Water

A changing climate and increased competition for scarce water resources means the Western Australian agriculture sector must adapt to reduced water availability. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is supporting the sector through innovative research and management strategies to identify new water resources, and sustain the quality and efficient use of available water resources.

The department provides technical information on a range of water related issues, and works to complement the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's administration of the Western Australian Farm Water Planning Scheme. This scheme supports dryland farming communities to improve and better manage non-potable water supplies, through incentive schemes, grants, and planning and technical services.

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Articles

  • Drilling at La Grange

    La Grange Agriculture Opportunities Results

    21 June 2016

    Four years of research by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) has laid the foundation for growth of new irrigated industries and development in the La Grange area, sou

  • Interactive groundwater and salinity map for the south-west agricultural region

    13 November 2017

    This interactive map – produced by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) – allows you to explore south-west Western Australian regional groundwater trends, local gro

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    Dryland salinity science

    21 November 2013

    Salt is a natural component of land, water and ecological systems in Western Australia. Large areas of naturally saline land (primary salinity) were present before European settlement.

  • Young pigs standing together

    Water: the forgotten nutrient for pigs

    13 January 2014

    Water is the most important nutrient for pigs. We often think about nutrients as only pig feed: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins.

  • View of typical secondary salinity in northern agricultural areas of Western Australia

    Groundwater trends in agricultural areas of Western Australia

    14 January 2015

    The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) completed a major analysis of groundwater trends in the agricultural areas of south-west Western Australia in 2014.

  • Growing the Pilbara details the findings of the Pilbara Hinterland Agricultural Development Initiative (PHADI). It delivers a prefeasibility level assessment of the irrigation development opportunities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

    Irrigation in the Pilbara

    16 January 2014

    The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is planning for the future of irrigated agriculture development in the Pilbara

  • Drip irrigation laid out in a new orchard planting

    Converting Readily Available Water to litres for drip irrigation

    7 November 2013

    Drip irrigation is common in modern orchards. For this method of irrigation it is easier to use litres rather than the more traditional unit of millimetres when describing readily available water i

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    Jujube irrigation recommendations

    6 April 2017

    Jujubes (or Chinese dates) are a new horticultural industry in Western Australia. This page outlines recommendations for irrigating jujubes in WA.

  • DOW Water monitoring West Kimberley

    Monitoring groundwater

    30 January 2019

    Rising groundwater is a major land degradation hazard in many areas of the South West Agricultural Region of Western Australia, and results in increased salinisation.

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    Treating blue-green algae in small farm dams

    24 March 2014

    Blue-green algae blooms thrive in warm, calm, shallow bodies of water where the water is hard, alkaline and rich in nitrogen, phosphates, carbonates and organic matter.

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