Optimising water use
Examples include recycling, improved packaging and the recovery of waste for use in other processes such as biogas generation.
Using irrigation water efficiently - Melanie and Grant Rogers, Derwent Valley, Tasmania, Australia
| Source : Dairy Australia |
Melanie and Grant to reduce both their electricity bill (pumping water) and leaching of fertilizers have installed loggers and aqua flex tapes on their farm to enable more efficient use of irrigated water. By doing so they have created a win-win situation: saving money and benefiting the environment.
The couple have a long-term commitment to dairy farming in a sustainable manner; in practice meaning they will only use irrigated water when required. Refer to the following video:
Efficient Use of Water Energy and Nutrient Resources (EWEN) program - Australia
| Source : Dairy Australia |
EWEN is a collaborative project involving Federal and state government departments in partnership with the dairy industry. The project audits of water and energy use on dairy farms.
Approximately 80 energy audits were conducted on the mid north coast of New South Wales (NSW). Each farmer receives a report outlining how they compare to a group of similar sized dairy farms and an action plan for improving energy and water use efficiency. The audits have been supported by a NSW state government grant that offers up to A$5,000 for eligible on-farm work that has a pay back period of more than two years.
Specifically for the Murphy's the audit recommended a heat recover unit be installed to per-heat water using the hot gasses in the vat compressors; refer to attachment. The change from a pressure type heater to a non-pressure heater allows hot water to be used without cold water being added to the tank. This means that morning and evening hot water washes of the milking shed can be discharged from the heater without the need to reheat for the evening wash.
The benefits are savings of around A$1,000 per year in water heating costs alone. This results in a pay back time of 9.8 years. The pay back period is halved, though, as a result of rebate from the state government of 50 per cent of the total cost of the project. The total cost is $9,872 excluding GST.
River Haven Farm - New York, USA
| Source : Innovation Center For US Dairy |
“My dad came back from World War II glad to be alive, glad to be here on our farm. Dad loved the land. That’s ingrained in me: appreciation for the land.” - R. Thomas Hutson
Protecting the water supply through:
- Buffer and filter strips
- Rotational grazing
- Forest management
- Stream restoration
- Conservation easement
Graham and Theresa Bourke - Darling Downs, Queensland, Australia
| Source : DairyingForTomorrow - Dairy Australia |
“The new mains mean we save about 20% of our total water use by getting rid of leaks and improved irrigation scheduling. Reduced friction in the pipes has also improved the irrigation system’s energy efficiency by 10%." - Graham Bourke
Improving water use efficiency by:
- Underground piping
- Irrigation scheduling
Kym and Kate Bartlett - South Australia
| Source : DairyingForTomorrow |
“Since installing some of the new main watering drains in September 2006, there are no longer large leakages and some of the problem paddocks seem to be doing a lot better,” - Kate Bartlett
Improving water use efficiency by:
- Lining irrigation channels
- Updating water meters
- Installing a re-use dam
Water Program in Nigeria and Ghana – Royal FrieslandCampina
| Source : Royal FrieslandCampina |
In Nigeria and Ghana, wells are constantly dug for local communities, so as to provide them with good-quality drinking water, the first drinking-water well working on solar energy was commissioned, in view of the high price of diesel (needed for the pumps).
The proceeds from water savings achieved by FrieslandCampina Export in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, are fully spent on the digging of more drinking-water wells in Africa.
Managing scarcity and recycling of embedded water – Colombia
| Source : FEDEGAN-FNG |
See picture
PE & SL Balfour - "Malmani", Australia
| Archived | Source : Bega Environmental Management System - CMA Southern Rivers - Autralian Government |
See the attached picture for an example of the Bega Environmental Management System in practice. A case study on improving water quality and reduction of soil erosion.
