80 hectares vineyard drip irrigation

Scope

This client had already a well-established reputation in Marlborough as a grape grower and farmer. To grow their grape production they decide to turn 80 hectares of existing farmland into vineyard.

The challenge was that there was no water source on the property itself that could provide water for so many vines.

A new well needed to be drilled by the river over 1km away from the property. From here a submersible pump supplies water to a newly built big dam reservoir.

A new pumping station takes water out of the dam to irrigate the 80-hectare vineyard. The drip irrigation system can be controlled and monitored via a Motorola IRRInet irrigation controller. Because of the significant size of the project, the field valves are controlled via radio signal.

Project information

Head contractor: Think Water Marlborough

Location: Marlborough, New Zealand

System type: Drip irrigation

Area: 80 hectares

Crop: Grapes

My role: Irrigation system engineering, the making of installation drawings, partly project management, customer contact, commissioning and financial project control.

Digital tools used: IRRICAD for hydraulic design and AutoCAD for installation drawings.

Photos

Build of the pumping station.

Dam water monitoring headworks.

The newly established vineyard.

Filling of the big dam reservoir.

Drawing steel headworks, pump and filtration.

Layout of vineyard.