Overflow Magazine Summer 2022 by Irrigation Australia

Quarterly Publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region)

NO. 67 SUMMER 2022

IN THIS ISSUE Gnangara Allocation Plan

Domestic garden bore sprinkler roster

Unique solutions for Mills Park Irrigation

Horticultural water use efficiency

The Peel Integrated Water Initiative

Murchison water quality improvements

Supplying clean water to the Pilbara

How healthy is your irrigation water source?

Contents

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

Gnangara Allocation Plan

Unique solutions for Mills Park Irrigation

The Peel Integrated Water Initiative

Water treatment plant supplying clean water to Pilbara community

Aligning domestic garden bore sprinkler roster with the scheme water roster

Mark Your Diary February 2022 1

Commencement: AHC41119 Certificate IV in Irrigation Management (Virtual)

1-4

Meter Installation & Validation: NSW Funded & General Public (Virtual)

Water use efficiency the aim for horticultural producers

8-11

Urban Irrigation Design (Virtual)

Murchison water quality improvements

Commencement: AHC32419 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (Virtual)

Busselton Water Home Water Calculator

22-25

Commercial Irrigation Design (Virtual)

Water... its life!

Water efficiency research profiled at WA Horticulture

How healthy is your irrigation water source?

Why fertigation makes sense in irrigated agriculture

March 2022 1-4

Meter Installation & Validation (Virtual)

15-17

Irrigation Pumps & Systems (Virtual)

WA Member Event – Woodchester Reserve, Nollamara, WA

Commencement: AHC32419 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (Virtual & Face to Face)

29-1 Apr

Irrigation Efficiency Course - Face to Face - 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Ascot, WA) limited places available

Cover: Gnangara Allocation Plan (see article on page 8) May 2022

National Office Staff Bryan Ward - Chief Executive Officer

bryan.ward@irrigation.org.au

5-7

Waterwise Garden Workshop (within Perth Garden Festival, Langley Park, Perth)

10-12

Irrigation Efficiency Course - Face to Face 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Balcatta, WA) limited places available

TBA

WA Member Event (Curtin University, Bentley, WA)

Geoff Harvey - National Training & Marketing Manager geoff.harvey@irrigation.org.au Andres Jaramillo - Training and Certification Officer

andres.jaramillo@irrigation.org.au

Marike Froneman - Accountant (part time)

marike.froneman@irrigation.org.au

Chris Delphin - Business Administration Manager

chris.delphin@irrigation.org.au

For further training information please visit: www.coie.com.au

Tony Wilson - RTO Training Administrator tony.wilson@irrigation.org.au Kasey Barton - Training and Administration Officer kasey.barton@irrigation.org.au

WA Office Staff Tracy Martin - National Membership & Regions Manager

tracy.martin@irrigation.org.au

Rebecca New - WA Projects Officer Ph: 0458 291 643

rebecca.new@irrigation.org.au

Ellen Slobe - Overflow Coordinator Ph: 0411 293 398

overflow@irrigation.org.au

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

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 authorised 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 $95ea non-members or $65ea for IAL Members All signs approximately 400mm x 300mm. To download the order form please click here.

Chairman's Report

From the CEO Bryan Ward

Darryl Wylie

Happy New Year and a warm welcome to IALWA for 2022. Firstly, I would like to say what a privilege it is to take up the position of Chair for the WA region. I hope to continue the fine work of the previous Chair Clinton Hort, and those before him. Although I am new to the role, I am confident that my passion and determination will assist the team at IALWA achieve our goals for 2022. During my 34 years in the irrigation industry, I have seen a lot of changes in technology and irrigation practices. While I have been very fortunate with the opportunities I have been given, I have felt for a long time that I needed a new challenge. As a member of Irrigation Australia, I have decided to give back to an industry that has done so much for me. I think there is nothing more important and rewarding than to challenge yourself and to be of service to the industry you work in. I bring a different skill set to the Executive and I hope in my time as Chair I can help this Association grow to become stronger, working as always to deliver on our Mission. IALWA is blessed with many dedicated, talented people and in my short time in this role I have seen in more detail the tireless work that they do. In December I met with the Hon Dave Kelly MLA and representatives from DWER and Water Corporation to discuss the planned rebalancing of Perth ground water by moving bore usage to two days a week. This meeting was also attended by representatives of allied industries - Nursery & Garden Industry WA, Landscape Industry Association of WA, WA Turf Industry, National Drilling Association (WA) and Josh Byrne & Associates. I have also attended my first quarterly Waterwise meeting with Water Corporation where we discussed our progress with the Smart Controller Rebate Program, Waterwise Garden Irrigator, and Irrigation Design Shop Programs, as well as the Waterwise Council Training Program and our plans to deliver irrigation efficiency training of grounds staff through the Waterwise Schools Program (yet to be approved). The allied industries have had follow up meetings with DWER and Water Corporation to review the data used to formulate their proposed Bill and were asked to go away and come back with a solution. The allied industries met prior to Xmas, and it was quite evident that we needed to ask our respective members for their feedback on such an important issue. Therefore, IALWA produced a flyer for distribution to our WA members outlining the planned aligning domestic garden bore sprinkler roster with the scheme water roster. I have liaised with irrigation stores on this matter and been advised that most are happy to engage in the conversation, keeping their customers informed of issues that impact the quality of their gardens. This flyer will allow bore owners of WA to have a voice and be heard, by sending a strong message to the WA Government that their gardens and beautiful streetscapes matter. The impact of this legislation, should it be successful, will be enormous on our industry and it will affect our companies and industry members directly and indirectly through associated products. Unfortunately, we have seen the results of a two-day scheme watering roster. With a large number of households giving up on irrigation and the resulting dust bowl effect in many suburbs throughout the Perth metropolitan area. If these proposed changes are allowed, I feel “The domestic garden bore owner” and their beautiful gardens may become a thing of the past. I welcome any feedback on this or any of the topics I have mentioned above – simply email me at darryl.wylie@hrproducts.com.au

We were delighted to see such strong interest for positions on the WA Regional Committee at the recent annual meeting and I congratulate all new committee members including new Chair Darryl Wylie. This continues the longstanding support that Irrigation Australia members in Western Australia have for the irrigation industry and Irrigation Australia and on behalf of our association I thank you for your commitment and service. Any hopes of a reduction in COVID cases in 2022 have been dashed with the arrival of the Omicron variant late in 2021 and case numbers in eastern states have been at alarming high levels in recent weeks. Supermarket stocks are depleted and there are long queues at COVID testing stations and rapid antigen tests are hard to obtain. This places a further burden on businesses and our economy and Irrigation Australia has had to postpone several more scheduled face-to-face training activities which has had a negative impact on students and our income. Unfortunately, we can do little about this and have no option other than to ride out the pandemic. This said, we remain confident that the international irrigation conference will be held as scheduled in October 2022 in Adelaide. There has been very strong interest from ICID member countries and at the time of writing over 430 abstract submissions have been received for the 24th International Congress. Irrigation Australia has extended the abstract submission date for Australian submissions for the conference to 15 February 2022 and information on how to lodge a paper and on the event can be found at www.icid2022.com.au There have been some exciting additions to the conference program including: • The inclusion of a parallel one-day Geosynthetics Conference on Tuesday 4th October organised by the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) which will focus on how geosynthetics reduce water losses in irrigation and agriculture-related applications, canals, water reservoirs, and dams. • A half day workshop on Integrating Fish into Irrigation. This session is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Fish, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Charles Sturt University (CSU) and sponsored by the Australia Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR). • Two presentations from the National Water Grid Authority (NWGA) and the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority (NQWIA) titled "Delivering secure, affordable and reliable water for rural and regional Australia". The Government is investing a total of $3.5 billion through the National Water Grid Fund as part of a long-term commitment to building sustainable agriculture, increasing drought resilience and providing secure and affordable water for rural and regional Australia. It should be noted that delegates can attend the ICID Congress, Irrigation Australia Conference and Geosynthetics conference on a single registration fee which provides access to all events on the program. Early bird registrations are now open at https://www.icid2022.com.au/iace-home/ registration-iace/ We are receiving strong interest from irrigation industry suppliers for the exhibition as they recognise the opportunity to present their products and technology to a large irrigation audience at this free-to-attend three-day exhibition. For further information on exhibiting at the exhibition visit https://www.icid2022.com.au/iace-home/exhibitors-iaec/ Bryan Ward IAL Chief Executive Officer

Darryl Wylie IAL (WA) Industry Chairman

The Overflow | Summer 2022

Regional Update By Tracy Martin, National Membership & Regions Manager & Rebecca New, WA Projects Officer

Dear Members, Industry Colleagues and Interested Parties, Welcome to the Summer edition of The Overflow magazine. We trust all our members and industry colleagues have enjoyed their festive season celebrating with their family and friends and hope you stayed cool somehow, someway from the scorching heat. The final member event for 2021 was held at Fruitico Farms (table grape grower) in Waroona some 130kms South of Perth on 17th November. 49 members joined us for a walk and talk which provided a complete overview

of the vineyard operations (Farm Manager – Brian Della enlightened everyone on the Fruitico story 2016 – 2021; Harvey Water - Richard Yates explained the Harvey Water irrigation scheme and the water source connections and future water source plans for the region; Netafim – Paul Officer/John Witherspoon gave a detailed overview of the filtration, core drainage, irrigation design methodology and considerations, radio control fertigation and automation systems; and finally SWAN Systems – Ivor Gaylard showcased the onsite SWAN scheduling system. We take this opportunity to thank Fruitico, Netafim and SWAN for their support and participation of this event.

The November meeting of the WA Region focused on the allocation of nominees at the Annual Regional Meeting to the various SubCommittees that oversee the regional activities. The 2022 committees and their members are made up as follows:

Executive Committee

Darryl Wylie – Chair Tim Robertson – Vice Chair Andrew Ogden - Secretary Daniel Nelson – Treasurer

Waterwise

Jason Rothery – Chair Bede Anderson Nathan Yardley Andrew Webb Todd Denzil-Williams Mark Barnes Darren Seinor Paul Mellor

Members Interests / Technical Troy Fiscus – Chair Nicole McNeil Mark Davies Zaahir du Toit

Training

Paul Willmott - Chair Darryl Wylie Clive Croxford

Overflow

Steve Rowan Alison Waters Stacey Oakley

Rural

Richard Yates Stacey Oakley We thank all our members for volunteering their time to support and guide the activities of the regional office. Irrigation Australia

The Overflow | Summer 2022

Ltd (IAL) represents members and actively encourages professional development in an effort to assist with their capacity to support a liveable and prosperous Western Australia through creation and maintenance of water efficient residential gardens, community landscaping, active sports fields, and food production areas. The direct interface between IAL members, managers and end users of water in Western Australia, helps to facilitate and improve industry and community understanding of waterrelated issues and opportunities. Well-informed industry representation provided by IALWA supports the WA Government’s efforts towards effective policy and legislative reform and contributes to development of long-term strategies for water resource management. If you wish to discuss any opportunities, recommendations and/or concerns

with regards to any of the areas the committees focus on, please do not hesitate to contact the regional office. We welcome Darryl Wylie of HR Products as Chair of the WA region and look forward to working with him over the coming 12 months and beyond. Darryl has taken the opportunity to introduce himself to all of you in this edition and has outlined what activities he has been undertaking on behalf of the industry in his first weeks as Chair. We must acknowledge the longstanding commitment from Clinton Hort as WA Chair. Clinton has relocated with his family to SouthEast Queensland where he has taken up the position of General Manager with Rodney Industries. It would be remiss not to acknowledge Clinton’s passion and respect for the WA water industry over the past 12

years. During this time he has held the position of Chair of the Overflow committee since 2009 and Regional Chair since 2014. We wish him well in his new endeavours. IALWA have been awarded a contract to deliver a series of Waterwise Garden Workshops focused at the home gardener which are to be delivered within the 2022 Perth Garden & Outdoor Living Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. These workshops will cover topics such as: Perth’s water story, how to evaluate your irrigation system, irrigation design considerations, soil water relationships; smart irrigation controllers and waterwise irrigation practices. These workshops are FREE to attend but registration is essential, and only available to patrons who purchase entry tickets to the Perth Garden & Outdoor Living Festival.

6th - 7th - 8th

WATERWISE GARDEN WORKSHOPS

May 2022

to be held within the Perth Garden & Outdoor Living Festival Garden enthusiasts will gain an understanding of waterwise lawn care, attractive lawn alternatives, efficient irrigation and how to improve Perth’s soils. Come along to watch live demonstrations and the opportunity to ask an expert. These Workshops will be held Friday, Saturday & Sunday only commencing 11.00am. Visit the Waterwise Garden Workshop webpage on the Perth Garden & Outdoor Living Festival website to learn more & register.

Click Here

The Overflow | Summer 2022

Your guide to A WATER EFFICIENT GARDEN

WA Edition

WATERWISE – SUMMER 2021

Irrigation Australia (WA Region) met with Water Corporation for the quarterly stakeholder meeting on 30th November 2021 and discussed the two initiatives available for Water Corporation customers that wanted to help save water in the garden. Both initiatives were exclusively available for customers to engage with members endorsed in the Waterwise Programs. The 2021 Spring Sprinkler Check Up Program included a free irrigation audit and minor service to help maintain the amenity of customers’ lawn and garden, whilst also minimising water usage. A request for quotation was sent to Endorsed Waterwise Garden Irrigators in August 2021, with approximately 20 successful applicants. The program proved to be extremely popular with customers and has already exceeded the available limit after only being launched in September 2021. The 2021 Weather Smart Irrigation Rebate included a total of $300 and was split for the purchase ($200),

installation, and programming ($100) of one eligible weather based irrigation product. This rebate was received well by customers and Water Corporation has advised that due to popular demand, applications will close on 31st January 2022.

Drought and water restrictions in many parts of Australia have shown us that water is a scarce and precious resource. Many gardeners have found to their surprise that their plants survived, even thrived, despite receiving less water due to restrictions. In other words, most gardens are regularly over-watered. Just because water restrictions permit watering at a certain time doesn’t mean you need to water. And even where there are no restrictions we should all be doing our best to conserve water. Reducing the water you give your plants will also save your time, effort and money and you will still have a healthy garden.

Rain

Transpiration

The Water Cycle Water irrigation

Evaporation

Runoff

IALWA will be working with Water Corporation throughout the year to discuss future initiatives for the 2022/2023 irrigation season and we will advise members on those outcomes in due course. In December the WA regional office met with Busselton Water, one of the South-West water utilities, to discuss how to expand the Waterwise activities in the South-West region to support both community and industry. Busselton Water were keen to receive recommendations on initiatives that could be considered for the 2022/2023 irrigation season. This follows on from their successful Summer 2021 initiative “Do you have a Waterwise Garden” where customers entered the competition to win one of three prize packs.

Mulch

Soil

Drainage

Root zone approx 30cm

The diagram above shows that water is added to the soil through rain or irrigation. It is lost from the soil surface through evaporation and is transpired through the leaves of plants as they grow naturally. Water can also run off the surface and drain through the soil.

The challenge is to manage water applications so that there is just enough water in the root zone for your plants to stay healthy.

Plants draw water from the soil where their roots grow. If you overfill the soil, water will be wasted through runoff or by draining below the root zone. Additionally, too much water will result in a waterlogged soil that can cause root rot and disease that kill plants. If the soil dries out for long periods or too often it can become water repellent and your plants could wilt and die.

• •

Important steps in creating a healthy landscape that uses less water are:

• •

Understanding your soil type. Improving the soil so that water infiltrates and is held effectively. Understanding when and how to supplement natural rainfall only when necessary. Installing a professionally designed, wellmaintained irrigation system.

Topics covered:

The water cycle The importance of soil Upgrade your irrigation system Installing your system

When to water Flow & pressure Sprinkler Watering Run Times Seasonal Adjustment Settings

Watering new lawns & gardens Hidden leaks Irrigation System Checklist Do you need help?

Do’s & Don’t’s

The popular “Guide to a Water Efficient Garden” digital booklet continues to be promoted online through various social media channels. We encourage members and industry to distribute this to the community. For garden enthusiasts, helpful tips and tricks are being posted weekly on The Waterwise Irrigation Programs facebook page.

5TH OCT TO 7 TH OCT 2022

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WA Irrigation Traineeships NOW AVAILABLE AHC32419 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology Overview Irrigation Australia is excited to advise that there are now opportunities for irrigation industry businesses wanting to employ a subsidised trainee in Western Australia. This training course includes everything an employee would need to learn to design, operate and maintain irrigation systems in a wide range of professional environments, such as:

2 Years

• Local government (councils) • Landscapers

Delivery method

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Once the trainee has successfully completed the course, they will receive a Nationally Recognised Qualification as a Qualified Irrigation Technician.

Traineeships available for • School-based students • School leavers 2021 • Long and short term unemployed

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Gnangara Allocation Plan Rebalancing the Gnangara groundwater system is on the agenda with the release of the Gnangara groundwater allocation plan: draft for public comment.

households with garden bores.

Developed by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) using up-to-date scientific information and following years of discussions with stakeholders, the plan is open for a three-month public comment period. The draft plan aims to provide water supply certainty to water users over the next decade, supporting WA jobs and the economy, while ensuring the environmental sustainability of the Gnangara groundwater system as our climate changes.

To rebalance this once healthy system, the draft allocation plan proposes a 10 per cent reduction for most licensed groundwater users and a 27 per cent reduction to groundwater taken by the Water Corporation for Perth’s Integrated Water Supply Scheme.

“Perth’s declining rainfall, due to climate change, combined with groundwater use has resulted in the Gnangara groundwater system shifting out of balance,” Ben Drew, Director of Water and Ecosystem Planning for DWER said.

The reductions are proposed to come into effect from 2028 to allow water licensees time to prepare, including seeking advice from irrigation specialists on how to find groundwater savings while minimising impacts to production and services.

“The groundwater system supplies around 40 per cent of Perth’s drinking water, and to the north of the river, almost all of the water for growers, parks, sports grounds and 1 in 4

The Overflow | Summer 2022

“Groundwater also supports important wetlands and bushland throughout the area.”

The reductions needed for self-supply licensed users were able to be limited to just 10 per cent because of the large reduction to groundwater abstraction for public water supply.

“In developing the draft plan, we consulted with many licensees and their peak bodies including the irrigation industry.

“They informed us that most licensees could do a lot more to improve their water efficiency and that the irrigation industry was equipped to assist,” Mr Drew said. “The irrigation industry and the professionals working in it have the skills and technology to help licensees optimise their existing groundwater use and find groundwater savings,” he said. “They can also be relied upon to help licensees to maximise on-site water harvesting and water recycling opportunities to augment their future groundwater supply.”

Considerable benefits will be delivered across most of the Gnangara system by reducing groundwater use over the next decade, including improved environmental values and reducing the risk to groundwater quality. “The objective of this groundwater allocation plan is, where possible, to maintain or increase groundwater levels to avoid further damage to water quality and environmental health,” Mr Drew said.

Important wetlands and native bushland will be protected and made more resilient to climate change by taking the actions in the draft plan.

and do their share to ensure our precious groundwater resources are protected into the future from climate change and over-use.”

“Changes to water availability for licensees are planned for implementation from 2028 which means business and landowners have time to adjust their water requirements

The public comment period is now open until 28 February 2022. For more information about the plan and how to provide comment visit: www.gnangara. dwer.wa.gov.au.

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Unique Solutions for Mills Park Irrigation Global COVID restrictions and socially isolating measures have highlighted the importance of public, urban greenspace, with outdoor recreational activity increasing markedly in areas experiencing lockdowns. Studies have shown a strong relationship between positive mental health and time spent in nature.

The Canning and Southern Rivers and tributaries provide green corridors through the local government area. The City applies industry best practices to maximise its water efficiency by using the latest innovations in technology to track, maintain, control and minimise the amount of water used on their sporting fields and parks.

The challenge of the local government’s role in maintaining these green spaces in the face of climate change is ever increasing in the South West Land Division. (The southwest of Western Australia and the WA Wheatbelt is jointly called the South West Land Division, including the cities of Perth, Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Geraldton & Mandurah).

The Parks and Gardens team consists of 84 staff members, overseeing the maintenance of 645 hectares of green space across 370 parks.

This challenge is keenly felt in the City of Gosnells (CoG), located approx. 20km south-east of Perth with a population of 118,073 (2016 census). 2021 Census details haven’t yet been released, but the population was forecast to be 135,626 in 2021 and grow to 170,048 by 2036.

The Overflow | Summer 2022

Of these 370 parks: • 178 parks encompassing 397 hectares are irrigated by bore water • 85 parks, with 77 hectares of green space, are irrigated by scheme water • Five parks of 22 hectares are irrigated with water sourced from the Woodlupine-Yule Brook, a tributary river that runs into the Canning River.

• 139 parks, totalling 150 hectares, are not irrigated. These local “1-star” parks require minimal maintenance, including mowing, as required. Mills Park is a district park totalling 142,000sqm in Beckenham and is one of the sites irrigated by the brook. This unique site includes three separate ovals and has a variety of different water sources. The brook (which feeds into the Canning River) is the water source for 85% of the year, depending on rain events. Usually, there will be several weeks in January/February where the City is forced to pump scheme water into the irrigation lake to irrigate the Mills Park ovals. The use of supplementary scheme water isn’t ideal but has been approved by the Department of Water & Environmental Regulation (DWER) as the best solution for now to keep the popular site green and functional all year round.

Council has invested in environmental improvements in their waterways, including at the Woodlupine-Yule Brook, increasing vegetation to prevent erosion. The City is considering other water solutions, including possible tank water storage facilities on-site and horizontal bores to draw water from the top of the superficial aquifer in areas where the water quality is poor, to reduce the impact on groundwater resources whilst avoiding the brackish water. They are also looking at other water sources, possibly pumping water from a bore in Packer Park, a nearby park 1.2km away, to supplement the river water. For maximum water efficiency, the Mills Park site, as well as the rest of the CoG network of irrigated public parks, utilise T.I.I. SIGNAL smart controller technology as part of their central control system. It has a 4G modem attached to the controller so that it can be accessed remotely by field staff, so adjustments can be made when rain events occur. Consequently, when temperatures increase, staff can monitor and increase water application if required.

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The City of Gosnells utilises flow meters on bores, which assist Water Corporation and DWER to monitor water usage. There are currently 170 separate bore on various licences covering the area, but the City is negotiating with DWER to amalgamate these into one. Water allocations from the superficial aquifer, which is the shallowest aquifer stretching across the coastal plain, total 1,415,000kL, and the Leederville aquifer water allocations are 696,000kL, for a combined total of 2,111,000kL.

The Overflow | Summer 2022

Encouragingly, only 86% of the allocation was used in 2020/2021. Despite this, the City is proactively looking at reducing water use in the future, with future reductions in water allocations expected. The City is reducing water use through hydro-zoning and eco-zoning across the City. They are also looking at installing fertigation systems, so staff can control wetting agent application through the irrigation systems. Additional water sources are being investigated to alleviate watering

issues, but there are no easy alternatives. CoG also has challenges with stormwater due to the City’s lowlying position. Whilst harvesting and storing water from the creek / drain would increase water access, the river must flow unrestricted to avoid flooding and drainage issues. It is hoped the wet weather Perth experienced in the leadup to 2021 Spring/Summer has left the vegetation more resilient, and reliance on groundwater will be reduced further this irrigation season.

The Peel Integrated Water Initiative

technical information that supports climate-independent, sustainable and secure water use for the Transform Peel Program and environmental benefits for future generations. The PIWI project team implemented an extensive technical program which assessed the water opportunities and constraints related to the economic development objectives of the Transform Peel program. The technical program focused on delivering two main objectives, centred on water quantity and quality: • Water quantity: Identify a range of technically viable water source and storage options to support the expected growth in demand from the Peel Food Zone and Peel Business Park and maintain the region’s water balance. • Water quality: Develop strategies to protect the region’s fragile ecosystem by minimising land-use impacts on the environment and reducing agricultural nutrient runoff into the Peel-Harvey estuary by 50 per cent. The PIWI project team collaborated with CSIRO to undertake extensive technical analysis to model and better understand the Peel water system. Studies included: • Managed aquifer recharge feasibility study: Investigated the possibility of storing water collected over the wet winter months by pumping it into the deep natural aquifer system for future demand.

The Peel Integrated Water Initiative (PIWI) is a program of Transform Peel - a $49.3 Million program of integrated, strategic projects to activate the economic development and investment in the Peel Region. It included Peel Business Park, Peel Food Zone as well as the Peel Water Initiative. The PIWI area is in the Peel Region approximately 70 km south of Perth and covered an area of approximately

The Overflow | Summer 2022

42,000 ha study area aligned with the boundaries of the Peel food Zone incorporating the Peel Business Park. Water availability is critical for effective regional development, underpinning options for economic growth and determining the viability of capital investments. The Peel Integrated Water Initiative supports the Peel Region’s growth and economic development by delivering

• Groundwater environmental tracer analysis: Used to improve existing hydrogeological knowledge of the area and extend the conceptual modelling of deeper aquifers. • Airborne Electromagnetic and seismic surveys: Measured changes in below-ground conductivity (an indicator of groundwater salinity) to provide a better understanding of the regional groundwater system before validating findings through drilling and pump testing.

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• Ecological water requirements assessment: Defined the quantity of water needed to preserve groundwater dependent ecosystems. This process will inform allocation of groundwater resources in the PIWI investigation area and support the water licensing policy. • Historical climate and climate change analysis: Identified the potential impact of recent and future climate change on water resources within the PIWI investigation area, including declining rainfall and fluctuating weather patterns. • Water supply-demand analysis: Provided an understanding of how more intensive land uses would increase future demand for water. • Hydrological and nutrient modelling: Modelled under current and future climate projections to identify potential surface water extraction volumes, including associated nutrient loads within the PIWI project area.

The Overflow | Summer 2022

• Soil amendment and testing: Investigated how current interventions and new strategies could improve water quality in the Peel Food Zone and reduce nutrient loads into the Peel-Harvey estuarine system. The knowledge we gained from these diverse and in-depth technical investigations led us to review groundwater allocation limits, to secure water for Peel water users and the environment. Water is a diminishing resource due to the impact of climate change and rainfall variability. While short-term water demand may be met through conventional groundwater and surface water sources, future demand will need to come from applying technology, using water more efficiently and trading licensed water entitlements. Alternative water supply options and innovation will be required for significant expansion or growth. The report evaluated alternative water supply options for future use including managed aquifer recharge,

drainage water harvesting and treated wastewater. More research and land planning, focused on establishing a greenhouse precinct and investigating other agricultural development opportunities, is required, to inform future fit-forpurpose water supply options. Current and future land uses can reduce and prevent excess nutrients entering the Peel-Harvey estuary by using environmentally friendly fertilisers, soil amendments and closed-loop production systems. The detailed knowledge of water resources captured by the project will enable better informed decisionmaking by government, industry and the community. To summarise the results of the technical program and evaluate water opportunities and constraints for the Transform Peel project, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation in collaboration with industry partners produced the Transform Peel: Peel Integrated Water initiative report.

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Water Treatment Plant supplying clean water to Pilbara Community

The Mingullatharndo Aboriginal Community, or “5 Mile”, is an Aboriginal community, 10 kms south-east of Roebourne, within the City of Karratha local government area. Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC), a member-based organisation representing the collective interests of the Traditional Owners of the Pilbara region of WA, in partnership with Wirlumurra, have been working together to improve the living conditions of community. Consistent access to safe and healthy, potable water would play an integral part in the goal of improved conditions for the residents. The community’s available water contained high levels of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of 4000ppm. The water also has very excessive levels of Silica and Arsenic, well above allowable drinking tolerances.

The Overflow | Summer 2022

Nutrien Water was engaged to design and install a self-sufficient, low maintenance Reverse Osmosis water treatment plant for the community in consultation with 5 Mile resident, Marshall Smith and Geoff Kelton of Wirlu-murra, with the following features: • • • • • • • • • •

Feed Pump Kattalox Filter 5 Micron filter 1 micron filter UV Filter 0.5 Micron Filter Reverse Osmosis Array Chlorine Recirculation System Evoqua Water Analyser Distribution Pump set

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a process where non-potable water is pushed under pressure through a semipermeable membrane, capable of removing up to more than 99% of dissolved particles, colloids, organics, bacteria, salts and pyrogens.

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant was a turn-key solution that had been fully FAT tested in Nutrien Water’s facility in Malaga prior to site dispatch. FAT (or Factory Acceptance Testing) is a specialised process that evaluates equipment during & after the assembly process to verify it meets its intended purpose, and ensures components and controls are working according to their specifications.

The automated RO system requires only weekly checks

The plant was delivered to the site, commissioned and handed over in only 4 days. Water to feed the RO plant is sourced from an existing solar pump installation that was reviewed and modified by the Nutrien Water team. The installation was old and required some upgrades to the down-hole equipment to sustain the water required for the plant. The raw water is fed to a holding tank that now has automation to allow the system to only run as required. The system, as installed, is designed to produce up to 40,000L per day with a recovery rate of 70%, which means for every 10L of raw water it produces 7L of drinking quality water for the community. The displayed table shows data relating to the incoming raw water quality the system is treating through the system. The output water is of a standard that is in line with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

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Providing quality clean water for the community.

As the water exits the RO plant, it is secondarily treated through a re-mineralisation process and then electronically measured by way of continual circulation in a holding tank. This water is measured for Chlorine and pH levels and is automatically balanced. From here, the water is pumped out into the community for human consumption, irrigation at the Community Nursery and made available to the local maintenance teams via a truck fill stand-pipe. The plant itself can produce up to 40,000 litres of clean water per day. Community usage is trending at around 10,000L/day, so with up to 4 times more available, community expansion has been made possible, as well as providing potable water for irrigating the community’s nursery. The nursery is an initiative being led by Wirlu-murra Enterprises and the 5 Mile community. The installed RO system is fully automated requiring only weekly checks, the design allows for any local alarms or issues to report back, thus keeping downtime to a minimum whilst also meaning the operators need not be fully qualified to operate. There is also monitoring and notification systems in place to ensure the final water quality is maintained and any treatment chemicals can be refreshed prior to running out and causing a stoppage.

The Overflow | Summer 2022

Nutrien Water Engineering undertake a quarterly on-site service whereby they inspect the systems, check all data logs and work with the locals for any training required. This is a critical service offered to check the raw water quality in case it has changed. Changes in the incoming water can have a marked effect on the system performance. Checks include all hydraulic systems and reviewing pressure and flow trends of the plant, which give the team a direction on plant performance and allow forwardplanning for future works to ensure the integrity of the system long-term.

Overall this project was very successful, with plans to progress with similar projects in Gumala’s other Homeland communities within the Pilbara. 5 Mile resident; Marshall Smith said, “We are so grateful and thankful to Gumala and Wirlu-murra for all the support to make this all happen”. Article credit: Thank you to Nutrien Water, Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, Wirlu-murra and Marshall Smith for providing project information.

The operator interface provides live reporting of the plant, operation and system status.

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Aligning domestic garden bore sprinkler roster with the scheme water roster

A proposal to align the domestic garden bore sprinkler roster with the two-days-per-week sprinkler roster for scheme water users in Perth and Mandurah from 1 September 2022 is now open for public comment. Aligning the domestic garden bore and scheme water rosters will save up to 30 GL per year, stabilising the watertable in urban areas and increasing water availability to street trees and important urban wetlands, such as Perry Lakes, Herdsman Lake, Lake Gwelup, Carine Swamp, Star Swamp, North Lake, Bibra Lake and Lake Forrestdale.

“Various studies on residential water use over the past two decades have found that, on average, domestic garden bores use significantly more water on their gardens than scheme water users – about three to four times more.” Climate change has seen Perth’s longterm average annual rainfall decline by around 15 per cent since 1975. Less rainfall means less rainwater recharging our groundwater systems. These systems are used for industry, drinking water, crops, public open space, and maintaining our gardens.

It is estimated that garden bores collectively draw about one fifth (22 per cent or around 90 GL) of groundwater taken from the aquifers in the Perth to Mandurah area to use outdoors, mostly for irrigating lawns and gardens.

“Maintaining the watertable is critical to the health of the Perth and Mandurah area’s extensive groundwaterdependent ecosystems, including lakes and wetlands, banksia woodlands and cave systems,” Dr Nevin said.

“Domestic garden bores are not licensed and there is no limit to the volume of water able to be taken,” Daniel Nevin from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, said.

The changed garden bore roster will contribute to the sustainability of Perth’s aquifers affected by climate change. Aligning the bore and scheme sprinkler rosters complements

The Overflow | Summer 2022

wider efforts to reduce groundwater abstraction across the Perth and Mandurah area to sustainable levels. The winter sprinkler switch off will remain in place from 1 June to 31 August each year, and the daytime ban on watering on rostered days either before 9am or after 6pm will remain unchanged. The State Government assists householders to help them make their gardens more water efficient through programs, including Water Corporation’s rebates on smart irrigation technology and free spring sprinkler system check-ups. Information on garden bores, the importance of groundwater and how to be waterwise with gardens and bores, can be found on the Be Groundwater Wise website. Public comment on the proposed changes is open until 28 February 2022.

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Water use efficiency the aim for horticultural producers Article by Megan Hevron, Principal Policy Officer Horticulture, DPIRD Horticultural businesses in Western Australia could reap productivity and efficiency benefits, and improved business resilience from rebates for a suite of water use efficiency activities.

Wanneroo is a significant fresh fruit and vegetable production area for Perth, particularly for growing tomatoes, strawberries, leafy greens, capsicum, nursery crops and avocados.

Water use efficiency is becoming increasingly important with our changing climate, reduced rainfall, and recharge into groundwater.

The grants provide horticultural businesses in North Wanneroo with an opportunity to reassess their enterprises and invest in infrastructure, soil, and productivity measures that modernise their operations and build business resilience.

The Western Australian government has invested a total of $600 000 for grants to upgrade irrigation infrastructure, revamp production systems and improve soil condition. Three streams of grants are available under the North Wanneroo Water Use Efficiency Grants Scheme for growers to invest in improved infrastructure and soil, and strategies to modernise their operations and increase their margins.

The Overflow | Summer 2022

Eligible businesses can seek up to $5000 to engage irrigation professionals to audit and design efficient irrigation systems and provide advice on appropriate technology, soil amendment and cropping strategies to increase productivity. Horticultural producers can also apply

for up to $30 000 to cover up to half the cost to install infrastructure or technology that increases water use efficiency. These include modifications to irrigation systems that increase the uniformity of application of water, changing from sprinkler to drip irrigation, the purchase and implementation of soil moisture and/or crop sensor technology, crop monitoring equipment, and annual data hosting fees. Other eligible technologies include the installation of protected cropping options, such as greenhouses, glasshouses, shade houses, as well as windbreaks, or permanent netting. A total of $300 000 is available under the infrastructure and technology stream.

Grants are open until 30 June 2022 or when funds are fully committed.

Eligibility

Grants of up to $20 000 are available to cover up to half the cost of soil amelioration activities, such as treating paddocks with a clay or clay-compost soil amendment to improve the soil’s water holding capacity. A total of $200 000 is available under the soil amelioration stream.

To be eligible for the grants, businesses must own, share farm, or lease property for horticultural production in the Carabooda, Nowergup, and Neerabup sub-areas of North Wanneroo. Businesses must conduct most of their primary production business in Western Australia, and operate as a sole trader, partnership, trust, or private company.

The business must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), be registered for GST, and be a commercial primary production business, as defined in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1977.

More information

If you are an irrigated agriculture grower interested in applying for a grant to implement water use efficiency infrastructure or soil amelioration activities, contact Megan Hevron at DPIRD by phone on (08) 9368 3121, email northwanneroograntsscheme@ dpird.wa.gov.au, or go to the DPIRD website and search for, ‘North Wanneroo water use efficiency scheme’.

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Murchison water quality improvements Many towns in the Murchison region have naturally occurring underlying rock that impacts the quality of drinking water sourced from local bores. Groundwater in places like Cue, Meekatharra, Sandstone and Mount Magnet can contain high levels of salt and other minerals. For some, this made the taste undesirable. The high calcium levels also made it difficult to lather soap and could leave white crystalline deposits on surfaces when evaporated. As part of a $24 million program to improve the region’s water quality, Water Corporation has recently

The Overflow | Summer 2022

commissioned three advanced water treatment plants in Mount Magnet, Cue and Sandstone. A fourth Meekatharra plant is planned to come online in 2022.

operating in the northern Goldfields communities of Yalgoo and Wiluna have helped reduce nitrate levels in drinking water by as much as 75 per cent.

Since 2018, three treatment plants, eight evaporation ponds, three hybrid power stations and three water storage tanks have been constructed in the region.

The new plants in Mount Magnet and Cue are powered by renewable energy, which reduces carbon emissions and allows the site to operate during network power outages. The EDR process is well-suited to these locations as it is highly automated and has low requirements for chemicals, which can be difficult and costly to transport to these communities.

The advanced water treatment plants use a desalination process called electrodialysis reversal (EDR). The EDR technology uses an electric current and semipermeable membranes to separate and remove the nitrate and salinity from the bore water. EDR plants are already

To learn more about the project, visit watercorporation.com.au/murchison

many sprinklers and adjust allocated watering times per week. To access the Busselton Water Home Water Calculator, click the link https:// smartwatermark.org/watercalculator/ BW/#garden, to find out what area of the home you can be saving water.

Busselton Water Home Water Calculator

Busselton Water recently launched an online home water calculator that allows residents to breakdown their water usage in each area of their home.

The calculator assesses the following areas; bathroom, laundry, kitchen and garden with the user entering their typical water usage behaviours for each area of the home. The calculator

is designed to help users save water throughout their home. A daily water use graph is displayed for each area of the home, outlining the users usage, the average usage and a goal to work towards. The outdoor and garden area in particular is a valuable tool with the ability to select your sprinkler type, how

Busselton Water supplies drinking water to a growing population of more than 28,000 people across the wider Busselton area. Under their license, Busselton Water provides water infrastructure and services to the Busselton city centre,as well as nearby Port Geographe, Siesta Park, Vasse and Wonnerup, and bulk water supplies to Dunsborough. Located approximately 220 kilometres south of Perth, in Western Australia, the South West region is a renowned tourist destination. The population doubles to more than 50,000 people over the summer holiday season.

nutrient-rich than other soil types. This is because the particles in clay soil are negatively charged, which means they attract and hold positively charged particles, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Using organic mulch will also help to retain moisture as it breaks down into the soil.

Soil Wetting Agents

Water... its life!

Australia…. summers are hot and long. This can affect the water absorbency of our soils.

For many of us in the West, our soils are sandy - gutless, hydrophobic and nutrient-less. It is worth noting that many plants grow well in this type of soil, with one of the main advantages of sand over clay being that it has good drainage. However, sandy soils can often become water repellent over time, or hydrophobic. It results in uneven wetting of the soil profile, leading to patchy and uneven plant emergence and reduced productivity. Water repellent soils occupy more than 5 million hectares of western and southern Australia (Roper, 2004)1. Nature has worked up a waxy coating around the particles of sand which repels water instead of absorbing it to provide moisture for plant growth. The problem can be worsened by prolonged periods without rain or water – often the case in our region. The good news is hydrophobic soils can be remedied; what we need to do is wash that coating away. Nature is amazing… Some trees fix this on their own; clever things. Rain drips its way down the trunk of the

The Overflow | Summer 2022

tree, collecting chemicals as it goes, creating a foam at the base of the tree that acts the same as a soil wetter you'd buy from your local nursery. It's quite amazing to watch. Soil that repels water will always end up with streams or tunnels through it, sometimes washing away our good topsoil and never getting to the entire root system of our precious plants.

MANAGING WATER REPELLENCE Soil Improvement

Soil amelioration activities such as adding compost, clay, and mulch will greatly improve soil health, which will become a haven for the hard working bacteria responsible for bringing life to overworked or barren ground. It goes without saying that Perth's nutrient-depleted soils need soil conditioning. Usually, a ratio of between 30 and 50% soil conditioner to 70-50% soil is recommended; the amount varies depending on the soil's quality. Soil improver comes in bags or bulk quantities. Manure is also often added to the planting hole. Clay, because of its density, retains moisture well. It also tends to be more

The simplest way to improve water take-up by hydrophobic soils and help it spread more evenly throughout is to use a soil wetter. Soil wetting agents reduce the effects of repellence by lowering the water's surface tension, which improves infiltration. They have combinations of chemicals that can help water enter and be retained in water repellent soils. There are economics involved, but it is clear that the benefits far outweigh the overall outlay. There are affordable options of adding a wetting agent along with your fertiliser treatment or product to get better plant quality even during stressful conditions. It is proposed that WA water licence holders reduce their water usage by 10% in coming years, and this is certainly one effective way to contribute to this target. Soil wetters are also advisable for school gardens and turf where the pressure to save water is constant. The City of Geraldton uses Richgro's professional strength wetting agent Ezi-Wet as part of their regular ongoing maintenance. Wetting agents have also become an integral 'tool' in turf management. During times of water restrictions, or extended periods of water stress to turf, playing fields' profiles can also become hydrophobic. Wetting agents will significantly increase the waterholding capacity of soils, therefore, reducing the quantity and frequency of irrigation – a critical cost component of turf management. 1. Roper MM (2004) The isolation and characterisation of bacteria with the potential to degrade waxes that cause waterrepellency in sandy soils. Australia Journal of Soil Research 42: 427-433.

• • • •

Water efficiency research profiled at WA Horticulture Update 2021 Article by DPIRD Research projects to assist fruit and vegetable growers to use water more efficiently to reduce costs and improve productivity, profitability and sustainability was profiled at the recent WA Horticulture Update 2021. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has most recently been working with the avocado industry and vegetable growers at North Wanneroo to trial new technology and examine improved management practices. Research scientist David Rowe has been monitoring the effects of shade netting and high density planting in an avocado orchard in Carabooda, as part of the five-year national research program.

The Overflow | Summer 2022

The work is being delivered through Hort Innovation, under the National Tree Crop Intensification in Horticulture Program’s investigation into the potential of avocado, almond, citrus, macadamia and mango system intensification. Shade netting can improve fruit yield and quality by creating a more favourable microclimate for the trees by reducing wind speed, temperature and solar radiation. The added protection can also reduce instances of fruit-drop and sunscald. The trial is also comparing high density plantings with low density plantings with and without netting, as well as assessing typical low density plantings independently with and without netting.

Mr Rowe said while the project was only in its second year and the trees are still too young to provide definitive trial findings, the netting had already made significant changes to the microclimate. “We found the netting reduced temperatures by 1.5 degrees Celsius and maximum wind speeds were reduced by up to 20 per cent,” he said. “This reduces evapotranspiration, which will likely result in better growing conditions for the trees and have positive outcomes for fruit yields and quality.” The trial has also given an insight into management adaptations required with shade netting, such as more intensive pruning regimes and the use of growth

retardant to keep trees below the height of the netting. DPIRD has also been collaborating with vegetablesWA on another project in North Wanneroo to assist growers to better understand the technology options and benefits of improved water use efficiency.

Department officers have been working with local growers to install soil moisture sensors to demonstrate how water moves through the soil profile under different weather conditions. “Water use efficiency is fundamentally about applying only the water required for optimal crop growth and minimising additional water application that may be unnecessary,” Mr Rowe said.

The devices will be linked to a webbased interface that provides growers and researchers in Carnarvon with real time access to information for free to make more informed, data driven decisions to optimise productivity and profitability.

“Understanding plant water requirement is essential to optimise water use efficiency, which is determined by crop and environmental factors that can vary from day to day. “There are a number of advanced irrigation systems available now that can be run from a smart phone to tailor watering program to growers’ individual crop requirements. “By working together with growers, we are able to develop best practice irrigation strategies to help optimise water use, profitability and sustainability.”

Another project at the department’s Carnarvon Research Facility is demonstrating the use of radio network transmitters to provide affordable data telemetry for soil moisture sensors, water flow metres and weather stations.

“We are working closely with an internal team to develop a user interface that provides the functionality needed to help growers improve the water use efficiency and farm management,” Mr Rowe said. The WA Horticulture Update attracted more than 120 growers and other supply chain stakeholders from throughout the State to hear the latest in research and business advances.

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Water quality sensors floating at same height of foot-valve. Photo by David Hunt GIA

How healthy is your irrigation water source? Article by David Hunt, Greenlife Industry Australia Smart Farming Project Officer

Plant production of any sort is dependent on clean quality water to maintain the plants’ biological processes and provide the required nutrients, but how do you know your water is clean? Learnings from our Smart Farming Partnerships project are showing that modern water quality sensors can help nursery managers to identify any changes to their water source before it becomes a problem. Water is the source of life, it is a cleanser and a transport agent, but how do you know what is in your water and whether it will impact your plants’ health for better or worse? Unfortunately water quality cannot be determined by its visual appearance alone. However, the Smart Farming Partnerships project is showing that modern sensors take the guess work out of monitoring water quality, thereby averting serious issues before they become a problem in the nursery. Over the past decades, considerable industry research has developed

The Overflow | Summer 2022

water quality guidelines to promote the benefits of healthy water in nursery production. This research has shown that high quality clean water not only improves crop growth, uniformity, and marketability but helps to reduce plant throw-outs, the amount of chemical or fertiliser needed, and the amount of energy required to transfer and disinfest the water (Rolfe et. al. 2000). So how do you know your water is of good quality and ‘clean’? Unfortunately water quality cannot be determined by its visual appearance alone. Just because irrigation water

‘looks clean’, it does not necessarily mean it is healthy. The only way to answer this question accurately is to have a full lab test done to identify the biological, chemical and particulate elements dissolved in the water. However, collecting water samples can be time consuming and costly considering most labs require the water samples to be delivered on the same day of collection or frozen for transport. Nonetheless, a full water analysis is beneficial as it will not only provide a water quality baseline, but it will also help to identify the type and level of filtration or disinfestation needed for the irrigation

Water quality sensors in collection drain. Photo by David Hunt GIA

water source. An irrigation water analysis should also be done when any major changes are made to the water application or collection infrastructure as this can change the irrigation water quality especially when runoff water recycling is implemented. This is more important if fertigation is used as the existing elements and nutrients in the source irrigation water will change the water chemistry when fertiliser is added. An alternative to regular lab tests would be to either install remote water quality sensors at various strategic locations around the nursery, or to implement a regular manual sampling regime where the irrigation water is tested on site using a desktop testing unit such as a photometer. Monitoring your source irrigation water quality will provide an early warning of potential changes in water chemistry and the current nutrient load already dissolved in the water. This will provide quick feedback to the nursery manager so that management decisions can be made quickly before any potential damage is done.

As part of the Smart Farming Partnerships project funded under the National Landcare program, Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) and Hort Innovation, and in conjunction with Applied Horticultural Reserach and Hitachi, a number of remote irrigation water sensors have been installed at key locations around the projects’ Smart production nursery. These sensors feed data back to the operations’ dashboard (Hitachi control tower) where the nursery manager can see the water quality parameters of the dam and main collection drain in real-time. A free chlorine sensor is also being installed in the main storage tank to monitor residual chlorine after disinfestation. Growing media moisture and leachate sensors are also installed to monitor container moisture and the volume of leachate released. These will provide constant feedback of both irrigation source and runoff water quality across the production nursery and acts as an alert system for any changes to the irrigation water chemistry. These systems also allow the nursery manager to ensure any water released to the

local waterways meets environmental water quality standards. A combination of sensors, or sonde, for Nitrate, Phosphate, total Alkalinity, Sulphate and Iron were considered. However, for various reasons including reliability and cost, a desktop photometer was chosen as a more economical alternative. A desktop photometer allows nursery staff to take irrigation water samples from any location and test levels of a wider variety of parameters with

fertigation program accordingly, ensuring the crop nutrient budget is met without causing excessive nutrient leaching. Monitoring irrigation water quality has the potential to deliver other benefits such as providing good quality clean water for irrigation, reducing fertiliser usage, conserving water, and increasing both crop performance and environmental considerations.

References

Rolfe, C., Yiasumi, W., & Keskula, E., 2000. Managing water in plant nurseries. 2nd Ed. ISBN: 0734711808. NSW Agriculture. (3rd Edition available) Photometer measuring nitrate in water sample. Photo by Liam Southam-Rogers AHR

relatively little cost. The water quality data generated by the photometer is automatically transferred to the dashboard to assist in decision making, such as the daily fertigation recipe. Another major concern is the nitrate levels in the dam during drier weather or during drought. Low water levels mean nitrates and nutrients from irrigation leachate flowing back to the dam will increase considerably without fresh water. This can cause algal blooms, or in extreme situations, a dam inversion that changes the chemical and physical properties of the water

making it unsuitable for irrigation. Trying to correct a dam inversion requires time and major inputs of chemicals and fresh water, which is costly, but what is worse is if there is no alternative water supply, irrigating with this water could lead to complete crop losses. Monitoring the temperature and nutrient levels in the dam will help to identify the point when an alternative water supply should be used. By using a combination of remote irrigation water quality sensors and the photometer, the Smart production nursery management can manipulate the

Water quality data displayed on the Hitachi control tower dashboard. Photo by David hunt GIA

The Overflow | Summer 2022