7/11/2012

1

“We never know the value ofWater

il h ll i d ”

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za

until the well is dry”(English saying)

Improving Water Use Efficiencyusing the

Water Administration System(WAS)

Nico Benadé

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za

24‐Jun‐2012

WRC research

Innovative research funded by the WRChas led to

the development and application ofthe

Water Administration System(WAS)

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za3

( )

Main aim 

Minimise water lossesfor

irrigation schemes 

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za4

gthat

distribute water through canal networks and rivers

on demand

7/11/2012

2

This is where it all started in 1984

64 kB RAM2 Single sided floppy disksWordstarSupercalc

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za5

pdBaseTurbo Pascal

Osborne

Simulation model ‐ Procan

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za6

“The optimization of the managementof 

irrigation canal systems”

Simulation model ‐ Procan

After 5 years …We had a simulation model for open channel flowWe had a water ordering system feeding into ProcanWe received international recognition

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za7

We received international recognitionI received my Masters degree

ButWe had no solution to the problem!

Release calculation idea

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za8

7/11/2012

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Water Administration System (WAS)

d f

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za9

An integrated management system for

Irrigation schemes

River systems

thatdelivers water on demand

Why implement WAS?

Improves scheme management

Improves financial management

Improves productivity

Saves water!

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za10

WAS deployment sites

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za11

Total area = 145 000 ha

Loskop Irrigation Scheme

“You have to understand the problem to appreciate the solution”

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za12

7/11/2012

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Tail ends

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za17

Water ordered weekly

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za18

Summary Farms  = 656Abstractions  = 794

Avg. farm size = 25.7 haWater year starts = April

Allocation/year = 7 700 m3/ha= 197 890 m3 

Scheduled area = 16 135 haMain canal = 90km

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za19

Administration office

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za20

7/11/2012

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WAS modules

WAS makes use of nine moduleswhich are fully integrated,

making it possible to cross‐reference relevant data and information

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za21

Admin

Water order Measureddata

Waterrelease

Crop wateruse

Accounts Report Daminformation

Bulk SMS

Water orders

Original

Additional

Cancellation

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za22

Water orders

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za23

Meter readings

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za24

7/11/2012

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Measured data

Date & time flow data collected fromchart recorders

electronic loggers

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za25

Data can be

captured

imported

digitized

Digitizing tablet

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za26

Accounts

Generate monthly invoices linked towater usage or

scheduled area

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za27

E‐mail invoices in pdf format

Water balance sheets

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za28

7/11/2012

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Distribution sheets

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za29

WUE Accounting report

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za30

WUE Accounting report

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za31

• Capture

• Capture,• Import or• Digitize

• Generate

Crop water use

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za32

7/11/2012

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Release calculation

Calculate the correct amount of water

deliver to the right place &

at the right time

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za33

Cross‐sections

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za34

Release results

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za35

Release results

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za36

7/11/2012

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Release results

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za37

Release results

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za38

Bulk SMS’s

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za39

Templates

WAS‐client

Scheme (WAS)

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za40

Farm (WAS‐client)

Internet

7/11/2012

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iScheme

Region (iScheme)

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za41

Scheme (WAS)

Farm (WAS‐client)

Vaalharts WUA: 5% saving in 1 year

5% = 17.5 million m3

74 Farms of 25.7 ha each

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za42

WAS website: www.nbsystems.co.za

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za43

Compliments from farmer

Dear Sir,

…the WAS program is easy to understand andvery accurate…

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za44

… I recommend that the WAS program mustbe used by all water departments…

The person that introduced this programmust be congratulated because it worksfantastic.

7/11/2012

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ICID WatSave Award: 2007(Innovative Water Management)

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za45

ICID WatSave Award: 2010(Innovative Water Management)

Kobus Harbron (Vaalharts Water): Head Water Control Officer.

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za46

ICID WatSave Award(Innovative Water Management)

“for outstanding contribution to Water Savings andWater Conservation in Agriculture…”

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za47

+ +  25 25 yryr ==