World-class sporting complex receives world-class irrigation system
Snapshot
- A private school in Queensland has invested in a multi-million-dollar outdoor sports facility to maximise athletic opportunities for its students.
- The facility was looking for an irrigation solution to ensure its sports fields are kept in optimal condition.
- Total Water Services, together with Brown Brothers Engineers, provided an automatic irrigation system consisting of a Lowara e-SV pump set with an INCA control panel.
- The installation of the automated system efficiently manages water use, adjusts watering schedules based on weather conditions, and minimises water wastage, all without any human interaction.
The state-of-the-art sporting precinct belonging to a private school in Queensland, is set to redefine the standards of educational sporting facilities in Queensland. This multi-million-dollar development promises to deliver world-class sporting and recreational facilities that will benefit generations of students.
Peter Morath, Project Manager at Total Water Services, was contracted to oversee the supply and installation of the irrigation system. He contacted Brown Brothers Engineers Australia in search of a pump solution fit for this first-class facility.
A world-class facility
The school recently developed a new outdoors sports facility to maximise athletic opportunities for its students. The resulting development, spanning 15.4 ha, features four main fields, two practice fields, six multipurpose courts, four tennis courts, car parking, and supporting infrastructure, catering to a range of sports.
When completed, this project will set a benchmark for school sports facilities and highlight the advantages offered through harnessing cutting-edge irrigation and pumping technologies.
When technology meets turf
Total Water Services was tasked with supplying and installing the irrigation system and water supply infrastructure for the project. According to Peter, this involved a lot of groundwork including stormwater management as well as vital water supply, fire protection, and sewer connections, requiring almost 1.5 km of polyethylene pipeline.
However, the jewel in the crown was the fully automated irrigation system, complete with essential facilities including maintenance and pump sheds, along with a substantial 360,000-litre water storage tank and a weather station.
“With the irrigation system featuring 130 pop-up sprinklers, installed across 45 stations, we needed a cost-effective and reliable pump capable of operating as many stations concurrently as possible,” Peter said.
Lowara e-SV vertical multistage pumps were employed to provide maximum efficiency and lower lifecycle costs. These pumps deliver the necessary water while minimising energy consumption and water wastage. They also offer the flexibility of operating up to four stations at once.
The INCA control panel incorporates a range of safety features, including low and high-pressure monitoring, precise level sensing, and temperature-sensing capabilities. These features ensure the system operates autonomously, conserving water resources and guarding against damage and potential failure. The water tank is equipped with a level sensor that triggers the mainline when water levels drop below a certain point.
Perhaps the most unique feature of this system is its connection to a nearby weather station, fitted with built-in sensors to continuously monitor meteorological conditions, including rainfall and wind. This real-time data is seamlessly relayed to the control panel to ensure optimum irrigation timing and minimal water wastage.
A fully automatic irrigation system
The Lowara e-SV pumps and INCA control panel, as the core of the system, are instrumental in efficiently managing water use, adjusting watering schedules based on weather conditions, conserving water during rain, and delivering precise amounts at optimal times. This not only conserves water but also reduces energy consumption, enhances efficiency, and contributes to sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
Peter said, "The automated irrigation system will minimise operational costs and maintain the sports fields in optimal playing condition with minimal human interaction." This new precinct not only sets new standards for educational sporting facilities but will also highlight the benefits of investing in reliable pumps and modern irrigation technology.
[Article originally appeared in the Irrigation Australia Journal]