- Case Study: Jim Purcell, Aquatech, Narrabri.
Aquatech Consulting is a small firm of consulting engineers specialising in the investigation, design and construction supervision of water resources and irrigation projects.The firm is located at Narrabri in the heart of the north-western New South Wales irrigation area. Projects are undertaken throughout Australia and overseas.
Director, Jim Purcell, has more than 25 years experience as a consulting engineer in the water resources/irrigation field. Jim is supported by two project engineers and an office manager.
Changes in irrigation development and policies:
Listen to purcell1 and answer the following questions
- 1.Describe the changes in water policy from the 1980s to present.
- 2. Why should storages be able to capture the “first flush” of stormwater.
- 3. What have been the impacts of Water Reforms.
- 4. What is meant by the terms Saleable, Transferable, Water Market?
- 5. Why might farms selling entitlements have impacts on the local community?
- 6. What is the main challenge for horticulture in the light of variable allocations.
- 7. How has Jim Purcell had to change his business over time?
Water Management:
Listen to purcell2.mp3 and answer the following questions
- What stipulations (controls) were placed on a irrigation licence for a property near Bourke?
- What measures of water application can be collected.
- What is meant by the term a water balance.
- What were the main problems encountered in attempting to develop a water balance and what data did they collect.
- How do water infiltration rates vary over time?
- Manual Aquatech Whole Farm Water Management.pdf
- How can leakage be caused.
- Why does increasing price for water lead to greater efficiencies
Irrigation Systems
Listen to purcell3.mp3 and answer the following questions
- What efficiencies can be maintained by Surface Irrigation
- What determines the amount of water applied
- How can changing flow rates save water
- Why might small family farms not move to 6 hour watering methods?
- Lateral Move Systems are often quoted as being more efficient. Why might this not be the case?
- What is one advantage and disadvantage of using a Lateral Move irrigation System
- Do you think that changing would have a positive impact on water use and costs?
- Subsurface (tape or drip) systems may have significant problems. What are they?
The Future: Water Balance sheets, accounting.
Listen to purcell4.mp3 and answer the following questions.
- What does Mr Purcell predict will occur in the future with regards to sharing the water resource
- Why will water balance accounting be important.
Essay Topic: Discuss the impact of new technologies in improving water efficiencies in irrigated crop production
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