News release 11 May 2015 Maintain your irrigation Media contact Irrigators are invited to learn about drip irrigation system maintenance and operation at upcoming workshops supported by the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management (SAMDB NRM) Board and Netafim. The workshops will take place across the SAMDB region and will be delivered from 9am to 1pm on the following dates and venues: June 1 – Renmark Hotel entertainment bar June 2 – Loxton Research Centre conference room June 3 – Waikerie Hotel function room June 4 – Bowhill Tennis Club June 5 – Langhorne Creek Bowling Club. Natural Resources SAMDB Regional Land and Water Management Coordinator Jeremy Nelson, said the workshops would cover aspects such as understanding drip irrigation system design, system benchmarking and testing and evaluating impacts from varying water qualities. “Irrigators attending the workshops will receive the latest information on developing and implementing a drip irrigation system maintenance program designed to ensure a system is running at optimal performance,” Mr Nelson said. “The best way to determine whether a maintenance program is working is through consistent monitoring of pumping and delivery system flow rates and pressures, and evaluating this data against the original design specification if available.” The SAMDB NRM Board is supporting the workshops in conjunction with industry and encouraging irrigators to be engaged in water use planning. “In recent years we have seen a large number of properties across the SAMDB region either convert to drip irrigation or modernise existing drip systems, so regular system maintenance will be key to maximising the return on this investment. “The SAMDB NRM Board has also secured funding through Rounds One to Four of the Australian Government funded On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program to work as delivery partner to help irrigators modernise their irrigation infrastructure to improve water-use efficiency.” For maintenance information or to register for a workshop, contact the Sustainable Irrigation team at the Natural Resources Centre in Berri on 08 8580 1800. This project is supported by the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. For more information about the On-Farm irrigation Efficiency Program visit: http://www.environment.gov.au/water/rural-water/srwui/on-farm-irrigationefficiency-program Photo Caption: Irrigators can learn about effective maintenance for drip irrigation systems (pictured) during June workshops supported by the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board and Netafim Jayne Miller Media Project Officer Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Phone (08) 8580 1811 Mobile 0467 762 107 Email Jayne.miller@sa.gov.au www.environment.sa.gov.au www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au /samurraydarlingbasin