Water Reticulation Equipment for Rangelands Pastoral Applications: A Review
Water Reticulation Equipment for Rangelands Pastoral Applications: A Review Report
DKCRC Working Paper
- Author(s): Williams, R, Pezzaniti, D
- Published: 2008
- Publisher: Desert Knowledge CRC
- Volume: 18
Abstract: Traditional supply of water for stock in pastoral areas using bore drains has been the preferred method of pastoralists in Australia for more than 100 years. In this case water is typically fed to the open drains from bores (usually free flowing artesian bores from the Great Artesian Basin) and is distributed across the contours of the land (refer to Figure 1). This method of water distribution is highly inefficient, with more than 85 % of water lost through evaporation or seepage. It has been estimated that more than two-thirds of water extracted from the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is currently wasted. Overuse or unnecessary use of this water will eventually reduce the water and pressure in the basin. Reticulation of water across pastoral areas is a key strategy in managing the use of underground water resources more efficiently. Improvements in plastic pipe technologies and methods of dealing with high temperature and pressure water, typical in the GAB, have enabled pastoralists to consider more seriously the use of reticulation instead of open channel delivery of water. By reticulating water, evaporation and seepage losses are eliminated and unnecessary wastage of water through free flowing bores is also prevented. Water reticulation also offers the pastoralists many advantages including: • higher quality water for stock • reduction in land degradation and erosion from water flowing through open channels • a more flexible and reliable supply of water to stock • reduction in pests and vermin that are attracted to water in open channels. The following report has been produced to list and review reticulation equipment that is available to pastoralists. Specific issues related to extraction of water from the GAB, such as heat and pressure have also been addressed. Many of these issues were addressed during recent field workshops (June 2004) organised by the Department of Water, Land, and Biodiversity Conservation and the Arid Areas Catchment Water Management Board (South Australia). Some of the outcomes from these workshops are included in this report.
Notes: The WaterSmart Pastoralism™ Literature Reviews
- Urls: http://www.nintione.com.au/resource/DKCRC-Working-Paper-18-WaterSmart-Lit-Reviews_Reticulation-Equipment-Review.pdf, https://web.archive.org/web/20180320082108/http://www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au/resource/DKCRC-Working-Paper-18-WaterSmart-Lit-Reviews_Reticulation-Equipment-Review.pdf
- Publisher Location: Alice Springs
- Keywords: water reticulation, rangeland, pastoral industry, pastoralist, great artesian basin