New pump and pipeline save water and time for Tasmanian farmers

Snapshot

• Two Tasmanian farms were experiencing water supply issues with their shared pump system, which transferred water 7 km from a shared holding dam to on-farm storage dams via an open-cut channel.
• Half the pumped water was going to waste due to leaks in the aging channel.
• Irrigation and Dairy Solutions, together with Brown Brothers Engineers, came up with a solution: the channel was replaced with 400 mm polyethylene pipe and the existing pump with a 110 kw long-coupled ISO pump.
• The upgrade has been a success with the new automated system saving time for the growers and the new pipeline and pump set up saving considerable amounts of water.

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Tasmania is widely renowned for its highly diversified and thriving agricultural sector, attributed to ideal growing conditions, limited disease and pest presence, ample water resources, and fertile soil.

However, as with any agricultural landscape, optimising irrigation systems and ensuring they work efficiently and reliably is crucial for ensuring optimal resource utilisation and crop yields.

So, when two local agricultural farms, located in the small town of Woodbury, were experiencing water supply issues with their shared pump system, which was leaking and no longer performing to their requirements, a solution was required.

The struggling system was completely upgraded by Irrigation and Dairy Solutions in conjunction with Brown Brothers Engineers in a bid to provide greater performance and more control to their irrigation capabilities.

Leaking channel halves water supply

The need for a new pump arose due to the limitations and inefficiencies of the existing system. Its purpose was to transfer irrigation water from the shared holding dam, located off-site, to the two storage dams located on each property. From there, it would then be pumped to supply the centre pivot irrigation at each farm.

The primary concern was the system's inability to deliver the necessary volume of water required to meet the customers’ current irrigation demands. The root cause of this deficiency stemmed from a 15-year-old open-cut gravity channel, that being, an excavated or constructed channel that relies on the natural downward flow of water due to gravity to transport water from a source, such as a dam or a reservoir, to the desired destination.

The channel in this case had developed leakage in several areas along the pipeline and as a consequence, the water supply to the property dams was significantly reduced, with only half of the pumped water reaching the final holding dam. Not only did this highlight the inefficiency of the existing infrastructure, but it was also a major waste of water resources.

A new pipeline with remote access

Recognising the need for an effective solution, the customers’ turned to Jason Woodham at Irrigation and Dairy Solutions for the installation of a new pump system to rectify the water supply challenges they were facing.

Following the overall design and specification, Jason Woodham from Irrigation and Dairy Solutions procured and installed the pumps and infrastructure required for this project installation with assistance on the pump specifications provided by Neil McCarthy from Brown Brothers Engineers Australia.

The channel between the main water supply dam and the on-site water storage dams was completely replaced with 400 mm polyethylene pipe, also known in the industry as high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Renowned for its durability, flexibility and long-term performance, it is also resistant to corrosion in most ground conditions thereby ensuring it was the ideal choice for this application.

The project was a significant undertaking, largely due to the amount of pipeline required, with installation taking around six months to complete. “The entire pipeline has a total length of seven-kilometres from the main holding dam through to the last site”, Jason said.

With most of the work occurring during the off-season, this wasn’t too much of an issue for either customer although, they could still run water through the existing leaky channel in the instance any water was needed.

Additionally, a 110kw 250 x 200 x 400 base-mounted Goulds long-coupled ISO pump was installed within the existing pump shed. According to Jason, “The pump was the ideal option for our application with the specific performance requirements and characteristics of the pump providing the best fit for the needs and demands of our customer”.

A key focus of the upgrade was automating the system which provided immense benefit to the customer. “Our clients can log on via their phone or laptop and order their required amount of water up to 15megs per day. The system would then turn off each client’s valve at their outlet once their water meter had recorded the total amount ordered”, Jason said.

This feature has greatly enhanced the irrigation capability of both farms in this case by providing remote accessibility and monitoring of the pump and water supply without having to manually switch on the pump. Before the upgrade, this meant a 7-kilometre drive to the pump shed if irrigation water was required.

Irrigation upgrade a massive success

With the new irrigation system installed and fully operational, the customer now has a reliable pump system that not only addresses the inefficiencies of the previous system but also improves water management, allowing both farms to meet their irrigation demands more effectively and conserve water resources.

The Goulds End Suction Centrifugal pump has proven to be the ideal choice due to its high efficiency, flexible design, reliable performance, and versatility. It has ensured effective water supply, reduced energy consumption, and low maintenance requirements, making it a cost-effective and dependable solution for meeting the irrigation demands of both customers.

In addition, the ability to remotely access and monitor the pump system has yielded immediate benefits. “Our customers are very happy with the final design and the overall workings of the project. The dashboard allows them to monitor the pump and flow from home or while away so they can make sure the full efficiency of our system is being achieved which they all agree is of great value to their businesses”, Jason said.

Overall, this upgrade underscores the substantial advantages that come with investing in dependable pumps and cutting-edge remote technology, enhancing the capabilities of modern-day irrigation systems.