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

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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

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3000

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6000

7000

8000

GA

R01

GA

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GA

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GA

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GA

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C08

BA

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HE

D10

MU

R11

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O12

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M15

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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

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GA

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GA

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BA

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BA

C09

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M15

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M16

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W17

mg

/L

Organic Nitrogen

Oxidised Nitrogen

Ammonia

SEPP

E.C.E.C.

Figure 4: Conductivities in the Gardiners Creek catchment

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1200

1400

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1800

GA

R01

GA

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GA

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/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

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100

GA

R01

GA

R02

GA

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GA

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GA

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GA

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BA

C08

BA

C09

HE

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MU

R11

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O12

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DA

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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