Project background
The Eyre Peninsula Farm Water Security project promotes better capture, storage and management of water on Eyre Peninsula (EP) farms.
Agriculture uses the largest amount of mains water in the region – 38% of SA Water’s local supply. Acting now to enhance water capture and storage provides farmers with the opportunity to:
- use water more efficiently
- save money
- reduce reliance on mains water
- support their own water security.
The project is the result of engagement with the agriculture sector and farmers from the region, as part of SA Water’s Eyre Peninsula Water Security Response Plan.
Objectives
Investigate methods for farmers to enhance their use of on-farm water sources, and provide them with information and resources about:
- water capture
- water storage
- water quality improvement
- technology that can reduce demand and improve water efficiency.
Research approach
- A project steering committee was established with representatives from different parties including SA Water, Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board, AWI Extension SA and SARDI.
- AgCommunicators were engaged to assist with fact sheets, case studies, social media and field days.
- Development of a number of case studies itemising farm practices on Eyre Peninsula, costing and issues.
- Assessment of water capture systems across the EP including other regions and states. This will focus on options for storing water as well as minimising loss and efficiencies in transporting water across a farming network.
- Water treatments will be reviewed, including:
- desalination
- groundwater
- treatment of turbid water to improve quality, suspended particles and use of treatments of various water sources (treatment so as to be fit for use – for example: spray water quality from surface water capture).
- The intent is to:
- undertake a review of available documents across the farming system network
- update existing fact sheets
- develop new fact sheets where gaps are identified
- prepare a library of water saving information to be made accessible to all primary producers with links to possible suppliers and resources.
- PIRSA to analyse the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water and its standards across the EP. Water sources proposed for data collection are:
- dams
- bores
- reverse osmosis or desalination handling
- rainwater
- mains water in different network locations.
Outcomes
Our project field days at Warramboo and Wharminda were well attended and had lots of interest.
Our long-term goals for the project include:
- supporting farmers to reduce reliance on mains water
- enabling landholders to provide part or all of their supply through on-farm water capture
- improving on-farm water efficiency and management.
In some cases, improved water quality at a lower cost can be an outcome.
This project is developing a collection of resources to support these goals, including case studies of landholders who have implemented enhanced water management measures, and fact sheets about different water management topics.
Case studies and fact sheets
- EP Farm Water Security – Case study: Rainwater capture from farm infrastructure ()
- EP Farm Water Security – Fact sheet: Managing hard water ()
- EP Farm Water Security – Fact sheet: Managing pH, dissolved iron ()
- EP Farm Water Security – Fact sheet: Managing salinity ()
- EP Farm Water Security – Fact sheet: Managing turbidity, cloudiness and algae ()
- EP Farm Water Security – Fact sheet: On-farm water storage ()
- EP Farm Water Security – Fact sheet: Water capture ()
- EP Farm Water Security – Fact sheet: Water testing ()
Collaborators
The project is led by the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions through the South Australian Research and Development Institute, with project partners SA Water, the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board, AWI Extension SA and AgCommunicators.
