The Central Plains Irrigation Scheme guarantees to sustainably exploit the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers. A number of actions have been taken to ensure that the Central Plains will benefit from this scheme for years to come without damaging either river:
1. The irrigation system is well run Pipes are regularly repaired and upgraded so that leaks are avoided.
2. Irrigation is planned and timed Weather conditions are checked ahead of time to ensure the correct amount of water is used for irrigation. If rainfall is predicted, less irrigation and, therefore, less water is needed. 3. Records are kept
New Zealand irrigation is run by a privately owned company that receives funding from the New Zealand government. Each year, at regular intervals, they must measure and record the amount of water used by each irrigation scheme in the country. The people who check this are called irrigators. If too much water is taken from natural sources, e.g. rivers, the company can face fines.
1. What is drought? 2. What is irrigation? 3. How much rainfall does New Zealand experience on average per year?
4. Explain why you think the irrigation schemes in New Zealand are located where they are.
5. Using the case study provided above, explain the steps taken to make sure water is exploited sustainably.
Managing information and thinking:
Use the website irrigationnz.co.nz to investigate another irrigation scheme in New Zealand. Then answer these questions.
1. What is the name of the irrigation scheme you chose? 2. Where is the scheme located? 3. What are the main features of the scheme (e.g. cost, amount of piping used)? 4. How is the irrigation scheme carried out in a sustainable way?
