Jimm-Dara Pastoral Co

Reducing maintenance costs by upgrading an ineffective screen 

Jimm-Dara Pastoral Co is operated by Ian and Jenny Bryant near Cowra, NSW. The Bryant’s draw their water from the Lachlan River near the Farley Reserve, a popular recreational fishing spot. Their two pumps collectively extract 7-8 ML/Day and deliver water to their crops through hand-placed pipe and sprinklers. 

Previously the intake was screened with a 12mm perforated polypipe cylinder which didn’t filter debris from the lines very well. In the year leading up to their screen replacement, they destroyed two pumps and had to deal with wearing impellors. Clearing sprinklers blocked with silt and debris was a daily job, and on one occasion Ian reports having 25 of his 29 sprinklers blocked with debris.  

The screen has now been upgraded with a 2mm wedgewire, brushed cylinder screen, which will reduced debris loads and also protect fish at this popular fishing spot. “We have already noticed we no longer have small debris blocking our sprinklers,” reported Jenny Bryant. “We normally spend endless hours over the summer months cleaning out nozzles of small debris that have been sucked up through the pumps, so we’re looking forward to having a lot less blocked sprinklers during the next irrigation season.”