About the project
One of the largest and most productive irrigation schemes in Australian has embarked on a new chapter in its success, focussed on boosting sustainability of water use and equitable sharing of this vital community resource.
The Urban Channel Pipeline (UCP) project – initiated by Murrumbidgee Irrigation utilising the Federal and State Government’s Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure partnership – is replacing 47.5km of ageing and inefficient open supply channels around Griffith and Leeton, reducing evaporation and seepage and delivering wider community benefits.
The $62 million UCP Program – scheduled for completion in 2027 – incorporates Australian-designed and manufactured Aquamonix Emflux flow meters to deliver water to residential, industrial and agricultural users.
Urban and non-urban water metering compliance requirements are part of Federal and State partnerships committed to accurately measuring water taken from regulated rivers, unregulated rivers, and groundwater systems.
Urban and non-urban water metering compliance requirements are part of Federal and State partnerships committed to accurately measuring water taken from regulated rivers, unregulated rivers, and groundwater systems.
It is the latest investment initiated and administered by Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI), whom have over the last decade, have been working to improve the sustainability and resilient use of the water resources across the NSW Food Bowl, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA).
The MIA covers 378,911 hectares, of which about 190,000 hectares are actively irrigated, with major improvements being initiated by MI which is one of Australia’s largest irrigation companies. With responsibility to provide water and drainage services to the MIA, MI was established in 1912 to drought-proof inland Australia and deliver food security. Water is sourced from the Murrumbidgee River supplied from Burrinjuck and Blowering Dams.
“These investments for which MI is responsible are focussed on getting the best and fairest outcome for all who depend on the equitable use of irrigation water through the MIA,” says someone who has been involved with a range of projects across the region, Darren Humphris.
“The ongoing MIA modernisation projects play a significant role in the move toward more sustainable water management across the Murray-Darling Basin” says Darren, who represents Aquamonix, the Metering and Controls team within the Envirada Group.
Aquamonix has provided several thousand flow meters over recent years to enable irrigators to meet new metering rules imposed by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
As part of the UCP project, water supplied to farmers, towns and industry is progressively being relocated from channels to underground pipelines equipped with new meters to ensure everyone shares equitably in this valuable resource.
The UCP project benefits the stakeholders in particular by:
- Delivering water savings, including through the reduction of losses by evaporation, seepage and inequitable use
- Passing benefits of enhanced efficiency and control on to the environment, helping to meet government-mandated targets
- Improving urban service levels and system capacity through more precise water control, while Increasing water supply for towns and industry
- Enabling residents to connect to a raw water supply where possible
- Generating local employment opportunities through the project itself and the resulting long-term benefits
- Increasing regional productivity through efficient water use practices, facilitated by better water use technologies
said Darren Humphris.
“MIA irrigators are increasingly adopting automated technologies that enable them to measure and monitor water more accurately, improve on farm water efficiency and increase production. Automation and remote control mean that – instead of having to drive out to manually operate outlets – they can remotely manage the water flows to improve on farm operations while meeting their compliance goals,”
Key to the success of the MI projects over the past 15 years has been the well proven Aquamonix Emflux metering technology, with customised meter designs jointly developed to complement existing infrastructure and operations of MI.
The Emflux solar-powered flow meters are specifically designed to retrofit into existing irrigation outlets and integrate with communications and control networks.
They provide drop-in replacement capability for upgrading older meters. Their tamper-proof design is approved to Australian Standard AS4747. The new meters provide standalone operation, with remote communications to report water usage to centralised management systems.
MI General Manager, Information and Control Systems, Andrew Pasquetti, says the participation of proven technology partners has been integral to the success of its modernisation projects, including the UCP project, where accuracy, reliability of data and ability to integrate with existing control systems are essential.
“We now have several thousand of these meters in service, spread over a large geographic area, so reliability, longevity and remote reporting capability are what we are looking for. Aquamonix have been responsive to our evolving needs and have delivered with innovative product features designed to suit our requirements.
“This has led to positive and enduring working relationships across our business from our maintenance teams in the field through to our industrial control and civil engineering groups.
“What we appreciate about the Aquamonix team – is that, although they are delivering a technological solution, they remain focussed on the need for clear communication and practical outcomes for the project. When challenges arise, our teams work closely together to implement innovative and reliable outcomes”.
“Their teams provide both remote and in field tech support – true customer service that goes beyond the products and brings the people skills and experience to build the foundations of an enduring partnership”.
