Farmwater Engineeering Information

The Centre for Ecohydrology and the Department of Agriculture have brought together water management information and some simple evaluation tools for a wide range of management options for groundwater, surface water and the development of reliable on-farm water supplies essential to those in the rural industry.

This package provides information about engineering techniques for managing water in the landscape, which may involve controlling erosion, waterlogging, or natural drainage.

Who is this package for

This water management information package is suitable for farmers, agri-business and consultants in the fields of farm water supplies for irrigation, livestock and domestic use.

Why?

Improving water management is essential because excess or unmanaged water can lead to problems that severely impact on farm productivity. These include the removal of topsoil by water erosion; poor plant germination and growth because of waterlogging and inundation; or excessive recharge leading to saturation of the soil profile causing watertable rise and increased mobility of salts. Rainfall and surface water inflows on to low lying areas during winter and spring result in saturation of the upper soil profile.

Getting Started

For a general overview read An Introduction to FarmWater and An Introduction to Farm Water Supplies.

The documents in Developing Water Supplies cover Dams, Tanks, Water Treatment and Water Quality. Surface Water looks at the management of Surface Water, various earthworks and shallow drainage. The documents in the Groundwater tab look at methods of dealing with groundwater, including drainage, wells, siphons and evaporation basins. Software has a range of calculation and modelling software related to water supply development.

Dairy Catchments contains a package of information developed as DairyCatch. DairyCatch is an industry-led initiative that is working with farmers to develop and implement best management practice for environmentally sustainable dairying.