Code of Practice - Irrigated Public Open Space - SA Water

Auditing of Existing Systems
Auditing of all Council’s irrigation systems is prioritised,
starting with high water use reserves and larger irrigated
areas. Auditing of irrigation systems is an essential and
valuable tool to understand system performance and
develop the appropriate schedule for each site. The majority
of irrigation system infrastructure is aging (10-30 years old)
and was not designed to current industry ‘best practice’
standards, resulting in high maintenance and poor system
efficiency (Distribution uniformities averaging 55%).
Irrigation System Upgrades/Subsurface Drip Irrigation
Based on the results of the irrigation audits, irrigation
systems are being progressively upgraded. Where appropriate,
sub surface drip irrigation systems are being installed.
The City of Tea Tree Gully was the first council in Australia
to trial sub-surface drip irrigation in a sportsfield in 1993.
Sub-surface drip irrigates the turf directly to the root zone
where the water is required. These systems are capable of
improving irrigation efficiency by 30 – 40%. Vandalism and
maintenance costs are also significantly reduced. Council
has four sports fields and ten neighbourhood parks irrigated
with sub-surface drip.
Council has been successful in obtaining Federal
Government Community Water Grant funding to assist in
the upgrading of irrigation systems.
Alternative Water Sources
Council has been proactive over the last five years, and has
put in place schemes to reduce reliance on mains water.
These strategies have provided for diversion from mains
water to reclaimed/reuse water and to date have accounted
for approximately 90,000 kL per annum, equating to
approximately 15% of the City’s water consumption.
Tea Tree Gully Council has joined forces with the Cities of
Salisbury and Playford in the Waterproofing Northern
Adelaide initiative in a bid to conserve and recycle water in
the northern suburbs of Adelaide. This new water resource
management scheme will deliver significant social,
environmental and economic developments to the City.
Under this scheme the City, for irrigation proposes to totally
replace the demand on mains water by using treated
wastewater and cleansed stormwater to meet the Council’s
irrigation needs and to supplement mains water supplied to
industries with higher water requirements.
APPENDICES
42
Conclusion
Over the past three to five years sound irrigation
management strategies has resulted in significant reduction
of water consumption for irrigated public open space within
the City of Tea Tree Gully. Subsequent to reduced water
consumption has been significant financial savings which
will be ongoing and enable the funding of irrigation
upgrades, the introduction of new technology and the
development of alternative water supplies which will ensure
a sustainable water supply into the future.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Go to www.teatreegully.sa.gov.au