Data crucial to managing water

Collecting relevant data is the base to making informed management and wateruse decisions, which as an example might include over watering via irrigation, but it’s not unrealistic to say that accurate data can save 10-20% of the water without reducing yield, as pumping cost savings dwarf the actual data costs.

Offering specific easyto- read presentations, alongside a backup team to help you understand and better utilise the information provided, data sources can be interpreted to send alerts for critical points to a user’s cell phone, saving physical staff time and providing peace of mind for a manager.

Soils presentations clearly show the effects of irrigation applications helping users to calculate potential future application rates. In practice, a soil probe takes readings at 100mm intervals, giving in-depth detail of key soil indicators for moisture, salinity, and temperature. This is complemented with a weather forecasting function, as well as crop agronomy requirements and any current or future water supply concerns.

Effluent or waste application to land has also become an important consideration, with the timing and volume of applications being critical to how the soil will respond and any potential damage to adjoining waterways. Understanding moisture levels prior to any applications is also critical, as is understanding the salinity, which correlates with nitrogen and other mineral levels. Specific crops perform best at certain electrical conductivity (EC) levels, so following the trend of EC over the year is a good indicator that an effluent management programme is working as it should.

In today’s regime of proof of placement, water use data needs to be presented in a timely and accurate manner local and regional councils for consent purposes. Watermetrics staff are experienced in this area and maintain a credible relationship with councils on a user’s behalf. Nationwide verification work is undertaken with Blue Tick qualified staff.

Looking at the livestock sector, stock water monitoring can look at tank or pond level readings, with alerts for leakage or low levels, meaning farm staff time are relieved of the task of travelling to remote locations to check supplies.

Watermetrics’ Axioma meters, designed for use with smaller 15-50mm diameter pipe, can measure the amount of water that has entered a system, alongside ensuring the correct amount has arrived at the desired location. This is helpful for leak detection work by saving time and money, while also being useful for measuring amounts going to scheme users to ensure accurate data collection for onward billing.