Water Management

PIRSA Water Policy, develops policies and priorities to inform the strategic directions of the Agency aiming to underpin the sustainability and success of the primary industry sector. With the interests of the primary industry sector as the main focus, the Water Policy Unit operates in four main areas by providing:

  • input into the development of State and National Water Policies from a primary industries perspective;
  • identification of risks and opportunities for South Australia’s primary industries sector in relation to the State’s water resources;
  • development of strategic priorities and directions to guide PIRSA program implementation; and
  • facilitation in partnership with government agencies and statutory boards, to foster uptake of SA’s water policy in the primary industries sector and the wider community.

PIRSA Water Policy is also involved in programs that link with key elements of the National Water Initiative (NWI), that focus on improvement in farm, irrigation system and catchment water use efficiency.

A critical factor of effective water policy is optimising the use of the State’s water resources by the primary industries sector, whilst achieving the right balance between the competing demands for water from the conservation and urban sectors.

PIRSA has developed a Water Intensive Development website to encourage investment in water intensive industries. The website highlights the key considerations in planning and proceeding through the development path within South Australia whilst promoting the suitability of the State for water intensive development.

Key Features of the site include:

  • Regional Profiles highlighting water resource considerations and regional industries;
  • A site selection mapping tool displaying:soil capabilities, water availability, climatic conditions and infrastructure;
  • Links directing potential investors via links to the relevant industry bodies, organisations and Government Departments that can provide further assistance;
  • Water resource information relating to water allocation planning, licensing and water trading

For further information regarding the website, please visit www.pir.sa.gov.au/wid.

Alternatively, contact the PIRSA Water Policy Unit on 

Ph:(08) 8463 3332, or email pirsa.water@sa.gov.au 

The following water related links are also provided for further information

Irrigation management

An integrated approach to irrigation

Irrigating crops efficiently

Irrigation Benchmarking  

Irrigation benchmarks and best practices for winegrapes

Irrigation best management practices

Irrigation efficiency (external web-site SARDI)

Monthly Crop coefficients (xls 39kb)

Annual irrigation requirement for horticultural crops

IRES - an Irrigation Recording and Evaluation System 

About the IRES software

Is IRES Applicable to me?

Weather data for IRES software users

Weather data for IRES users from NRM Board automatic weather stations

Check vineyard soil moisture

Autumn irrigations 

Irrrigation management on the Northern Adelaide Plains

Water budgeting tool

Water budgeting tool (xls 7382kb)

Information on water resource management

Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) (external web-site).

Information and advice for water management during drought conditions

Irrigation and Water Management

SA Water is an internationally recognised water utility wholly owned by the Government of South Australia. It delivers water and waste water services to almost 1.4 million people across the State and is committed to preserving and improving the quality of the environmente.

SA Water (external web-site)

The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) provides research services in water and irrigation.

SARDI (external web-site)

 

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