Dollars Down the Drain Michael Danelon Industry Development Officer NGINA

1. Dollars Down the Drain Michael Danelon Industry Development Officer NGINA

2. Outcomes • Hand watering – pros and cons • Smart Approved Water Mark • Retail Waterwork

3. Managing water - nursery National survey - 1999: • average water use • water costs • pumping costs • maintenance costs • hand watering labourcosts In 2006 National survey of retail/production nurseries • Benchmark – water use, type of water, cost, hand watering, non-nursery use

4. Managing water - nursery In 2006 National survey of retail/production nurseries • Irrigated area • Water use (requirements/use) • Water source • Irrigation method Hand watering still popular - 55% of prod 94% of retail • labour, (small area, monitoring), outlay

5. Managing water - nursery In 2006 National survey of retail/production nurseries • Irrigation management and options • Respondents who: P R • knew approximate application rate 38% 11% • knew system operating pressure system 64% 20% • have automatic irrigation controllers 83% 62% • Use fertigation systems 36% 10% • Businesses: • with documented water management plan 26% 11% • which measure and record rainfall 46% 35%

6. Water management – make it a priority How much do you know re use and efficiency? • Do you have and use a water meter? • Do you know about your irrigation system? • What are the watering needs? • Do you recycle run off?

7. Water management - knowledge gaps Industry commitment to water management • promote benefits of a documented WMP • invest in Retail Waterwork and develop BMP guidelines • facilitating up-take of on-site recycling by both sectors • encourage ongoing monitoring and recording of water use per annum (L/m2) is known by all businesses • SAWM

8. Water management - knowledge gaps Research commissioned: • Water disinfestation • Soil moisture sensors • Retrofitting • Economic benefits of retrofit • Hand watering • Growing media ameliorants

9. Assessment of hand watering in nurseries 2008, NGIA commissioned DPI&F, Qld to evaluate and quantify the efficiency of hand watering • Irrigation mandatory, frequent, perishable • Hand watering common - 55% of production nurseries and 94% of retail businesses • Perceived to have several benefits • supplement fixed irrigation systems or • prevent over watering in low water use areas

10. Assessment of hand watering in nurseries Recommended as efficient irrigation method without knowledge of principals and actual efficiencies of options • Research production and retail • examine labour costs and water use associated with hand watering, compared to calculated costs of irrigation techniques

11. Assessment of hand watering – time in motion 2 production and 4 retail in SEQ with data collected: • time watering; experience of staff and area irrigated Water use - measured flow rates or installation of a portable water meter to hose • Measurements then allowed determination of the water use per m² of production/plants, MAR

12. Assessment of hand watering – labour/equip Hand watering results compared to water use for O/H sprinkler, ebb and flow and capillary • Calculate water use (BMP) Waterwork L/m2 • Retrofit BMP nurseries as benchmark (design and install) • Cost comparison – time/labour and water used $/KL vs timed irrigation system • ROI derived for irrigation system based on these figures

13. Assessment of hand watering – labour/equip • DIY cost O/H based on 2 designs in Managing Water in Plant Nurseries, (Rolfe et al 2000) • In-house cost vs professional install • Outdoor; 60x40 m; MAR 5.6 mm/hr, 11.2 mm/hr, 200 kPa • Equipment costs based on current retail prices with conversion to $/m² • The cost $/m² of Ebb and Flow mat estimated at $11

14. Assessment of hand watering – labour/equip • Labour component based on 2008 wage rates as outlined in the QIRC 2003 Nursery Award for standard 38hr week • Labour converted from/irrigation to yearly cost per m² based on the assumption of 200 irrigation events per year, • Labour component included for auto systems maintenance and programming of 15 min/week

15. Assessment of hand watering – labour/equip • Compared $/m2 for systems - $27.78 (labour) • Hand watering can cost up to 14 times DIY O/H sprinkler • Capillary matting system, with high initial capital costs ($7.75 to $52.25) should provide ROI after 2 years - labour savings

16. Assessment of hand watering – usage • Irrigation rate - determine quantity of water draining through pots compared to water falling between pots (MAR) • Waste space between pots (geometrical analysis 10x10 m with 5041 x 140 mm pots (71 x 71), 77.60% of total area

17. Assessment of hand watering – usage • Water draining through pots - function of the irrigation rate; media absorption rate of 15 mm/hr, irrigated at 22 mm/hr would drain at 7 mm/hr = 32% of the applied irrigation • Calculations based on a target irrigation of 5 mm over the 100 m², 140 mm pots with absorption rate of 15 mm/hr • Water loss through drainage calculated to occur at higher irrigation rates, a greater quantity of water was required to achieve retention of 5 mm in pots at each irrigation event

18. Assessment of hand watering – usage • A comparison of water costs/m² were determined under each scenario - current water prices and yearly projected bulk water costs from the QWC up to 2018 • As irrigation rate increases beyond media absorption rate more water is lost as drainage; hence larger total application is required to ensure adequate water retention • High application rates result in more water loss as drainage than run-off from between pots at lower MAR

19. Assessment of hand watering – pros/cons • R & D - compelling arguments against the efficiency, both economically and in the application of hand irrigation • Presented comparative costs based on equipment and labour only illustrate installation of an irrigation system is a cost effective alternative (200 irrigation events/year) • As the number of irrigation events increases, comparative cost of hand watering would almost double

20. Assessment of hand watering – pros/cons • Capital cost of equipment and installation is a one-off cost, with minor maintenance costs • Labour costs for hand watering on-going and increase

21. Assessment of hand watering – pros/cons • Cost benefit analysis of current practices provides confidence in the adoption of automated irrigation systems • Comparative water use of hand watering exceed BMP

22. Assessment of hand watering – pros/cons • Water consumption may seem an insignificant cost, projected costs of water show price tripling over 10 years • Claims hand watering allow operators to prevent water being applied between pots is not supported • Possible to minimise water loss with larger pot and trigger nozzles to control direction - still potential for water loss • If application rates from a point source are higher than growing media - water will be lost through drainage

23. Assessment of hand watering – pros/cons • Cost of hand watering greater than irrigation system • It is an inefficient method in terms of water use • Hand watering should only be relied upon as a ‘fall back’ • Adhere to BMP nozzles to reduce flow rate and incorporate a trigger mechanism • Controlling application rate of irrigation is pivotal in the control and prevention of water loss $ down the drain

24. Smart Approved WaterMark • 2004, NGIA became 1 of four founding partners of the Smart Approved WaterMark program, Australia’s national labeling scheme to help save outdoor use. • Scheme is supported by all states and territories through the National Water Initiative, and by Federal Government through the Water Smart Australia program. • More than 150 products and services approved by the scheme, as well as growing consumer awareness.

25. Smart Approved WaterMark • 76% of NGIA’s NewsPoll survey participants said they consider using water-efficient products in their gardens • An opportunity for our industry to reach consumers on an issue that’s important to them: saving water • Manufacturers and retailers of water-saving products can benefit in several ways by being involved with the scheme: through showing leadership in a key area of sustainability, demonstrating corporate social responsibility and getting an edge over their competitors

26. Smart Approved WaterMark Independent experts assess all applications • Considerable experience in water conservation, horticulture, irrigation, education or retail to assess in four key criteria: • Water saving - contribute directly to reducing or improve WUE • Fit for purpose - appropriate use of the product or service is consistent with the instructions • Regulations and standards - must be of high quality and meet industry standards as well as customer and community expectations • Environmentally sustainable - must not adversely affect the environment in other ways.

27. Smart Approved WaterMark Independent experts assess all applications • The Smart Approved WaterMark logo can only be used on products and services that have verified the amount of water they save • Refer to www.smartwatermark.info

28. Smart Approved WaterMark Gardening products and services approved to date include: • Wetting agents and soil enhancers • A mulch and hose connector • Smart pots • Sub-surface irrigation driplines • Greywater treatment and irrigation systems • Sydney Water’s ‘Love Your Garden’ program • NIASA and EcoHort BMP

29. Smart Approved WaterMark • Choice magazine support SAWM in recent review of companies offering products/services technically backed • SAWM written into policy, NSW Government Sustainability Policy, WA State Water Plan, 5 Star Home Plus building • MOU’s between SAWM and water utilities • Sydney Water, Hunter Water and Country Water in NSW • City West Water in Melbourne • ACTEW Corporation in the ACT • Western Australia's Water Corporation • SA Water

30. Retail Waterwork 6 sessions designed to: • help you use water more efficiently in your business • provide skills to assist customers better use water Adjusting to new water rules Watering options Practical session Alternate water supplies Domestic irrigation systems Irrigation timing and duration

31. Session 1 – New rules The major effect of less rainfall means much less runoff into streams, storage dams and groundwater aquifers In summary, climate change means: • Higher temperatures • Higher evaporation • Higher water demand • Business impacts - restrictions

32. How is this affecting the management of your business and the products your customers now require ? As well as additional effort to improve water management efficiencies there are business opportunities

33. Session 2 - Irrigation systems options • Hand watering • OH sprinkler irrigation • Bottom irrigation systems • Drip irrigation systems

34. Systems you can adopt to better water Garden Centres?

35. Session 3 - Practical exercises Activity 1 : Measure water flow and pressure from the town water supply

36. Session 3 - Practical exercises Activity 2: Monitor overhead sprinkler performance

37. Session 4 - Domestic options • Rainwater harvested from roof catchments • Grey water from laundry and bathroom • On site treated sewage or domestic waste water • Groundwater from a bore or spear point For most residential gardens the alternate water supplies are:

38. Session 5 Domestic irrigation systems

39. Session 5Domestic irrigation systems Hose operated: • Hand held nozzle • Garden rose • Soaker hose • Wave sprinkler Systems can include: • Hose operated or Tap/valve operated Tap/valve operated: • Micro sprays • Micro sprinklers • Drip systems • Pop-up sprinklers

40. Session 6When to irrigate - customer advice Knowledge of: • plant water requirements • their effective root depths • the rate of plant water use • the WHC of their garden soil • the evenness of water application (Cu & SC) • MAR (allows you to determine irrigation time)

41. Example Calculation See page 39 of your notes Step 1: Calculate ET ET = 8.3 (Table 10) x 0.65 (Table 11) x 1.75 (Table 12) = 9.5 mm Step 2: Estimate RAW RAW = 0.44 (root depth) x 100 (Table 13) = 44 mm Step 3: Calculate Watering Interval (WI) WI = 44/9.5 = about 4.5 days or about 10 mm every day or 20 mm every two days, etc Excel spreadsheet

42. So how does the Retail Waterwork course operate? The National Training course nearly complete Sessions are suited to foundation to intermediates skills IDO/BDO’s can match the course to best suit the needs of their nurseries with climate date, local information Workbook, CD with sprinkler calculator and spreadsheet for watering requirements

43. It’s always better to spend time looking objectively at your options and planning well, than hurriedly installing something that you spend the rest of your days adjusting and cursing.