Water Management

This module is designed to help you make efficiency gains by bringing together the latest research and knowledge on water use and management. Topics range from managing and measuring water sources and collection (storages, bores, overland flow and stored soil moisture) through to field distribution.

All aspects of water application are covered including surface irrigation, centre pivot and lateral moves, drip irrigation as well as dryland water usage.

Once you have completed this module to at least Level 2, you will have achieved the following:

  • Used available tools to schedule your irrigations and monitor soil water levels;
  • Estimated your soils capacity to hold and store water for your fields and soil types;
  • Estimated your losses from storages and channels;
  • Maintained your storages to minimise leaks and seepage;
  • Maximised crop yields by understanding and managing bore water quality;
  • Identified problem areas in irrigation fields;
  • Matched your flow rates to soil, slope and run length so furrows come out evenly;
  • Planned for and installed your centre pivot or lateral move with a professional so it works effectively;
  • Ensured your drip irrigation system is operating effectively.


Key Area: Water Access Licensing and Legislation

Licensing and legislative obligations to access water specific to each location are known and complied with

Check List:

Level 1

A current water licence is held and licence holders comply with specific licence conditions that apply under state and federal legislation, including metering and recording
Level 1 Comply with State legislation for the capture of harvestable rights, overland flow, floodplain harvesting and rainfall runoff
Level 1

New bore construction and decommissioning of old bores is performed in accordance with State legislation
Level 1

New groundwater bores are constructed by licensed drillers


Key Area: Water Management (Irrigation)

Information is recorded each season to help make better WHOLE FARM irrigation decisions

Check List:

Level 2 A water budget for the farm is prepared 
Level 2

Water quality (pH, salinity and sodicity) is known and risks to plant and soil health are identified and monitored for both ground and surface irrigation water 
Level 2

Plant Available Water Capacity (PAWC) and Readily Available Water (RAW) have been estimated for your soil types
Level 2

For water sourced from bores, the groundwater level is measured at the start and end of each irrigation season using basic methods and recorded to detect potential trends over time

Level 2

Irrigation Water Use Index (IWUI) for the farm is estimated and recorded (i.e Bales/ML of irrigation water)
Level 2

Water requirements for typical crop rotations in your region are known

Level 3

Gross Production Water Use Index (GPWUI) for the farm is calculated, recorded and compared over time
Level 3 Groundwater salinity and major ions have been measured at the start of each irrigation season with laboratory analysis using standard methods of collection

Information is used each season to help make better FIELD irrigation decisions

Check List:

Level 2

Irrigation scheduling tools are used to determine when and how much to irrigate
Level 2 Soil moisture probes are located in representative soil types determined by objective evaluation such as EM survey, aerial or satellite image
Level 2 There is awareness of deep drainage as an issue and of the measures that can be taken to reduce its impact
Level 3

In field soil variation and potential 'leaky areas' are identified
Level 3

Irrigation Water Use Index (IWUIfield) and Gross Production Water Use Index (GPWUIfield) for each field is estimated and recorded


Key Area: Water storage and distribution systems

Practices are used for efficient management of storage and distribution systems

Check List:

Level 1 Any planned new infrastructure which effects flow of water to or from a river complies with legislation
Level 2

Storages and channels (new and reconfigured) are located, designed to minimise evaporation, seepage losses and constructed by a qualified person
Level 2

Storages are surveyed to determine accurate storage volumes
Level 2

Regular monitoring and maintenance of storages and channels for leaks and seepage
Level 2

Storages are managed to minimise evaporation and seepage losses
Level 3 Losses from storages and channels have been measured

Key Area: Tailwater and Stormwater Management (Irrigated and Dryland growers)

Management strategies are implemented to prevent off-farm water quality impacts

Check List:

Level 1 An effective storm water management plan exists to prevent contaminated agricultural water entering the river system or sensitive areas in line with State or Territory based legislation
Level 2

Irrigation discharge points should direct tailwater away from sensitive areas
Level 2

Where possible vegetative barriers at least 6 metres wide are maintained between cropping lands and sensitive areas
Level 3

The grower is aware of any priority issues identified in catchment water quality improvement plans that are relevant to their farm
Level 3

The grower participates in sub-catchment water quality sampling programmes where undertaken by a catchment group
Level 3 Water quality sampling is undertaken to monitor the quality of run-off from dryland fields

Plans are developed and implemented to manage the impact of tailwater and stormwater runoff off farm

Check List:

Level 1

An effective stormwater management system is in place for managing storm events (e.g. minor, moderate, severe events) to prevent contaminated agricultural water entering the river system or sensitive areas in line with State or Territory based legislation
Level 1

The first flush of stormwater runoff from treated areas is retained either on-farm or in a shared group water supply scheme to prevent contaminated agricultural water entering the river system or sensitive areas in line with State or Territory based legislation
Level 2 A documented stormwater management plan exists to manage storm events

Key Area: Irrigation system design, installation and management

Surface irrigation systems are designed, installed and managed appropriately

Irrigation systems of Drip, Pivot and Lateral Move are designed, installed and managed appropriately

Check List:

Level 2

The irrigation system has been planned, designed and installed by a qualified person
Level 2

The irrigation system capacity can meet peak crop water requirements
Level 2 The irrigation system takes into account the topography and soil characteristics of your site
Level 2

Pre-season and in-season maintenance checks of the system are undertaken including flushing, fertigation (if used), flow rates, filtration system and pressures
Level 2

Regular bore maintenance is undertaken
Level 2

Training provided to the operator to ensure appropriate skills to operate the system
Level 3

A system evaluation was undertaken after installation to check the system meets specifications

Key Area: Dryland Water Management (Rain grown)

Practices are used to take advantage of rainfall

Check List:

Level 2 Where practical cereal crops are planted as cover crops
Level 2 Standing stubble is maintained
Level 2

Minimum tillage is practiced when soils are dry and tillage practices are used to minimise the impact on stubble cover
Level 2

A controlled traffic system is in place with all tractors, boom sprays and implements following the same set of wheel tracks to minimise compaction

Level 2

Plant Available Water Content (PAWC) has been estimated for fields and soil types

Level 2

Pre-season stored soil moisture profiles are known and are the key determinant of planting decisions
Level 2

Planting row configuration is implemented to match farm system conditions and seasonal outlook
Level 2

Fertiliser inputs are matched to pre-season soil water status and are reviewed during crop growth. Additional fertiliser is able to be applied in-crop if needed while minimising soil moisture loss
Level 3

Water use efficiency has been estimated using kg/mm or bales/ML, where the term water means stored water and effective rainfall