blackburn bowls club lessons for water storage
DESCRIPTION
Blackburn Bowls Club have recently completed an excellent water saving project. This is a presentation they presented at the November Business Breakfast series for Yarra Valley Water.TRANSCRIPT
Blackburn Bowls Club Inc.
Smart Water Project
GRASS
V
SYNTHETIC ?
The elephant in the room!
Is synthetic a solution?Is synthetic a solution?Synthetics are not entirely waterless – some water needed to maintain pace and substrate
They are expensive ($80-$140k) and have a limited life
Grass is a preferred bowling surface for competitive play
Hot and hard surface to play on
Clubs that have synthetics carry risk due to vandalism
Large energy costs and non-recyclable
Limited opportunity to use environmental services – ie bio-
filtration, nutrient uptake, sequestration
So-what about bowling club So-what about bowling club water consumption?water consumption?
About 520 Bowls Clubs in Victoria (Registered with Bowls Australia)
About 84 in Yarra Valley Water service area - Or about 90-100 mgl annual consumption
Blackburn Bowls Club = 6-7 L/player/hour (Summer seasons)
Box Hill Cricket Club 50-70L/player/hour (City Oval)
BBC Fast Facts – Objectives of BBC Fast Facts – Objectives of this project this project
Convert to Tiftdwarf couch from Convert to Tiftdwarf couch from Bent (or from cool to warm-Bent (or from cool to warm-seasons grass)seasons grass)
Source all Irrigation water from re-Source all Irrigation water from re-claimed storm-water and on-site claimed storm-water and on-site drainagedrainage
Create on-site storage 145,000ltCreate on-site storage 145,000lt
Install sub-surface green dripper Install sub-surface green dripper irrigationirrigation
Create “modified USGA” membrane Create “modified USGA” membrane contained greencontained green
Water used for garden and toilet Water used for garden and toilet flushingflushing
Ultimately Save 1.2 Ml water/yearUltimately Save 1.2 Ml water/yearDevelop a “Water Plan” Develop a “Water Plan”
The Real ObjectiveThe Real Objective
A flat, fast, A flat, fast,
robust bowling surface that robust bowling surface that would retain and attract would retain and attract
elite bowling competitors elite bowling competitors
and eventsand events
Historic Water ConsumptionHistoric Water Consumption
Historical irrigation water use Kl (Yarra Valley Water meter) *Assumes 76% used on property is for irrigation
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Total kl
1.2 mgl/ann.
1st synthetic installed
Our Smart Water PartnersOur Smart Water Partners
The Situation The Situation Water in – Water out – The GapWater in – Water out – The Gap
20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May
Total non-greens usage
Total consumption with newwater savings andrecoveries
Total on-site rain harvestyield
600kl Gap – Blackburn Creek??
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
GA
R01
GA
R02
GA
R03
GA
R04
GA
R05
GA
R06
GA
R07
BA
C08
BA
C09
HE
D10
MU
R11
SC
O12
SC
O13
SC
O14
DA
M15
DA
M16
MT
W17
org
anis
ms/
100
mL
17,404
SEPP
Some encouraging water quality indicators from Blackburn Creek
E. coli
Station Gar 06 is at our doorstep
N.N.
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
GA
R01
GA
R02
GA
R03
GA
R04
GA
R05
GA
R06
GA
R07
BA
C08
BA
C09
HE
D10
MU
R11
SC
O12
SC
O13
SC
O14
DA
M15
DA
M16
MT
W17
mg
/L
Organic Nitrogen
Oxidised Nitrogen
Ammonia
SEPP
E.C.E.C.
Figure 4: Conductivities in the Gardiners Creek catchment
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
GA
R01
GA
R02
GA
R03
GA
R04
GA
R05
GA
R06
GA
R07
BA
C08
BA
C09
HE
D10
MU
R11
SC
O12
SC
O13
SC
O14
DA
M15
DA
M16
MT
W17
uS
/cm
24/01/2000
7/02/2000
21/02/2000
6/03/2000
20/03/2000
3/04/2000
17/04/2000
Median
SEPP
TurbidityTurbidity
Figure 9: Turbidity in the Gardiners Creek catchment
0
20
40
60
80
100
GA
R01
GA
R02
GA
R03
GA
R04
GA
R05
GA
R06
GA
R07
BA
C08
BA
C09
HE
D10
MU
R11
SC
O12
SC
O13
SC
O14
DA
M15
DA
M16
MT
W17
NT
U
24/01/2000
7/02/2000
21/02/2000
6/03/2000
20/03/2000
3/04/2000
17/04/2000
Median
504
SEPP median
SEPP 90th Percentile
Our Club was Granted under the Smart Our Club was Granted under the Smart Water Program – these are our partnersWater Program – these are our partners
8%
23%
47%
1%1%
20%
Toilet flushing
Wash down
Garden
Green no 1.
Green no 2.
Synthetic
First Steps -First Steps -Analysis of water budgetAnalysis of water budget
20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
June Aug Oct Dec Feb April
Total non-greens usage
Total consumption with new watersavings and recoveries
Total on-site rain harvest yield
First Steps First Steps Complete Feasibility StudyComplete Feasibility Study
First steps - Installing Drip IrrigationFirst steps - Installing Drip Irrigation
Installing Drip IrrigationInstalling Drip Irrigation
Conclusion of Drip IrrigationConclusion of Drip Irrigation
This system did not perform to plan due to This system did not perform to plan due to damage occurring with the equipment damage occurring with the equipment used in installationused in installation
Similar systems are installed and Similar systems are installed and performing wellperforming well
There is still reason to consider sub-There is still reason to consider sub-surface drip irrigation systems favourablysurface drip irrigation systems favourably
Installing recycling Installing recycling sump and pumpsump and pump
Installing Storm Tech Tank Installing Storm Tech Tank 145,000 litres (under #1 Green)145,000 litres (under #1 Green)
Creek intake float
MWC Licensed Diversion (3mgl/yr)
Water pumping and Water pumping and treatment works treatment works
Construction of USGA contained green with 1000
uM welded membrane
The Main Green The Main Green
The entire green is built in an impervious “bath” The entire green is built in an impervious “bath” connected to a drainage networkconnected to a drainage network
Valves on the drainage outlet allow us to block drainage Valves on the drainage outlet allow us to block drainage an pump water into the soil from underneathan pump water into the soil from underneath
Once the valves are opened excess water drains back to Once the valves are opened excess water drains back to the storage tankthe storage tank
There are also conventional overhead sprinklers on the There are also conventional overhead sprinklers on the greengreen
Extra water can also be stored within the drainage layer Extra water can also be stored within the drainage layer of the green without effecting the greenof the green without effecting the green
Selecting Soil MediaSelecting Soil Media
Drainage base – 4mm Boral Drainage base – 4mm Boral Washed Aggregate (90mm depth)Washed Aggregate (90mm depth)
Top ‘growing’ media recipe for Top ‘growing’ media recipe for 270mm depth270mm depth 400 cum course Inverliegh sand400 cum course Inverliegh sand 40 cum BioGreen Peat40 cum BioGreen Peat 8 Tonne Zeolite 8 Tonne Zeolite
Why construct a green like this?Why construct a green like this?
Simplifies the drainage system required – no deep Simplifies the drainage system required – no deep channels in sub-base to construct (so no ‘lenses’ of channels in sub-base to construct (so no ‘lenses’ of drainage corresponding to strip agricultural drains)drainage corresponding to strip agricultural drains)
Contains all moisture evenly within growing media zoneContains all moisture evenly within growing media zone Eliminates the influence of tree root systems from Eliminates the influence of tree root systems from
surrounding street surrounding street Facilitates sus-surface irrigation and efficient collection of Facilitates sus-surface irrigation and efficient collection of
run-offrun-off Alternatives to Polythene liners are Geotechnical Clay Alternatives to Polythene liners are Geotechnical Clay
Liners (GCL’s) Liners (GCL’s)
Critical Soil Specification – Particle Geometry
Infiltration rate of 79mm/hr. Angular ‘self locking’ soil particles a critical characteristic of the selected soil. In comparison to rounded particles (common to tertiary sands – i.e. Cranbourne sands) these impart a more favourable balance between air porosity, drainage and essential compactability
Construction of Main GreenConstruction of Main Green
Selecting Soil MediaSelecting Soil Media
Drainage base – 4mm Boral Washed Drainage base – 4mm Boral Washed Aggregate (90mm depth)Aggregate (90mm depth)
Top ‘growing’ media recipeTop ‘growing’ media recipe 400 cum course Inverliegh sand400 cum course Inverliegh sand 40 cum BioGreen Peat40 cum BioGreen Peat 8 Tonne Zeolite 8 Tonne Zeolite
Unamended Sand + 10% (v/v) Our final test
Sand Biogreen 10mm peat recommendation
Infiltration Rate mm/hr 240 180 > 150
Bulk Density g/cc 1.67 1.48 < 1.6
Total Pore Space % 37.15 44.29 > 40
Capillary Pore Space % 20.7 23.5 15 - 25
Non-capillary Pore Space % 16.48 20.79 > 20
Moisture Retention (grav) % 12.41 15.92 10 – 16
Soil medium test specification
Membrane welding Membrane welding for No 1 Greenfor No 1 Green
Membrane for No 1 GreenMembrane for No 1 Green
Installing Drainage AggregateInstalling Drainage Aggregateand Megaflow Drainageand Megaflow Drainage
Importing Greens MediumImporting Greens Medium400 m400 m3
Final Cultivation - Laser levelingFinal Cultivation - Laser leveling
Final Laser LevelingFinal Laser Leveling
Preparing Tift Couch Sprigs Preparing Tift Couch Sprigs
Hydro-seeding SprigsHydro-seeding Sprigs
Hydro-seeding SprigsHydro-seeding Sprigs
Good Growth of Sprigs at Good Growth of Sprigs at Jan 15 Jan 15thth (day 22 post sprig) (day 22 post sprig)
Cover at about 35% Cover at about 35%
First mow - Jan 20th First mow - Jan 20th
Post Smart Water ConsumptionPost Smart Water Consumption
New actual water use Kl (Yarra Valley Water meter) *Assumes 76% used on property is for irrigation
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total kl
THIS OBSERVATION SHAFT THIS OBSERVATION SHAFT ALLOWS US TO CHECK THE ALLOWS US TO CHECK THE
WATER LEVEL IN THE GREEN WATER LEVEL IN THE GREEN DURING WATERINGDURING WATERING
$7,500
$5,420
$38,980
$5,420
$6,761
$41,525
$18,000
$2,485
$6,156
$24,000
$4,536
$3,940
$16,000
$15,400
$5,000
$3,000
$6,000
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000
Design consultancy
Bulk excavation
Tank hardware
( Diversion costs)directional bore
Sump
Tank and plumbing installations
Membrane
Megflow
Drainage Aggregate
Soil medium
Peat
Zeolite
Greens Construction
( Pump room)Treatment
Electrical
Other contract services
Irrigation Plumbing
The WorkersThe Workers 50% contractors 50% contractors
50% club volunteers50% club volunteers
100% Quality100% Quality
HOW IT LOOKS AFTER ALL THE WORK
The future ?The future ?Looking forward to Looking forward to Great Greens and Great Greens and
facilities without mains facilities without mains waterwater