In many parts of Australia the drought is starting to bite hard and water restrictions are in place. In some areas, normal garden sprinkler systems cannot be used. However, drip irrigation systems are permitted. Don spoke with Grant Evans, Manager of Dural Irrigation in Sydney, about installing a drip irrigation system, or converting your present irrigation system to drippers so that it complies with local water restrictions.

Benefits of drippers

Drip irrigation systems are very efficient, because they deliver water exactly where it’s meant to go without wastage. They can be used on the surface of the soil or under mulch, on sloping sites or windy sites, and because there is no overspray they are ideal around paving and pools.

Grant showed Don three different Netafim self-cleaning driplines, which have drippers built-in at regular intervals. They are available in various diameters and lengths. They should be used in conjunction with a good quality filter to help prevent blockages.

Converting to a drip system

Seven years ago, Don installed an irrigation system in the garden of leading radio personality, Ray Hadley. Ray asked Don to come back and convert the system to drippers, so that it would comply with Sydney’s water restrictions.

Don dug up the main line, removed the existing sprayers and plugged every second hole with a goof plug. He then installed a dripline, which was cut to length, pegged down and covered with mulch.

Costs:

• 30m roll of 5mm drip tube, around $25
• 100m roll of 13mm drip tube, about $90
• goof plugs, 15 cents each
• Arcal filter, around $34

Further information

Our segment was filmed with
Grant Evans
Dural Irrigation
270 New Line Road
Dural NSW 2158
Phone: (02) 9651 4111
Web: www.duralirrigation.com.au

Mandatory water restrictions

Water restrictions in various parts of Australia are summarised below. For full details, contact your local water authority.

Sydney

No sprinklers or irrigation systems allowed, except for drip irrigation Hand-held watering of gardens and lawns permitted No hosing of hard surfaces, vehicles, paths or buildings

Melbourne

No watering of lawns allowed Manual watering systems allowed between 5am-8am and 8pm-11pm Automatic watering systems allowed between 11pm-6am Hand-held watering allowed No hosing of paved areas

South Australia

Sprinkler systems allowed from 8pm-8am on an odds and evens basis Hand-held hoses, watering cans, buckets and drip systems allowed No hosing of paved areas

Brisbane

Sprinkler systems allowed from 6am-10am and 2pm-10pm on an odds and evens basis Only one sprinkler to be used at a time Hand-held hoses allowed Automatic systems can be used from 10pm-midnight and midnight-6am, Mondays to Fridays only.

Copyright CTC Productions 2003