Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of irrigation water use and allocation in the Waihou Catchment. It follows on from similar work for other parts of the Waikato Region. It will further extend the understanding of water use and allocation in the Region and contribute to the development of water management policy and planning.

The surface water resources of the Waihou Catchment are close to full allocation. Future demand for surface water will need to be met from improvements in efficiency of current water uses and allocations. Irrigation accounts for 50 percent of the daily take, and therefore any improvements in on-farm water use and/or allocations will be a major benefit. This is applicable to not only the Waihou Catchment, but also to other catchments where water resources are a constraint to future development.

Irrigation Efficiency and Water Allocation in the Waihou Catchment [PDF, 405 KB]

Contents
Executive summary	v
1 Introduction	1
1.1 Previous work	1
1.2 Study description	2
1.3 Waihou Catchment	2
1.4 Information and data sources	4
2 Irrigation efficiency	4
2.1 Irrigation efficiency	5
2.2 Case study farms	5
2.3 System irrigation efficiency	6
2.3.1 Results	6
2.3.2 Improving efficiency	7
2.4 Seasonal irrigation efficiency	8
2.4.1 Results and issues	8
3 Water use efficiency	10
3.1 Irrigation demand	10
3.2 Pasture response	11
3.3 Cost benefits analysis	11
4 Allocation efficiency and options	13
4.1 Peak and seasonal irrigation demand	14
4.2 Allocation efficiency	15
4.3 Alternative allocation options	17
5 Conclusions	18
6 Key issues and constraints	19
7 References	20

Irrigation efficiency and water allocation in the Waihou catchment

Abstract

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