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The Coastal Rivers Water Planning and Policy Center (CRWPPC) in joint effort with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission are establishing a Pilot Metering Program that will help Georgia’s farmers make informed decisions relating to water use efficiency by establishing historical irrigation data.
“During the legislative session this year, House Bill 579 was passed. This bill charges the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission to implement a plan, which will begin the measuring of agricultural water,” Elliott Marsh, CRWPPC Pilot Metering Program coordinator, said.
The MO300 Bolt-On Saddle Flowmeter is the tool that will be used in this program. The flowmeters are installed in already existing sprinkler or drip irrigation systems, for example, which means that the meters are both cost and space efficient. Once the flowmeter is horizontally fastened into a hole drilled into a water pipe, it is bolted into place with stainless steel bearings. Inside of the pipe, impellers made of high impact plastic are driven by the flow of water and, in turn, calculate a reading of gallons per minute, cubic feet per second and other units which can be clearly read from the totalizer that is mounted on the outside of the pipe.
“These meters will allow farm operators to know the exact amount of water being used each time the pump is turned on. This will help operators make an informed decision relating to irrigation scheduling and the amount of water that needs to be applied to the crop to produce the best results,” Marsh said.