Overview

A well-designed irrigation system contributes to the production of thriving and high-quality crops.

Your system should use water effectively and efficiently and provide crops with the right amount of water at the right time.

There are regulations that you must follow to minimize the impact on other water users and to protect the natural environment.

The law

Water taking for irrigation of commercial crops is regulated by:

General

Irrigation management

Comprehensive guide on irrigation system establishment, operation and specific crops.

Irrigation during water shortages

Learn how to prepare in advance to decrease the negative impacts on a farming operation.

Equipment suppliers and consultants

Browse a list of irrigation and soil moisture monitoring equipment suppliers, and permit-to-take-water consultants.

Scheduling

Irrigation scheduling for tomatoes

Learn about irrigation scheduling for tomatoes using soil moisture monitoring and water budgeting.

Irrigation scheduling for fruit crops

Learn how to determine irrigation needs and when to use certain systems in fruit crop production.

Operations

Improving on-farm food safety

Learn how to keep irrigation water clean and prevent contamination.

Irrigation for frost protection of strawberries

How to use irrigation to protect against freezing weather in spring and fall.

Video: Maintaining drip irrigation systems

Learn how to flush irrigation lines, when to chlorinate and what to watch for.

Video: Measuring pressure flow

Learn how to measure pressure and flow in your irrigation system.

Soil moisture monitoring

Monitoring soil moisture to improve irrigation decisions

Learn how to select and calibrate an irrigation instrument and interpret the results.

Video: Interpreting soil moisture data

Learn how to interpret soil moisture monitoring data.

Video: Monitoring soil moisture — Part 1

Learn what instruments to use to monitor soil moisture, and where to install them.

Video: Monitoring soil moisture — Part 2

Learn how to install monitoring instruments and how often to monitor them.

Permits to take water

Permits to take water

Apply to take 50,000+ litres of water per day from the environment.

Irrigation reservoirs

Learn about the design, construction and maintenance of pumped irrigation reservoirs.

Water efficiency

Water efficiency infosheet

Learn how to address concerns identified in your Environmental Farm Plan.

Conserving energy in irrigation

Learn how to conserve water and reduce energy costs.

Water efficiency and conservation practices

Learn how to document irrigation water efficiency and conservation practices.