May 2019 WCN Digital Edition

What You Need to Know
About Groundwater
Pumping Efficiency
By CECILIA PARSONS | Associate Editor
WHEN PUMPING GROUNDWATER FOR IRRIGATION, IT IS
important to know the cost, because it is likely one of the most expensive
crop inputs.
Efficiency of the irrigation pump can greatly affect irrigation costs. In order
to improve overall pumping efficiency and also encourage energy conservation,
growers have the opportunity to connect with the Advanced Pumping Efficiency
Program.
This is an educational and incentive program available through Pacific Gas
and Electric (PG&E) and funded through the Public Purpose Programs Charges
under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
APEP
The Advanced Pumping Efficiency Program (APEP) has four components:
education, technical assistance, pump efficiency tests and incentives for pump
retrofits/replacements. The Center for Irrigation Technology at California State
PDI Chico
(530)-894-2755
3195 Durham-Dayton Chico, CA 95928
PDI Hughson
(209)-833-4032
5724 E Whitmore Hughson, CA 95326
PDI Selma
(559) 896-3222
1029 Valley View Ct. Selma, CA 93721
Pure Power. Pure Performance. Pure Orchard-Rite.
University, Fresno administers the
program.
Education consists of seminars on
pumping system specification and
maintenance, water management and
water measurement. The goal is to help
growers or managers know how to
recognize an efficient pumping system,
how to maintain an efficient pumping
system, how much water needs to be
pumped and how much water has
been pumped.
Technical assistance comes in the
form of program personnel who are
available to help in locating pump
efficiency testers, completing a pump
retrofit or replacement incentive
application form or answering general
questions about pumping system design
and use.
Pump Testing
Pump testing is a subsidized program
for eligible electric or natural gas
powered water pumps that are 25 horsepower
or greater, serviced by a PG&E
utility account.
Incentives are available for pumps of
30 HP or greater to encourage retrofitting
or replacement of pumps to
improve overall efficiency.
An example of the benefits of this
program is the Alpaugh Irrigation
District, which over a two-year period
embarked on a plan to repair five 200
HP deep well pumps. Cost for repairs
and well cleaning was about $100,000,
but the energy savings was more than
1.2 million kilowatt hours per year,
saving about $150,000 per year in
electric costs. The district also received
$50,000 in incentive rebates.
Continued on Page 26
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West Coast Nut May 2019