THE EQUIPMENT INTERVIEWS
José Nuncio President
Sorraia Valley Irrigators and Water Users Association Coruche, Portugal
Number of employees: 63 Size of service area in acres: 55,105 Total amount of water diverted per year for irrigation in acre-feet: Billed—105,393; available—133,768 Main irrigated crops: Almonds, corn, grapes, pasture, rice Predominant irrigation methods: Drip tape, flood, pivot
Irrigation Leader: How many vehicles and pieces of equipment does your district own? José Nuncio: One truck to transport heavy equipment, 1 crane truck, 1 3.5‑ton truck, 11 pickup trucks, 2 cars, 4 Cat 320 excavators; 2 Cat 428 backhoes, 1 Fendt 130 cv tractor, and 1 Bobcat. Irrigation Leader: What kind of maintenance is required for your vehicles and equipment? José Nuncio: Preventive maintenance, including periodic inspections and oil changes, and corrective maintenance carried out by two mechanics from the association and, in special cases, third parties. Irrigation Leader: What kinds of records do you keep of that maintenance?
Irrigation Leader: How do you buy or bid for equipment? José Nuncio: We invite three entities to submit proposals. Irrigation Leader: How long do you use your vehicles and pieces of equipment before replacing them? José Nuncio: It depends on the condition of each piece of equipment and on the cost of maintenance and can vary from 5 to 20 years.
José Nuncio is the president of the Sorraia Valley Irrigators and Water Users Association. He can be contacted at secretariado@fenareg.pt.
36 | IRRIGATION LEADER | September 2022
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SORRAIA VALLEY IRRIGATORS AND WATER USERS.SSOCIATION.
José Nuncio: None.
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