworks with TWIN Rainman decoders. This was selected to provide flexibility to run one pump and up to 4 stations or two pumps and up to 8 stations. However, only one operating controller was installed, with the secondary controller being predominantly pump-start and communications • Two 4G modems were installed with SIM cards that enable the controllers to run through the City’s central control system inside the virtual City server and mobile phone applications. The central server provides trends of milliamps, flow and pressure, station data, systems alarms, configuration set points and many more useful functions. A direct pump start cable has been run to link the two pumps together back at the main operating controller

the hydrozoning and ecozoning parameters of the irrigation system.

• The design for irrigation delivery was to accommodate operation from both one individual pump or dual pumping operation. This requirement was based around creating a safety net and ability to irrigation if there was pump failure of any sort throughout periods of high priority watering. The final approved design was to achieve the ability of irrigating the entire complex in approximately 5 hours from the delivery of one pumping infrastructure, additionally, irrigate through one pumping infrastructure in approximately 11 hours.

The design phase was awarded to Total Eden through quotation process that follows the City’s procurement process. The design process involved extensive consultation, and took 5

• Isolators have been installed to isolate the main oval from the secondary fields to enable the two pumps and fields to operate through separate pumps and programs • 6 bolt Bermad 100 series valves were selected to operate a higher flow rate per valve to distribute the water. This decision was based around providing reduction of infrastructure onsite by running maximum lines where practicable whilst still fitting inside

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The Overflow - Summer 2020

Only one bore was equipped and energised during the irrigation installation. This was run through an onsite generator for the entire construction period as the site’s main power was not energised prior. This enabled the contractors to flush, test and operate the system.

The 160mm Poly Ring main was installed first with flushing and tests undertaken. Valves were installed with wiring connected before the lateral poly pipe and sprinklers were installed.

Installation was completed within the planned construction period of six (6) weeks, some minor redesign was required due to modification to the upper oval playing surface sizing.

System delivery and Parameters

Catch cups were placed on the site following the completion of the irrigation system. 36 cups were placed across an area on the playing oval. The average total of water was 4.63mm and the lowest quarter was 4.16mm giving a DU rate of 90% and CU of 94%, with an average precipitation rate of 18.1mm/hour.

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Hope Valley Nursery Irrigation Australia recently hosted a member event at Hope Valley Nursery in Hopeland within the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, approximately 50km south of Perth, WA. The event showcased the major water-saving initiatives implemented at the nursery, featuring full climate control and remote sensing technology being used to grow indoor plants on a commercial scale.

A series of articles will feature in this and future editions of The Overflow magazine, covering various aspects of the innovative technologies and watersaving strategies implemented at the

site. Beginning with an introduction to the Hope Valley Nursery operation and the initial design process.

Hope Valley Nursery is owned by brothers, Andrew & Matt Hall. The Nursery operates over two sites, Oakford and the new Hopeland site.

The Nursery was established in 1985, with development of the Hopeland site commencing in 2015.

There are strict regulations and guidelines on Water Licenses, compliance management measures to reduce fertiliser discharges into the

Peel - Harvey catchment area from State Government and Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire. This coupled with limited water resources on site requiring multiple monitored bores, large storage tanks, compliance issues in relation to the leaching of irrigation into the aquifer as well as regional drain on site, it was deemed necessary to seek out Western Irrigation to assist in the overall design and implementation of irrigation on site.

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The Overflow - Summer 2020

There were several interesting challenges to tackle in the design process, including: 1. The available water was sourced from 2 shallow low-yielding bores 2. Water storage was a low-lying and small-holding capacity dam that was subject to winter flooding 3. Due to environmental rules and regulations, none of the irrigated water was permitted to leach back into the aquifer or the regional drain on the north side of the property.

4. Water treatment was required for safe water-reuse

capacity for water capture, low lying and subject to flooding.

5. Capturing irrigated water and recycling it.

Recycling irrigation water of approximately 25% added to the water source for the irrigation system and lowered any wastage of water. It also prevented any leaching of nutrients back into the aquifer.

6. Capturing rainwater off the roof space was a significant design in harnessing the abundance of water coming from the sky instead of the ground.

1. Overhead sprinklers, as well as drip irrigation.

7. Treatment of all water with chlorine before it enters the tank to remove any bacteria, etc and provide a good clean supply of irrigated water.

2. An efficient new pump station with low-cost running pumps, to work at the most efficient point on the pump curve, with filtration. The filter had to be large enough to minimise backwashing and friction loss through the filter.

8. Automated control system for the entire project, not just the irrigation.

The Argus systems control everything in the nursery, including the irrigation. It also has a reactive monitoring system that will interact with weather conditions.

3. Water storage tanks to store treated irrigation water and could be utilised to add water to the dam in summer if required. The tanks are also equipped with fire discharge points.

9. Undertable heating system; a network of heating pipework from gas boilers to distribute heat into the tunnels to raise from 0 degrees to 18 degrees. The network of pipes is a closed system circulating hot water to tables and cold water back to boilers for reheating and distribution where required.

The project design brief was to incorporate:

4. Re-designing a new dam that can hold enough water for irrigating.

The original dam was too small a

Water harvesting from the greenhouse roof space, chlorine treatment of water, installation of holding dams were all part of the large investment which would result in the nursery operating a closed-circuit system.

With ongoing support from Western Irrigation, it gave confidence that they would be complying with regulations and installing an irrigation system that would be able to support further development in the future.

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Low Pressure Drip Irrigation Systems

Ideally, the system should incorporate an inline filter, however this comes at a cost by creating a pressure drop as the filter traps contaminants. If you are using a rainwater tank, particles will tend to settle in the bottom of the tank and if the outlet is above the sediment line you may be able to get away without a filter. The other option, if you need a filter, is to oversize the filter to minimize the filter head loss.

The only downside to using gravity (low pressure) for drippers is that they can be more susceptible to clogging as the turbulent flow path is more laminar in performance. This should always be considered when using gravity pressure systems.

This article has been produced from Antelco Pty. Ltd. – January 2021. www.antelco.com

Article supplied by Antelco Pty. Ltd.

The question is sometimes asked; can we use drippers on rainwater tanks for our gardens? The answer is yes, if some rules are applied.

The vertical height of water in the tank ideally should be about 2 to 3m above the height of the drippers.

This will provide an operating pressure for the drippers at around 20 to 30 kPa.

Dripper Type

In terms of the type of drippers used, we would recommend that they are non-compensating.

This means that the dripper only incorporates a plastic tortuous flow path and does not have any elastic diaphragm which compensates for a range of operating pressures. It is not recommended to use pressure compensating drippers in this instance, as these can flush at low pressures and provide inconsistent and higher flow rates.

As an example, at 25 kPa pressure the 8 lph dripper will discharge about 3.4 lph. It is a good idea to use the 8 lph dripper as this will provide the maximum flow path size and be less resistant to clogging.

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The Overflow - Summer 2020

Diagram 1. Typical Non-Compensating Dripper Flow versus Pressure

Diagram 2. Antelco’s Agri Drip Classic range of non-compensating drippers – Red – 2lph, Grey – 4 lph, Green – 8 lph.

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2020 was second-warmest year on record for WA The Bureau of Meteorology has reported that WA has experienced back-to-back record years of heat, recording its second-warmest* year on record in 2020 with daytime temperatures 1.54°C above average and night-time temps 0.95°C above average.

It follows the warmest year on record for WA in 2019 when daytime temperatures were 2.50°C above average and night-time temps 0.83°C above average.

In 2020 Australia recorded its fourthwarmest year on record, 1.15°C above average. Nationally, rainfall for 2020 was 483.4mm, or 4% above average, but in Western Australia annual rainfall was slightly below average for the state as a whole.

Perth temperatures were 0.5°C above average during the day, and 0.7°C above average at night. Slightly less rain than average (92% or 673.4mm) fell in Perth over the course of the year.

• Perth experienced its most severe storm since the hailstorm of 22 March 2010 during the last week of February.

• Waves peaking at more than 8m were reported in the south west in late May as part of widespread severe weather including strong and gusty winds, dust storms, abnormally high tides and storm surges affecting Perth, Mandurah, Albany, Dunsborough, Port Geographe, Kalbarri, Geraldton and Carnarvon.

• August heat in the northwest led to new records including Broome reaching 41.2°C on the 23rd, a national maximum temperature record for the month.

• Perth had its wettest, and thirdcoolest, November on record.

• WA had the eighth-driest winter on record.

• For the South West Land Division, it was the seventh-driest southern cool season (April-October) on record, and driest since 2012. *Why does BOM say “warmest” and not “hottest”?

The Bureau says hot or cold for shorter-period timeframes such as daily observations where temperatures can be 'felt' and uses the terms warm or cool for longer spans of time that can include using averages or anomalies.

2020 EXTREMES

Notable 2020 weather

• Tropical Cyclone Damien crossed the coast near Karratha on 8 February as a category 3 system.

Wind gusts of 194km/hr were recorded at Karratha airport and it destroyed Dampier radar (which has since been replaced in time for the current wet season).

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• La Niña was declared in Australia in September and is ongoing.

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Perth

WA

Hottest day

44.6°C at Pearce RAAF on 4 Feb

48.2°C at Eyre on 2 Jan

Coldest day

10.4°C at Bickley on 3 Aug

9.2°C at Jacup on 3 Aug

Coldest night

1.7°C at Jandakot Aero on 19 May

-3.5°C at York on 12 Jul

Warmest night

26.2°C at Gosnells City on 30 Dec

26.2°C at Pearce RAAF on 30 Dec

32.2°C at Paraburdoo Aero on 29 Jan

Wettest overall

1161.2 mm at Bickley

1564.7 mm at Cygnet Bay

Driest overall

453.4 mm at Rottnest Island

N/A

Wettest day

90.2 mm at Bickley on 29 Jun

270.0 mm at Carnegie on 10 Jan

1.7°C at Pearce RAAF on 21 May

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Gingin cooperation an example of shared responsibility responding to climate change

Gingin Brook and Lennard Brook and the surrounding shallow sand aquifers are important sources of water for horticulture.

In the Gingin area the government, water users and the community are working together to keep their water sources sustainable after what has been an extremely dry year, with annual rainfalls continuing to decline as a result of climate change.

Less rainfall means less run off into rivers and streams, and streamflow from Harvey River, north to Gingin Brook, including the Swan River, is tracking below the post 1975 average.

Gingin Brook is experiencing the worst of this dry, with its second lowest flows since records started 45 years ago.

After another poor winter rainfall in 2020, Gingin is facing its third consecutive year of rainfall below the average since 2010 – an average which is already well below the long term one.

Low rainfall also has an impact on recharge to the local aquifers, which are connected to the rivers and streams.

“This means there is likely to be increased pressure on water resources

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in Gingin this summer due to the cumulative impact of reduced recharge to local shallow groundwater aquifers over consecutive years, as well as reduced groundwater contribution to Gingin’s groundwater dependent streams over the dry part of the year, which seems to have started earlier in 2020,” Department of Water and Environmental Regulation senior environmental water planning officer Adam Green said.

High levels of water use from multiple users, coinciding at similar times during hot weather, can exacerbate the impact of already low flows on stream health and water available for other users.

“We find that the problems get worse on hot days during dry periods, when everyone wants to pump at the same time. It’s not just taking water from the river, using bores within 600 metres of the brooks can also impact river flows, as the aquifers and rivers are connected,” Adam said.

Gingin Brook and Lennard Brook and the surrounding shallow sand aquifers are important sources of water for horticulture.

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It is therefore of particular importance that water users and the community work together, particularly during the dry summer and autumn months, to minimise impacts to streamflow, the environment and other water users.

The department has been working with the Gingin water users and community over a number of years to raise awareness of climate change, and management approaches to the issues surrounding the impact of reduced rainfall on Gingin and Lennard brooks.

This summer they are gearing the community up for another major effort.

“There is an increasing need for community stewardship approaches to help water users adapt to climate change,” Adam said.

“It’s about community and government aligning their objectives and working together to improve the management of water resources under climate change.

“Government can provide support through communication, policy and regulation, and community can provide support through shared messaging,

education, and individual and collective initiatives that promote best practice water and farm management, and set an example for others to follow.

Measures that are being adopted amongst Gingin water users include: • Voluntarily spreading water use throughout the week and talking with neighbours about staggering pumping on different days or times to reduce short term impacts on flow in the brooks.

• Using the department’s online streamflow gauging data, and Bureau of Meterology weather forecasts, to assess watering requirements and consider how individuals may be able to help preserve flows during hot weather or low flow periods.

• Protecting fish and crayfish communities in the brooks by viewing online streamflow data and

Gingin Brook is experiencing its second lowest flows since records started 45 years ago.

ensuring flows remain above 5 ML/ day at the Gingin Townsite (Gingin) gauging station and 5.1 ML/day at the Lennard Brook (Molecap Hill) gauging station.

• Ensuring there is enough flow remaining for downstream water users and the environment.

• Preventing stock access to the stream to help improve water quality and the overall ecological health of the system.

Local community group the Gingin Water Group are embracing the water stewardship approach with the support of the Gingin Shire, Chittering Landcare, Northern

Protecting indigenous fish and crayfish communities in the brooks is important for ecosystem health.

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Voluntarily spreading water use throughout the week and talking with neighbours can help manage impacts on flow in the brooks.

Agricultural Catchment Council, and the department.

protect Gingin Brook at the catchment scale.”

After receiving a State NRM Community Stewardship Grant in 2019 for their landholder engagement strategy for Gingin Brook, the group have prepared a Gingin Brook water catchment landholder water information package.

Actions that can help range from improving habitat pockets through the catchment, to working towards best practice on-farm activities including water efficiency, irrigation techniques, drainage and nutrient management, revegetation, fencing, erosion control measures and monitoring (e.g. water level and quality; soil moisture).

The booklet is targeted to individual landholders within the Gingin Brook catchment and explains the climate and water science specific to key zones. It looks at current rainfall and streamflow trends, as well as future drier projections, and educates landholders by providing information and resources to help sustainable farming and water use practices at the local landholder scale, that will help improve the resilience of the overall brook system.

“The more landholders who take this approach onboard through the catchment, the more others will do the right thing and follow suit. Over time, this can make a positive change and provide resilience to an important ecosystem that is being impacted by climate change,” Adam said.

Given the very low rainfall in a lot of growing areas, there is a need to focus on using water efficiently everywhere in the State.

The department advises all water users that exceeding entitlements is not a strategy to manage water supply issues and that compliance and enforcement activities are ongoing and targeted to high risk areas.

Licensees are also reminded to submit water metering data as required under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Regulations 2000, and all licenses with entitlements between 10,000kL49,999kL throughout the State are required to have meters installed as of 1 January this year.

“What we are working on in this region is developing a culture of cooperation and action by sharing information and responsibility for the health of the system,” Adam said.

“The Department’s climate and water science, and the Gingin Water Group’s landholder engagement strategy, go hand in hand in demonstrating the need for community stewardship in Gingin going forward.

“We need landholders who are educated on the water and climate change situation and working together to do their bit at the landholder scale, to

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The department has been working with Gingin water users and the community to raise awareness of climate change and management approaches.

The Overflow - Summer 2020

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Sabina's Vertical Living Wall

By Earth and Water PROJECT SCOPE

Sabina is a 5 Green Star development

by Finbar, located in the Canning Bridge Development Precinct with 127 apartments over 30 levels. It is a landmark site for the suburb, known for its vibrant jacaranda filled streets and green open spaces. Finbar have gone to extraordinary lengths to embed energy-saving technologies and amenities into their design.

Earth & Water was contracted to design and install a vertical living wall on the exterior of the building. The brief was to soften the internal multi-level car park with greenery.

Site Challenges:

Exposure to the Elements The vertical living wall is located on a north facing wall of the building and extends from the first level up to the fifth. It is exposed to the elements all year round from hail storms and turbulent winds in winter, to direct sunlight for 80% of the day in summer.

The living wall has to adapt to all weather conditions.

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Maintenance The location and spread of the modules makes it challenging to safely prune and maintain plant health without the aid of an elevated work platform. A key goal was to design a low maintenance installation to reduce costs to the new apartment owners whilst keeping the wall looking good!

Modular Design

Sabinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vertical living wall is made up of Elmichâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VGM Green Wall modules that are made of 100% recycled plastic.

They are low profile plastic modules of a high strength interlocking design.

They protrude from the wall by only 15cm but are designed to hold 16 plants in a 4 x 4 array.

Each module contains a 26 litre semi-permeable geofabric bag that is designed to contain root systems whilst simultaneously allowing adequate aeration and water filtration.

Under normal conditions the modules are mounted on pilasters and locked

The Overflow - Summer 2020

in with a drip tray beneath. However Sabinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modules are locked within huge metal beams on the exterior of the building. The 500 millimetre space between each beam is based on the width of a module. Now, the wall is protected against wind uplift over 100 kilometres per hour.

Plant Palette

Plant choice is one of the most important decisions for this location.

So much hinges on the adaptability of the plants due to the high degree of weather variability and exposure.

This is the plant palette that we went with: • Lomandra Longifolia • Eremophilia Glabra • Liriope • Hibbertia Scanden • Dianella Caerulea Once the seedlings were planted in the modules, prior to installation they lay horizontal for 20 weeks to allow for the root systems to establish themselves.

This prepares the integrity of the soil and plants for when they are moved from being horizontal to vertical and finally installed.

Thinking Long Term 126 modules were installed with a capacity of 2,016 plants. However only 970 seedlings were actually planted to give each seedling more root space and access to nutrients within each module.

Over time fewer plants will grow bigger and become resilient to the elements in ways that many small plants cannot.

Maintenance

Small routine services maintain a higher level of plant health and prevent small problems from becoming bigger.

This is incredibly important with vertical living walls because preventative services prolong the life of the wall and reduce its cost on apartments owners and residents.

Annualised Cost It costs approximately $4.30 to maintain each of Sabina’s module per month. The maintenance cost

per module is set by its maintenance schedule. Sabina requires an elevated work platform (EWP) once a year to complete major maintenances, this directly impacts on the per module maintenance cost.

Apartments not requiring an EWP to complete major services have lower maintenance costs per module.

Average costing per living wall module per month according to wall size.

Preparation of the Sabina plants prior to installation

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3. Major Prune Once every two years each module requires a major prune accessed from the front using an EWP. By removing lagging leaves and pruning weak shoots, the existing foliage is prioritised and thrives.

Irrigation

Drippers are inserted through the geofabric and deliver water directly into the root system of each module.

The irrigation system is split into two hydrozones; the top 4 rows and the lower 3 floors. Another apartment building is planned on the northern face of the living wall that will shade the 3 lower floors in the future. Separating the two sections will allow less irrigation to the plants in half shade in the near future.

Each module is irrigated using four sets of Netafim eight litre per hour PCJ drippers, each with a 4-way manifold directing the eight litre per hour to four arrow stakes embedded in each module. Each module gets 16 litres

C

M

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Vertical living walls come in many shapes and sizes. The cost per module decrease with the volume of larger installations. Vertical living walls in private residences will only require servicing once or twice a year but will be much smaller and therefore more expensive per module to maintain.

Maintenance Schedule

Sabinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maintenance schedule is composed of three different types of maintenances carried out over 12 months.

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1. Fertigation The soils in specific modules are tested for acidity, salinity, electrical conductivity, moisture and nutrient levels. Based on the tests, an optimal mix of liquid fertilisers are injected through the system.

2. Minor Prune Once a year dead and decaying leaves are pruned by accessing the modules from the carpark behind. This prepares the plants for summer.

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CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

per hour through the 16 embedded arrow drippers. Eight arrow drippers are inserted into the top of each module and the next four into the back of the module about a third down and the next four in the back halfway down. This ensures uniform irrigation within each module.

To prevent the lowest modules getting too much water, the Netafim PCJ drippers are designed to snap shut after each irrigation event, holding back up to seven metres of pressure within the system. The non-drain feature is essential for equal irrigation to all the rows of living wall modules. So the top floor and the lowest floor module all get the same amount of water.

Earth & Water monitor the system offsite as it is WIFI enabled and provides real-time information such as flow rate, consumption and pressure gauging.

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The plants adapt to weather conditions by automatically changing irrigation schedules to reflect localised changes to temperature, rain and wind. Over time, irrigation scheduling will smooth over shocks to the system and help the vegetation thrive.

Northbridge Piazza vertical garden

Vertical garden walls

Best practice guide for Perth and Peel region Vertical garden walls (also known as green walls) are becoming increasingly popular around the world for their visual and functional appeal.

These living, breathing artworks improve air quality, increase biodiversity and provide sound insulation. They’re also an exceptional insulator and can significantly decrease inside temperature. This means saving money on air conditioning bills as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Growing vertical gardens in Perth has its challenges. It has been suggested our climate makes it difficult to maintain vertical gardens, particularly with summers becoming hotter and winters drier. However, vertical gardens can thrive in the Perth and Peel region. The root of growth issues is usually poor construction methods, unsustainable use of growing media, inappropriate selection of plants and poor maintenance practices.

The following best practice guidelines provides the information you need

26

to create vertical gardens that are sustainable, water efficient and viable.

Step 1: Conduct an environmental assessment

During the initial planning phase of a vertical garden, it is critical that you conduct a full orientation of the site and assess the following: • Daily movement of sun • Impact from wind • Changes in shading over the course of the year • Possible heat reflection from neighbouring buildings • Drainage issues

Step 2: Choose an appropriate system

There are two main types of vertical garden systems: green facades and living walls. Each type supports a particular style of vertical garden.

Green facades There are two types of green facades: • Direct: typically climbing plants

The Overflow - Summer 2020

grown directly onto a wall without structural support.

• Indirect: climbing plants or cascading groundcovers supported by cables, mesh or trellis.

Living walls Living walls are based on more robust support structures, utilising multiple modular elements or kits. Two of the most common modular options: • Felt-based: light-weight felted pockets and wrap panel systems that allow plants to grow harmoniously with the system.

• UV stabilised: for longevity, choose UV stabilised products which have a life expectancy of up to eight years.

Best practice tip: Weight can be a major consideration, especially for living walls. Allow for the cumulative mass of fixings, structures, plants (at various growth stages), growing media, irrigation/fertigation and drainage systems, and even the moisture contained in the wall.

Step 3: Choose the plants and their position on the wall

The best plants for vertical gardens are dense, compact and low-growing with fibrous root systems. While you may be working to an overall planting theme, it’s also important to consider local climate and site orientation when selecting your plants.

4. Plant relation: Some plants may grow quicker than others, so ideally select plants with similar cultural requirements.

5. Root-zone size: Shallow root systems and drought tolerance offer advantages.

it increases the weight of the vertical garden. Potting mix is also rarely used as it’s considered inefficient when compared to customised combinations growing media.

When choosing your growing media, you should consider the following:

Considerations when selecting your plants:

6. Wall weight: Remember that the bottom of the unit will hold more moisture than the top.

• Weightless media (understand the saturated bulk density of the media being used)

1. Suitability for vertical growth: make sure the plant is suited to a soil-less vertical location

7. Maintenance levels: Consider the amount of work required to maintain.

• High water-holding capacity using a percentage of coir e.g. 15%

2. Local & micro-climate: minimum temperature is important to know, as well as micro-climate issues, such as high buildings which create strong winds along a wall.

8. Pest & disease tolerance and the potential for biodiversity

3. Orientation of site: Sun exposure can vary significantly between sites, as well as throughout the year.

Step 4: Choose your growing media

Cocopeat (coir) perlite, sphagnum moss, vermiculite and composted pine bark are the most common media combinations. Soil is not used since

• High nutrient-holding capacity using a percentage of peat e.g. 15% • Good porosity • Neutral pH. Always trial the plants in the growing media before transporting them to the site.

Whitford City Shopping Centre vertical garden

The Overflow - Summer 2020

27

The best plants for vertical gardens are dense, compact and low-growing with fibrous root systems.

While you may be working to an overall planting theme, it’s also important to consider local climate and site orientation when selecting your plants.

• System to be monitored and linked to moisture sensors in the vertical garden via Wi-Fi connected irrigation controller • System to allow liquid fertigation • On modular systems, use one row on your drip system for efficient watering. Panel system to use a minimum of two rows.

• Each vertical garden must be metered with a requirement to monitor and record water use every visit in the vertical garden maintenance reports • On larger walls, have a drainage tray at base to allow run-off into an agricultural pipe in nearby garden beds if applicable.

Best practice watering requirements: • Water three times a day for the first three months • After three months, water twice a day • The amount of water applied weekly must not exceed 20 litres per m2 Vertical garden watering exemption: • Do you qualify? To apply for an exemption, email WEpartnerships@watercorporation. com.au. Water Corporation will review the exemption require and advise applicants within 5-10 working days.

MAINTENANCE Step 5: Irrigation

Water and nutrient management are critical to ensure a successful and costeffective vertical garden. Following the best practice irrigation requirements below will ensure your vertical garden thrives and is as water efficient as possible.

Best practice irrigation system requirements: • Automated system • Irrigation to be fitted with a tested master valve • System to be fitted with a backflow prevention device. E.g. RPZ or dual check valve

28

Maintenance is essential to guarantee the success of your vertical garden.

Regular maintenance and inspections by a vertical garden technician or horticulturalist is critical for the adjustment of irrigation and fertigation, and the health and well-being of the plants. In some cases, there may be vandalism and theft of plants in public spaces, which a rigorous maintenance program can also help to avoid.

Maintenance Checklist: • Inspect the vertical garden at least once a fortnight

The Overflow - Summer 2020

• Once a month, carry out cultural checks of the plants. This involves: - Appropriate tip pruning - Weed, pest and disease control - Check the effectiveness of the irrigation/fertigation system. In particular, check for debris in the flush valves and any other filters used • Replacement of plants quickly as needed so the vertical garden fills out and reaches its potential.

Common pests and diseases

The key to achieving a healthy vertical garden is ensuring that it is regularly monitored for signs of pest or disease.

The following can increase outbreaks: • • • • •

Poorly draining growing media Lack of airflow around the plants Over and under watering Lack of maintenance inspections Misidentification of a pest or disease • Excessive fertilising • Not purchasing plants from an accredited nursery.

The above is a condensed, edited version of the Vertical garden walls; Perth and Peel region industry best practice guide. View the full guide on Water Corporation's website here

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Soil Requirements for Growing Vertical Gardens Western Australia, with its hot, dry climate, is a particularly challenging place to grow what are called vertical gardens. Also known as living walls or green walls, this upward growing trend is very much in fashion and used often to save space but mostly to create decorative effects. They can absorb heated gas in the air, lower both indoor and outdoor temperature, providing a healthier indoor air quality as well as a more beautiful space.

To grow plants in such exposed positions makes it critical to have the right soil conditions especially if you want your display to look its best and last for a long time. Garden soil cannot be used as it is too dense and on its own doesn’t offer enough air, water, or nutrients.

The growing medium must be capable of holding nutrients and moisture but must not be too heavy. Clay, because of its density, retains moisture well. It also tends to be more nutrient-rich than other soil types. The reason for this is that the particles that make up clay soil are negatively charged, which means they attract and hold positively charged particles, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Adding 1% of clay to vertical soil mixes mix has numerous benefits:

• The clay has high cation exchange capacity which helps the positive and negative ions in the soil to work together; • You only need a small percentage to make a huge difference to the soil profile.

Deep Green Landscaping who have their own “in house” mixes use Bentonite in their rooftop and garden mixes to give the soil the best chance of holding onto water and nutrients, especially new plantings.

Richgro adds 1% Bentonite to its Vertical Garden Mix as well as different raw materials used to blend up a mix.

These may include pinebark, sand, spongelite, bio char, perlite, coco peat, wetting agent and controlled release fertiliser. This came after many years of trials to get the exact ratio of ingredients to get the plants to grow and the soil media not to ‘shrink’ when settled. This mix has been used successfully by landscapers such as Creative Landscapes, Earth and Water and Phase 3 Landscapes.

• Added clay greatly increases soil moisture retention rates; • The clay can disperse with wetting and reacts with other soil components;

30

The Overflow - Summer 2020

Watch our video

Another challenge with walled or rooftop gardens is watering. A product that is really popular in this case are water crystals, such as Richgro’s EZIWET Water Storage Crystals. Those are water-retaining granules that swell up to many times their size when wet and act as a helping hand with watering. Keeping lots of containers, walled garden and hanging baskets wetted can be very time-consuming but by adding granules to the compost at the time of potting it may reduce the amount of times you would need to water.

From their natural dry state, water crystals swell when placed in water up to 400 times their dry size. They dehydrate over time and will re-swell.

They’ll do this thousands of times over the life of the product.

It is a product used in the horticulture industry throughout the world where there is a shortage of water and can apply to food crops as well as our native plants and are ideal for rooftops and walled gardens.

Landscape gardener Tim Davies explains how you can turn sandy soil into water-retaining, rich garden soil through Bentonite Clay.

• • • •

Domestic private bores in Perth: opportunities for improvement Article submitted by Peter Addison, Addecet Consulting

INTRODUCTION

The Perth Region is underlain by more than 10 km of sedimentary rocks, offering massive renewable water resources. (Davidson, 1995). Most Perth householders are fortunate to have ready access to a large superficial aquifer which has cheaply and sustainably provided abundant low salinity water for garden irrigation.

Groundwater has always played a major role in supplying Perth. At a conference in 1981, Premier Sir Charles Court estimated that over 55,000 residents had invested some $110 million in their gardens by installing bores. (Morgan, 2010).

The last 40 years have seen significant increases in numbers and water

Installing submersible pump bore (supplied Virgin Bores & Reticulation)

produced. Today, there are around 190,000 private domestic bores in the Perth region delivering approx. 82 GL per year from shallow groundwater. (https://www.water.wa.gov.au/urbanwater/bores, 2020). This compares to the total water use in the Perth Region (groundwater, surface and desalination) in 2019 of 799 GL (Bureau of Meteorology, 2019 ).

These privately funded assets, valued at approx. $1 billion, represent the greatest density of private water bores in any city in Australia, and possibly the world.

The recent Waterwise Perth Two Year Action Plan (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, 2019) shows that levels in the superficial aquifer are recovering after many years of decline.

The cost of a private bore relative to scheme water is also declining. About 25% of Perth households (about 190,000 out of 800,000) have taken advantage of this valuable source of water.

32

The Overflow - Summer 2020

How sustainable are these important assets, and what is the “optimum” number of bores that the superficial aquifer could support? How does the cumulative effect of these bores affect other groundwater users, and the environment, and how should these numerous independent and fragmented items of infrastructure be “managed”?

This article explores these issues and suggests some actions that may assist progress towards a more sustainable private bore irrigation supply for Perth households.

KEY ISSUES AFFECTING PRIVATE BORES

Government Policy, regulation and standards

Tap off bore (supplied Virgin Bores & Reticulation)

Western Australia is one of the few States to not require domestic bores in the superficial aquifer to be licensed, registered or drilled by a licensed driller. (Department of the Environment, 2014). In WA, the DWER Be Groundwater Wise website says it is only recommended that garden bores are constructed by an experienced and accredited driller who is licensed by the Australian Drilling Industry Association.

Domestic bores are generally not metered, licensed or monitored.

Consequently, data to manage and plan for the cumulative effects is estimated by occasional surveys, which are unpublished.

Government agencies have complex and overlapping roles regarding the guidance and regulation of domestic private bores, and regulation is generally light handed. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has the key role of managing and regulating the state’s environment and water resources. Department of Health, in its “Healthy WA” web site, provides guidance on using bore water safely. Water Corporation collects data on household water use, including bore use, to identify the most effective opportunities to manage household demand.

DWER and its predecessors have over the years produced several policy level documents including an Operational Policy (Government of

The Overflow - Summer 2020

33

A common problem: unmarked domestic bore located during excavation for a new house. Is this bore safe or repairable?

Western Australia Department of Water, 2011), and guidance for Community bores. (Water recycling and efficiency note: Community bores , 2013), etc.

The recent “Be Groundwater Wise” web pages build substantially on this guidance. (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, 2020).

There is a paucity of data on compliance with standards (Department of the Environment, 2014) and the performance, sustainability and effectiveness of bores in the suburbs of Perth. The detailed Perth Groundwater Map (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, 2020) shows location specific data on bore suitability, however data on the changes in the incidence of iron staining from bores (a common problem) is lacking, as is information on which groundwater subareas have over drawn or under-drawn the superficial aquifer. Data on water quality provided by domestic bores, and in particular changes in salinity over time, is rare.

Recent data in the comprehensive Waterwise Perth Two Year Action Plan shows that average groundwater levels of the Gnangara Mound (superficial aquifer) are recovering (100 GL increase). (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, 2019).

Despite the widespread availability of shallow groundwater, and the relative recovery in aquifer levels, government plans a behaviour change program to encourage a 10% reduction in domestic groundwater use by 2030. (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, 2019). This program is justified by DWER to: “rebalance how much groundwater we use with less rainfall recharging our aquifers under climate change.”

34

A domestic private bore being constructed, showing typical drill rig and limited site access.

Water supplies as a “system”

Large, centralised water suppliers generally adopt a systematic way of consistently and reliably providing huge quantities of water to many thousands of customers. In Perth, large well managed systems have been extremely effective in diversifying the sources of water, and meeting the challenges of a drying climate and increasing water demands.

Large centralised systems do have their weaknesses. For example, they sometimes adopt a “one size fits all” approach. One consequence is that Perth householders receive a consistently high potable quality of scheme water. Much of scheme water supplied (approx. 40%) is used by householders for garden irrigation. This volume potentially could be substituted by garden bore water.

A downside of this success is the risk that other supply options may not have the capacity to provide backup in a crisis. Water Corporation has correctly identified this as a risk to overall sustainability: the failure of some domestic and other private bores used to irrigate gardens, public open space and horticulture (Water Corporation, October 2009).

In contrast to large, centralised scheme water systems, private domestic bores are decentralised, and fragmented, with no coherent core or coordinating mechanism. The amorphous domestic private bore “sector”, comprises around 190,000 independent households, and numerous small contractors and suppliers. This is both a strength and a weakness. Communication with this

Snip from: https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/Waterwise-perth-actionplan.pdf

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A common problem: a bore in a concrete pit, covered over by decking, and difficult to access for maintenance.

An old bore pump in a concrete pit: was this constructed to standards?

Is it safe and sustainable? How long could it last?

approach in order to integrate, coordinate or optimise the performance of the “sector”.

amorphous sector is difficult. None of the water sector representative groups (including the International Association of Hydrogeologists, Australian Water Association, Nursery & Garden Industry Western Australia, and the Australian Drilling Industry Association) claim to represent private bore owners, or reflect private domestic bore owners amongst their boards.

Support mechanisms and guidance for householders

Domestic private bores have been a major success in delivering suitable garden irrigation water, and generally performed reliably for many years. Notwithstanding this, most householders who own bores have little idea about bore construction, maintenance, sustainable yield,

The uniqueness, scale, significance and cumulative impact of domestic bores requires a more nuanced management

water quality etc. They rely on skilled contractors for this advice and support.

WA Government produced guidance for domestic private bore owners in 2011 (Government of Western Australia Department of Water, 2011), and the DWER website contains some useful information (https://www.water.wa.gov. au/urban-water/bores, 2020). Recently the Perth Groundwater Map provides a very valuable tool for householders and contractors. (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation). And the

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bores, including Community and shared bores, to better understand and identify barriers to progressing these.

• Review the targets of the Waterwise Action Plan towards reducing the usage of high value potable quality water on gardens, and correspondingly increasing the usage of lower value fit for purpose superficial sourced groundwater on gardens. This will need careful financial evaluation by the agencies who may be affected.

• Establish shared bore demonstration sites in new developments to showcase best practises in sharing bores between neighbours.

recent Be Groundwater Wise website builds on earlier advice (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, 2020) but it is not known how effective this has been.

However, this guidance omits details on areas of Perth which may be subject to saline intrusion, pollution from contaminated sites, or declining water levels. Information on bore costs and economics, and better information on maintenance, and sustainability would also be helpful.

Householders do not have access to a standardised set of specifications or contract documents which clarifies risks between the owner and the drilling or irrigation contractor. The recently updated comprehensive ADIA Minimum Construction Requirements (National Uniform Drillers Licensing Committee, 2020), is aimed at large contracts between a Company and a Licensed Driller. Despite this comprehensive construction guide, the level of compliance by drillers with the guidelines is largely unknown and/ or unpublished. (Department of the Environment, 2014).

Community Bores, the subject of much good work by Water Corporation and urban water consultants; Josh

36

Byrne & Associates (Community Bore Guide, 2018 ) has a suite of detailed guidelines. Despite this, Community Bores and shared neighbour bores seem to not have achieved much success.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

A management approach which builds effective communication links with the numerous domestic bore owners holds the key to improved performance of the private domestic bore sector in Perth.

The following should be considered: • Establish an independent non-profit coordinating body modelled on the Water Systems Council in the USA (https://www.watersystemscouncil. org/about-wsc/, 2020) to act as a focal point and centre of expertise, and protect, promote and support private bore water systems in Western Australia.

• Establish a private bore owners network, managed by this new body, as the primary means of communicating between private bore owners and regulators, utilities, and catchment groups.

• Review and research existing overall policies towards private

The Overflow - Summer 2020

• Incentivise registration and selective metering and monitoring of all new private bores, and existing bores, (with data to be kept

by DWER) to deliver improved data for better management.

• Improve understanding of the behaviour of the superficial aquifer at sub regional level, through DWER publishing reviews showing changes in localised area aquifer levels / condition / water quality / suitability for domestic bores. These reviews should also report on successful operational Community Bore initiatives, and the number and suburb of private and shared bores registered. Following this, identify prospective future areas for increases in private bores.

• Develop improved guidance material (“Guide to installing a domestic private bore for households”) which includes details on risks, installation process, standards, costs, system planning and design, contracts, operation and maintenance. Include a template for householders for a standard specification and contract document for private and shared bores which equitably allocates risk between bore contractors and bore owner. © Addecet Consulting.

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In partnership, the AWA, ECA and EIANZ will be holding the WA Inland Waters Symposium to discuss key Inland Water issues.

Inland waters are water bodies inland from the coastal zone and areas whose properties and use are dominated by the permanent, seasonal, or intermittent occurrence of flooded conditions. Inland waters include groundwater (superficial

and confined aquifers), and surface water such as rivers, lakes, floodplains, reservoirs, wetlands, inland saline systems and parts of waterways that have been artificially modified.

Date: Wednesday 17 February 2021 Time: 8.00am to 6.45pm Location: Burswood on Swan (Swan Room)1 Camfield Drive, Burswood WA 6100

Pricing (includes GST): â&#x20AC;˘ AWA/ECA/EIANZ Members/ Employees of a Corporate Member: $200 * AWA/EIANZ Student Members: $80 * Non-member Students: $100 â&#x20AC;˘ Non-members: $275 Registration: https://www.eianz.org/events/event/wainland-waters-symposium

PROGRAM 8:00am-8:45am

Registration

8:45am-9:00am

Conference Opening Conference Welcome from AWA, EIANZ & ECA Major Sponsor Address Welcome to Country

9:00am-10:30am

SESSION 1 Keynote Speaker | Rick Van Dam | Australia and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality Keynote Speaker | Dr Rose Lines | Use of eDNA

10:30am-11:00am

Morning Tea

11:00am-12:30pm

SESSION 2 Sally Thompson & Ana Manero

| Guidance for urban developments impacted by high groundwater

Halinka Lamparski | Designing purposeful water quality monitoring programs for urban inland waters Adrian Goodreid & Joanne Mannering | Contemporary approaches to managing environmental values of inland water

12:30pm-1:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm-3:00pm

SESSION 3 Clare Ward-Noonan | Legal rights to access water for MAR projects Ian Brandes de Roos | Water banking / MAR: a water storage solution Doug Brown | The Papa Warringka Scheme - 10 years of large scale MAR

3:00pm-3:30pm

Afternoon Tea

3:30pm-5:00pm

SESSION 4 Dr Tim Storer | Healthy Rivers Program - River assessments supporting water and environmental regulation Chriss Hofmeester | Invasive redclaw crayfish in the Pilbara - Are we too late?

Dr Anne Poeline | Living waters law first

5:00pm-5:10pm

Closing Remarks

5:10pm-6:40pm

Symposium Sundowner

38

The Overflow - Summer 2020

Margaret River Wastewater Treatment Plant services the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River. Every drop of wastewater entering this facility is recycled.

Margaret River wastewater facility upgrade good news for local POS The South West corner of Australia is one of the places on the planet most impacted by climate change. Since the 1970s, annual winter rainfall in the region has reduced by around 20%.

That’s why it’s important to develop reliable alternatives to support the water needs of the Shire of AugustaMargaret River, one of the most idyllic pockets of WA. Across the state, Water Corporation is working hard to future proof our water supply against climate change.

The innovative engineering behind the recently upgraded Margaret River Wastewater Treatment Plan is no exception. Upgrades completed mid-2020 have doubled the capacity of the plant to 3 million litres of wastewater per day to accommodate for rising population in the popular

holiday destination and ensure effective treatment of wastewater for reuse.

The upgrade comprised new treatment equipment, tanks and an additional storage tank. A new regional depot was also constructed onsite for vital work crew.

Margaret River Wastewater Treatment Plant services the Shire of AugustaMargaret River. Each day, around 1.6 million litres of wastewater enters the facility and 100% of this is recycled.

Treated, recycled wastewater accounts for 99.85% of the facility’s output, and is used to irrigate a wide range of public open space in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River. The recycled water also sustains 87 hectares of pine plantation.

The remaining recycled matter is solid, which is then treated and converted into fertiliser, which is used on local woodlots, making the facility 100% re-use.

Senior Project Manager Peter McCleery is full of pride of the outcome. “This incredible project result was achieved through ongoing collaboration with Water Corporation specialists, capable operators, designers and external contractors.

Minister for Water, Dave Kelly said “The south-west pocket of Western Australia is one of the most impacted places on the planet by climate change and lack of rainfall, so it’s imperative we have safe and reliable alternatives to support the community’s water needs.

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39

Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme Update Expressions of Interest for SF Scheme Water The EPA will now review the ERD and approve its release for the 6-week public comment period. The public review period will provide community members with the opportunity to read the submission, covering the construction and operation of the scheme and the assessment of environmental impact and make any relevant comments on the proposal. The public review will be well advertised.

This submission has been collated using extensive scientific research from qualified professionals collated over the last four years and in some cases longer.

The SF Irrigation Co-operative (SFIC) recently called for expressions of interest from local farmers to register their interest formally for water entitlements for the remaining 1.7GL as part of a Round 2 Water sales process. Applications closed on Friday 18 December and there has been an overwhelming response with requests equating to 3.885GL of water.

The applications received demonstrate not only the support for the scheme, but the importance of additional water in this significant horticultural region, which produces >20% of Western Australia's irrigated agricultural produce.

The SFIC will now work with DPIRD and DWER to assess these applications and look at options to satisfy as much of the demand as possible.

Environmental Review Document

The SFIC have completed a significant milestone with the submission of our final Environmental Review Document (ERD) to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on Friday 18 December.

40

The Overflow - Summer 2020

To find out more about the Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme, contact SFIC on 9777 0181 or email info@sfic.com.au

Busselton Water puts water efficiency on the agenda WA water utility Busselton Water has partnered with Irrigation Australia to increase waterwise efficiency measures and education in the garden this summer.

The Waterwise Garden Irrigator and Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop Programs have recently been introduced to the South West region, where industry professionals are invited to complete a self-paced, online water efficiency education course to become endorsed as waterwise, with the ultimate goal of reducing water waste through irrigation installed in domestic households.

Busselton Water Managing Director, Chris Elliott explained that in the current climate, it’s important to increase education and access to waterwise practices to conserve our precious groundwater resource for the future.

“Whilst our groundwater aquifers are replenished by rainfall, the impacts of climate change and our drying climate means that our water source is finite,” explained Mr Elliott. “It is because of

this that we as a community need to adopt and increase our waterwise practices and behaviours.”

of the day is our drinking water – we can’t survive without it and so what’s the point in wasting it?” he added.

“We encourage households to use a waterwise endorsed irrigator when installing or re-evaluating their reticulation systems. This is a tangible example of how individuals can help to preserve our precious water resource beyond sticking to the summer watering roster.”

To kick off these new waterwise programs, Busselton Water has partnered with Irrigation Australia Members (Hunter Industries, Rain Bird Australia and HR Products) and Waterwise member ARB Landscaping & Fencing in a competition where locals can win one of three irrigation prizes, including a free consultation from Aron himself!

Waterwise endorsed irrigator, Aron Brown, owner of ARB Landscaping & Fencing said he signed up to become a waterwise endorsed irrigator to ensure he works towards the same set of best practice waterwise guidelines being used for irrigators across WA. “There’s some aspects of reticulation that irrigators do differently to one another, so implementing a set of guidelines is a good thing in my opinion,” explained Aron.

“It’s important to have waterwise reticulation because it saves you water and therefore money. It’s also saving a resource which at the end

To enter, Busselton home gardeners just need to send through a photo and explanation of their garden set-up to admin@busseltonwater.wa.gov.au or message Busselton Water’s Facebook page before Friday, 5 March. Check Busselton Water’s website for more competition details: https://www. busseltonwater.wa.gov.au/customers/ waterwise-homes/waterwise-gardens/ To find local endorsed waterwise irrigation professionals or how to obtain waterwise endorsement, head to www.waterwiseprograms.com.au/ southwest.

The Overflow - Summer 2020

41

Introduction to Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) 2021 Training Sessions Calling all graduates and new professionals in the water sector or development industry - New WAter Ways introductory training combines several topics into two intensive courses to be run from 9am to 2.30pm on 24 February and 23 March 2021.

These courses will improve your understanding of water sensitive urban design principles, practices and possibilities.

Session 1 - Wednesday 24 February 2021 • Planning processes and Better Urban Water Management • Introduction to stormwater management practices and the Decision Process • Biofilter design and maintenance

Session 2 - Tuesday 23 March 2021 • Groundwater management for urban development, • Local water management strategies – how to get it right • Retrofitting for WSUD with Wayne Edgeloe, Director, Edgeloe Engineering • Maintenance of WSUD assets These sessions are aimed at local government and industry planners, engineers, landscape architects, asset managers and developers to assist our industry to better deliver water sensitive cities.

Venue: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington Time: 9.00am to 2.30pm Registration Fee: $99pp (incl GST) for each session and includes morning tea and a light lunch Register Here Places are strictly limited!

42

The Overflow - Summer 2020

Water Update

Supplied by the Water Corporation Current graphs can be found at www.watercorporation.com.au

Water Usage Metro Region

https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/Rainfalland-dams/Water-use

Yearly Streamflow https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/Rainfalland-dams/Streamflow

Perth Rainfall Comparison https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/Rainfalland-dams/Rainfall

The Overflow - Summer 2020

43

RETICULATION SYSTEM.

Whether you are starting from scratch or wanting to improve your existing system, talk to a Waterwise Garden Irrigator for professional irrigation design, installation and maintenance services.

HAVE YOU VISITED THE WA WATERWISE PROGRAMS WEBSITE? If you prefer to do-it-yourself, get expert advice and quality parts from your local Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop (retail outlet).

www.waterwiseprograms.com.au

To find a Waterwise professional in your local area, simply scan our QR code to search the Waterwise Irrigation Directory, or visit our website wa.waterwiseprograms.com.au

Search the Waterwise Irrigation Directory

Alternatively please contact us on: (08) 9368 3136 | adminsupport@irrigation.org.au | wa.waterwiseprograms.com.au

The Waterwise Garden Irrigator Program is a joint initiative of the WA Region of Irrigation Australia and Water Corporation, with a goal of optimising water-use efficiency of domestic irrigation systems in Western Australia. Endorsed Waterwise Garden Irrigators are fully trained in water efficient practices and can design, install, repair and maintain home garden irrigation systems.

WATERWISE GARDEN IRRIGATORS AAA Irrigation

GC Landscapes

Rapid Retic

Adonis Gardening & Irrigation

Great Northern Rural Services

Retic Doctor

Advantage Bores & Reticulation Services

Greena Outdoors

Retic Express

All Water Irrigation

Greenworx

Retic Turf & Soakwells Pty Ltd

Allwest Bores & Reticulation

Growing Assets

Reticulation & Gardens Perth

B & C Fiorini Pty Ltd

Horizon West Landscape & Irrigation

Reticulation Pro

Beyond Reticulation

Instant Gardens

Robert Reynolds

BHG Garden Service

Irriscape Reticulation & Landscaping

Softscapes & Reticulation Pty Ltd

Bolesta's Backyard Creations

Jim's Mowing Wilson North

Superior Landscaping & Reticulation

Bowie Irrigation

Joel Irrigation & Landscaping

The Garden Fixer

Bradkaz Irrigation

Landscape Elements Pty Ltd

The Greenscape Collective

Brighton Reticulation

Landscape Works WA

The Retic Company

Brookwell Irrigation

LD TOTAL

The Retic & Landscape Shop

Candid Reticulation Services

Lowcut Lawnmowing

The Watershed Water Systems Midland

CHATT Services

Luke's Landscaping Co

Think Water Dunsborough

Chrisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landscaping

Meticulous Maintenance Services

Think Water Geraldton

Civic Reticulation

Midwest Turf Supplies

Think Water Perth

Clackline Reticulation

MJ Landscaping

TLC Services Perth

Coast to Coast Irrigation

Mr Retic

Top Dog Landscaping and Reticulation

Condo Landscapes Pty Ltd

Newground Water Services

Turfed Out

Country Landscaping & Irrigation

Nutrien Water

Ultimate Blue Pty Ltd

Dynamic Property Solutions

Peel Scape Solutions

Urban Reticulation

Earlybird Landscaping

Perdita Reticulation & Garden Solutions

WA Reticulation Supplies

Earth & Water Pty Ltd

Perfect Home Solutions

WaterLink

Ecoedge Retic Supplies

Perth Lawns and Retic

Water Well Reticulation

Elliotts Irrigation Pty Ltd

Plantech Grounds Maintenance

Waterwise Landscaping

Evergreen Blades

Portworks

Westcoast Reticulation Services

Evergrow Gardenscapes

Pretty Blooming Good

Wet Frog Retic

First Element Irrigation

Prime Landscaping Pty Ltd

WF Landscape Industries Pty Ltd

Forever Green Reticulation & Garden Maintenance

PTC Irrigation

Wild Earth Landscapes

Pumps N Pipes Supplies

Willetton Landscapes

Rain Maker Irrigation Services

Yurra Pty Ltd

FPM Landscapes Pty Ltd Garden Solutions

44

The Overflow - Summer 2020

The website features an extensive and up-todate business directory where the community can search for their local Waterwise members, based on their location. Head to the search directory at www.waterwiseprograms.com.au for members’ contact details, or if you’d like information on how to become an endorsed Waterwise business.

With an increasing number of DIY enthusiasts installing and maintaining their own irrigation systems, the Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop Program was developed to raise the standard of irrigation advice and design services offered by staff at counter level of specialist irrigation retailers. Endorsed staff have the knowledge and skills to provide their customers with waterwise advice, products and services.

WATERWISE IRRIGATION DESIGN SHOPS Addwater Reticulation - Maddington

Reece Irrigation & Pools - Belmont

Controlled Irrigation Supplies - Joondalup

Reece Irrigation - Canning Vale

Elliotts Irrigation Pty Ltd - Greenwood

Reece Irrigation - Malaga

Nutrien Water - Balcatta

Reece Irrigation - Osborne Park

Nutrien Water - Bibra Lake

Reece Irrigation - Rockingham

Nutrien Water - Byford

The Retic & Landscape Shop- Southern River

Nutrien Water - Canning Vale

The Watershed Water Systems - Cockburn

Nutrien Water - Greenwood

The Watershed Water Systems - Midland

Nutrien Water - Joondalup

The Watershed Water Systems - Morley

Nutrien Water - Malaga

The Watershed Water Systems - Subiaco

Nutrien Water - Mandurah

Think Water Broome

Nutrien Water - Midvale

Think Water Dunsborough

Nutrien Water - Myaree

Think Water Geraldton

Nutrien Water - Osborne Park

Think Water Perth

Nutrien Water - Rockingham

WA Reticulation Supplies - Armadale

Peel H20 Solutions - Mandurah

WA Reticulation Supplies - Midland

Pumps ‘n Pipes - Mandurah

Watertorque - Muchea

Rainscape Waterwise Solutions - Bibra Lake

SOUTH WEST WATERWISE PROGRAMS Irrigation Australia has recently launched the Waterwise Irrigation Programs in the South West region of WA, with the support of local water utilities; Busselton Water and Aqwest.

WATERWISE IRRIGATION DESIGN SHOPS

WATERWISE GARDEN IRRIGATORS

Country Water Solutions – Bunbury

ARB Landscaping & Fencing

Nutrien Water – Busselton

Country Landscaping & Irrigation Nutrien Water - Busselton LD TOTAL

The Overflow - Summer 2020

45

Build On Your Professional Development Irrigation Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s range of nationally accredited courses and qualifications are designed to provide you with the right skills and knowledge to pursue a career in the irrigation industry.

Take a look at the topics being delivered over the coming months

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11/58 Metroplex Avenue, Murarrie Qld 4172 | 1300 949 891 | info @irrigation.org.au | irrigationaustralia.com.au