California's Water: 'Farm Water: Growing More with Every Drop'
Ag water users have made tremendous strides to improve on-farm water efficiency.
Technologies such as GPS, SCADA and high efficiency drip / micro irrigation systems represent a huge investment for growers, with a payoff of improved yields, reduced environmental concerns and water and energy savings.
High tech monitoring systems allow growers to make better management decisions in the field.
Water efficient practices make it possible for California farmers to produce 20% more today with less water than they used 20 years ago.
Background
Like their urban counterparts, agricultural water users have made dramatic strides in water use efficiency over the past two decades. Irrigation districts and farmers have adopted water efficient practices and technologies that compare favorably with those found anywhere in the world.
With methods such as subsurface drip irrigation and real-time irrigation scheduling, California farms today are growing 20% more food and fiber while using less water than they did 20 years ago. Even small irrigation districts are becoming leaders in putting the latest technology to work to get more out of every drop of water.
With over 20% of California’s electrical energy supply being used to pump and/or treat water, it is critical that water and energy be considered together when designing and operating irrigation systems.
A prime example of exploring water efficient technologies is the Water and Energy Technology (WET) Incubator at California State University, Fresno, which opened in March 2007 and is already at the forefront of developing water, energy and environmental technologies.
The incubator combines entrepreneurial leadership and training with research and testing expertise. It encompasses an array of indoor and outdoor labs designed to develop and perfect water-saving technologies.
The incubator also houses the International Center for Water Technology (ICWT), where ongoing studies and visual displays of irrigation systems, experimental water-saving devices, GPS and other gadgets are researched.
Patterson Irrigation District may be small, but it is on the forefront of water efficiency practices and improving water quality in the nearby San Joaquin River.
The district serves about 700 agricultural water users on 13,500 acres. It has constructed an innovative reservoir recovery system that recovers irrigation tailwater (water that already has flowed through the field) so it can be reused on other fields. Before the system was in place, the tailwater would have flowed into the San Joaquin River after a single use.
The project involved building a small reservoir to store the tailwater, automating key components and installing key SCADA components for effective operation and monitoring. Another reservoir is under construction now on the District’s north side. The district also uses advanced hydraulic automation techniques and computerized SCADA systems to better monitor and control its water and energy use.
The benefits of all these projects include increased water use efficiency, reduced energy use, better customer service, reduced groundwater pumping and improved water quality in the San Joaquin River.