Displaying items by tag: Irrigation
Due to prolonged drought conditions and water restrictions, the thoroughbred racing industry in Victoria had been at risk of not receiving adequate water supplies to ensure the continued well being of the industry.
This challenge was to replace 450ML of irrigation water with an alternative supply and to replace domestic appliances with more water efficient variants to save a further 28ML per year.
Bowling greens are subject to very intensive use, and Blackburn Bowls Club in Melbourne's eastern suburbs is no exception, with the Club estimating that there is over 62,000 hours of competitive, practice, and social play annually.
With the drought unrelenting and the likelihood of ongoing water restrictions, there was a clear need for Blackburn Bowls Club to address its water use if the club wanted to survive.
Millions of litres of water is produced from Victorian rooftops and paved surfaces, such as car parks and driveways, every year.
While the collection and recycling of this water has become a viable water saving option during drought conditions, the use of this water also presents some challenges.
Southern Rural Water, in conjunction with DPI, DSE and AgChallenge, will identify best practice management for long-term use of recycled water for irrigation of vegetable crops in the Werribee Irrigation District.
The current salinity level of recycled water from the Western Treatment Plant and increased salinity of some soils in the Werribee Irrigation District is of some concern for the longer-term sustainable use of this resource.
Albert Park Lake and surrounding parkland have, to date, used drinking water for irrigation and until 3 years ago, lake replenishment.
This project explored community attitudes to finding alternative sources – recycled water (including sewer mining), treated stormwater or seawater - for times when water is scarce and because views on drinking water usage are changing.
Seeing and engaging with successful demonstration solutions has proven to be one of the most effective methods of changing and modifying behaviour.
It is based upon the understanding that the community cannot develop sustainable water habits without knowledge, involvement and experience in real-life situations.
The Club is using recycled water supplied from their local water authority to support a durable yet impact-resistant surface.
It has also utilised a new and highly innovative sub-surface irrigation system.
Senviro Pty Ltd, a small manufacturing company, received funding to develop and trial a low-cost soil moisture sensor to optimise watering systems.
The technology base for Senviro products was originally developed by the Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Micro-technology.
Communications and consulting company Arris, which specialises in amenity and production agriculture and environmental risk management, set out to assess the barriers to adoption of recycled water use in the industry and determine its specific needs regarding water reuse and recycled water irrigation schemes.
Once the barriers were determined, Arris aimed to improve the development and adoption of recycled water use by creating a user handbook, training programs and workshops to overcome these barriers.
Maintaining Victoria's State Netball Hockey Centre's two synthetic wet hockey pitches to international standards required around 24 megalitres of drinking quality water every year.
This huge drain on Melbourne's water resources was a concern shared by sportsmen and women, the wider community and the Centre's management. In response, the State Netball Hockey Centre took up the challenge to find an alternative source of water.