By The Australian Irrigation Technology Center

The first step for the irrigador in developing a new irrigation systetn or upgrading an existing system is to prepare a comprehensive plan.

A plan ensures that all issues are considered before money and resources are committed. The plan may also required for the following purposes:

To provide a detailed brief for the designer of the irrigation system,

As supporting documentation to justify purchase or transfer of water licences, To demonstrate compliance with any regulatory requirements,

To support applications to banks or other sources of finance.

Enough detail should be included to provide accurate information to the system designer so that a water-effective and economically feasible design can be prepared that is suitable for the plants to be irrigated in the planned location.

The plan should cover economic and financiar, biological and physical, legal and regulatory and general enviromnental issues.

Contents of the plan

This is a typical outline for an irrigation development plan:

market analysis for the crop or crops to be grown

a detailed business plan including a financiar plan for the development with cash flow, risk analysis and funding arangements

a list of local and State statutory requirements and clearances (for example restrictions on clearing vegetation, appropríate land title, land use restrictions) and how the plan meets the requirements,

evidence that the proposed irrigated enterprise can be operated within all relevant laws,

evidence of compliance with local and state guidelines for the disposal of drainage water

property title

access to water

Environmental issues.-

description of high conservation value areas and rermant native vegetation or rare and endangered species

condition of natural watercourses that might be used for drainage discharge or as a source of water

distance from towns or settlements that could be affected by the development a discussíon of the long-term sustainability of the system hydrogeological surveys

location of the property

property plan

existing infrastructure, roads, lanes, drains, electricity and buildings

topography

source of water

legal availability, physical access, reliability and quantity of supply quality of supply licence requirements security of supply drainage requirements

storage requirements

crop water requirements in these soils and infiltration rates

crop rotations

production system

local climate including rainfall, evaporation, varíability, oecurrence of frosts and other climatic data

suitability of crop type for the land use e.g. land capability, soil types, and local growing conditions

skill leves of available workforce

availability of labour and resources to operate the proposed system

how design and contracting will be managed

A range of skills is required for the successful development and commissioning of an irrigation system (see the table of skills on page xx). lt ís the irrígator's responslbility to check that people they contract actually have the required skills.

The skills could be held by a number of different professionals, and the particular profession may vary from place to place. For example, in one area an engineer who specialises in irrigation development may have within the practice many of the skills required. T'his does not mean that all engineering practices will retain the appropriate skills.

Irrigators who are planning and supervising development work need to know each of the skílls required so that they can source thein frorn a suitably qualified resource. People working on an irrigation development should be able to demonstrate their competence to undertake the tasks in a number of ways including formal qualifícations, previous track record and industry certification. 

Irrigators may need to source professional help to draw up comprehensive budgets for the crops to be grown and for the overall development.

Professionals need demonstrated expertise in financiar analysis and budgeting, including cash flow and funding requirements. These skills might be found in a number of professional practices and in both the public and prívate sectors. Potential sources of this expertise include farm management consultants, accountants, government departments and consulting engineers amongst others. 

Practitioners require the ability to collect all the relevant infonnation and analyse the inforination as ¡t might affect the irrigation development. Competeney must be demonstrated in an ability to review each of the following areas:.

all legal issues relating to the planned system

local, state and national government regulations

enviromnental factors that might be affected by the development e.g. salinity, flora and fauna

heritage and conservation values for the location 

People with surveying skills can check property boundaries and topographic details.

Governinent authorities, hydrologists and other natural resource planners can help research and measure water asp@ such as:

availability of water both underground and surface

variability of supply

quality of supply

drainage management including disposal

collect and analyse climate information for the location

undertake soil surveys detailing range and type of soil types present, includíng key data such as water holding capacity and key physical and chernical characteristics.

relate the crop requirements including nutrien4 water, pest and weed management to the local conditions

The basis of an efficient and cost-effective irrigation system is the design. The designer will use the following information to determine the capacity of the system:

maximum crop water demand

waterholding capacity of the soil

maximum available water supply, whether from a stream, a storage, a supply channel or a bore.

leaching fraction required

frost protection requirements

T'he design and choice of system will take into account constraints including:

topography of property

human resources to operate the system efficiently and correctly

environment of the farm such as the proximity to towns and presence of native vegetation and habitat

water supply characteristics ¡.e. quality, quantity, frequency and security

occupational health and safety issues

legal requirernents of the system including storm water retention system, capacity and management

expansion strategy

system flexibillty

automation

capital required for system selected and cost comparison with other systems

The designer should specify the following information:

physical layout: supply and application infrastructure, and drainage, stormwater control infrastructure and reuse structures

operating schedule of the system

degree of automation

energy requirements

fertigation and filtration requirements

system application rate and uniformlty of application

estimated life of the system (according to manufacturers specifications)

detailed costings of components and labour required to instala the system

Designing an irrigation system requires a high level of skill and professionalism. Working from the information gathered during the planning phase, the irrigation designer must be able to:

understand and work within the constraints of the business plan

understand and use all surveys including soíl and topogmphic

understand a range of technical issues, including hydraulics, soils, agronomy, and engincering

design the irrigation system type to be developed so that ¡t delivers the correct amount of water to the crops or plants at the required times.

communicate and work closely with the client

Irrigation designers demonstrate their competente through practicar experience, formal qualifications and/or industry certification.

The next task is to ensure that the systein is installed and operates in the way in which ¡t has been designed. This requires close cooperation between the property manager, designer and the contractors installing the system. lt is in the best interests of all parties to ensure an appropriate contract is prepared.

The basis of the contract to instala and commission the system is an agreed schedule for the installation specífying the costs, time frame (íncluding seasonal factors), payment schedule, deliveries of product, responsibilities, construction management and reasons for possible variations.

lt is important in the contract to specify whether the contractor ís contracted to the designer or the owner. The contract should also specify the party responsable for compliance with all relevant legal requirements.

Before the contractor starts installing the works the property manager should provide all relevant property information to ensure timely and efficient completion of the installation. This information should include an accurate plan of the existing farm infrastructure detailing services such as electricity and telephone.

Checks during installation

During installation the property manager or other responsable person should perform an ongoing audit to ensure all design specifications and regulations are met. The following checks should be made regularle throughout construction:

All products mect appropriate product standards.

All construction complies with all regulations, including engincering design specifications, and enviromnental and oecupational health and safety requirements.

Following the completion of the installation the contractor should provide a complete record of work that includes-.

an aecurate plan of the systein as built, showing variations from the original design

written operating instructions and

a maintenance schedule for the proper maintenance of all structures and equipment.

Where appropriate the installing contractor and/or the designer should operate the system for an agreed commissioning period to ensure that the system operates to specifícation. This period should ideally be covered by a warranty. The warranty may extend beyond the commissioning period.

lf nocessary, the contractor should arrange for traíning of key staff to ensure correct operation of all equipment.

The contractor is responsable for discase and pest control, ensuring the correct sterilisation of all equiprnent when moving from property to property.

lt is the irrigator's responsibility to ensure that the contractor can demonstrate the skills required to build and instala the system specified.

Contractors are required to instala and commission most irrigation systems, except those where minor upgrades or very simple systems are being installed. In instances where the operator of the system also instalas the system skills in the same general categories are required, The skill leves must be appropriate for the scale of system being installed.

A contractor typically necds skills in the following areas:

Business and fínancial management.-

Ability to

manage finances and cash of the contracting business

manage licensing requirements of staff such as heavy vehicle licenses

comply with all occupational health and safety requirements

meet all legal obligations associated with maintaining the contracting business

and

knowledge of all legal issues associated with irrigation system developinents such as water storage and drainage

communicationlliaison skills

project management skills including task prioritisation/time frames and staff management

ability to interpret plans

understanding and familiaríty with product installation requirements

knowledge of all skills required for installing the designed system. These skills will include knowledge of pipe joining and material handling, electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, earth moving, construction and concreting.

T'he specifíc knowledge will differ from system to system.

The operation and maintenance of the final installed system is the key to its lifelong water use efficiency. A system that has been designed and built as a water-efficient system must be operated correctly if ¡t is to demonstrate its efficiency.

Correct operation and maintenance of an irrigation system requires:

Regular maintenance checks of all physical parts of the system from the water source to the drainage and reuse sections

Schedule of maintenance

Regular service of parts and equipment as per the schedule Correctly trained staff to operate the system

Objective information on which to base irrigation schedules

Detailed instructions for the correct operation of the system

Correct maintenance of equipment

Redevelopment/upgrading plan

The operator should monitor the system to ensure ¡t operates to specifications.

Documents on system opemtion and system maintenance are needed.

Operation manual

Tbe system operation manual should specify:

the correct way to operate all equipment and installations

scheduling methods to use, and crop irrigation requirements

how the systein should work and its optimal operating range

protocols on how to operate the system safely

how the system handles natural extreme events such as floods and storms

how the system's operaron will be monitored

Maintenance manual

A manual on how to maintain the system should include: a service manual and parts book a schedule of maintenance that specifies the frequency of inspection and service for al¡ elements of the system

Maintenance records as well as financiar records of costs to operate and maintain the system should be kept.

Once the system has been commissioned the responsibility for ongoing operatíon and maintenance lies with the manager of the system. Staff involved in the operation and maintenance should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

knowledge of basic soil plant water relationships

basic knowledge of hydraulies/system componente

ability to read plans, manuals

understand one objective scheduling method

plan irrigation; order water (peak and off peak) event

understand application rate; how many hours to water

monitor and understand water quality/impurities e.g. snails

ability to test pressure/flow rates in system (valves/emitters)

ability to monitor pump performance, inciuding aligriment and effíciency

basic knowledge of pipe repairs

understand how to operate the system safely within OH&S regulations

ability to read water meter, rain gauge, tensiometers, compare to bench marks

keep records/monitor/check list

calibrate fertigation equipment