A leading Melbourne private school faced an outdated and inefficient irrigation system.

The existing system, connected directly to the school’s potable cold-water supply, lacked the required flow and pressure for efficient turf irrigation, causing poor coverage and a long watering time or ‘window’. It was wasting water and failing to meet the required performance of their sports field’s natural turf surface. A modern pump system was essential to improve efficiency and deliver consistent performance and sustainability.

The project team delivered a smart, compact irrigation solution with remote access capabilities, quiet operation, and the ability to apply enough water in a reduced watering window.

A compact, intelligent solution

The new system delivers 7.5 L/sec at 650 kPa, meeting the field’s demands. With existing three-phase power already on site for field lighting, there were no supply constraints. The existing potable cold water supply was re-directed to automatically replenish two above ground break tanks, after appropriate zone containment via backflow prevention devices. Water for the new pump station was therefore via a flooded suction supply.

A Lowara 22SVX05-HPS Hydro-Pac unit was supplied by Brown Brothers Engineers Australia (BBEA). These units combine proven Lowara pumps with Hydrovar X variable speed drive (VSD) technology, delivering a compact, energy-efficient solution that comes pre-wired and ready to install.

“The Hydro-Pac pump station makes it very easy for contractors to supply and install, with all parts mounted to a solid base plate ready for pipe connections,” said Damian Cullen, Principal Consultant from Cadsult. “BBEA also provide CAD drawings of every Hydro-Pac build, simplifying the design and installation process”.

To protect the system’s electrical components, an INCA Control Surge Protection Panel was also installed.

Smooth and quiet operation

Noise control was a critical consideration, given the proximity of the pump cabinet to residential properties. The cabinet was lined with sound-absorbing insulation which has proven effective, with zero noise complaints to date, according to Damian.

The Hydrovar X contributes to the quiet performance. Its advanced pipe fill mode gradually fills pipes at reduced speed, minimising noise and preventing pressure surges that can cause nuisance trips or damage. Once pressurised, it adjusts pump output to match demand, ensuring efficient energy use while maintaining required pressure.

The cabinet also had limited internal space. The Hydrovar X’s new side-mounted design and user-facing screen helped reduced the overall size by 24% compared to previous models. “This was a huge positive,” said Damian. “Without the Hydrovar X, the pump would have needed an 11 kW motor stead of 7.5 kW, and 8-stages instead of 5-stages.”

Smart design for better efficiency

The new irrigation system, installed by Darren Reddin and his team from Redline Irrigation, includes 93 Hunter I-25 sports field rotors, strategically placed to ensure full field coverage with excellent uniformity and scheduling co-efficiency.

It is designed to operate two zones simultaneously, running up to eight sprinklers at a time. This ensures a reduced and manageable watering time for the school, without overloading the water supply or pump capacity.

The sprinklers are fitted to mole-ploughed irrigation laterals, which are underground pipes installed with minimal surface disruption. The system is managed through a Hunter ACC2 decoder system, which uses field-installed decoder units to control each field control valve. A master valve and flow meter monitors system regularity.

This setup allows multiple valves to run simultaneously, increasing efficiency and reducing watering duration. The decoder system also requires less cabling, simplifying installation and troubleshooting.

The entire system is integrated with Hunter’s Centralus Central Control software, enabling staff to access the system

remotely via smartphone or computer. Real-time performance monitoring, alerts, and remote adjustments are all available, giving grounds staff full control.

Results: chalk and cheese

The new system is now fully operational, with strong early feedback.

“The difference is like chalk & cheese,” said Damian. “Grounds staff can apply 8mm of water across the entire ground in just over six hours. Distribution uniformity is excellent, with consistent coverage across the field.”

The Grounds Manager at the school, added, “We’ve seen a 100% improvement. There are no more dry patches or ‘donuts’ like we had with the previous irrigation system, and the turf is looking great.”