MID nutrients | Southern Rural Water

Nutrient reduction in the MID

Nutrients from the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) impact on the water quality in receiving streams and the Gippsland Lakes.

The sources of nutrients from the MID include fertilisers, manure and soil erosion. Nutrients contribute to algal blooms in the Gippsland Lakes.

Southern Rural Water undertakes nutrient monitoring and reporting to meet the targets of the Environmental Reference Standard and the Lake Wellington Land and Water Management Plan.

SRW monitors nutrients

Southern Rural Water monitors the load of Total Phosphorus (TP) leaving the Macalister Irrigation District (MID).

We do this by monitoring Total Phosphorous at 8 carefully selected auto-sampler sites. These sites measure the TP load entering and exiting the MID, allowing SRW to calculate the TP load from the irrigation district.

The TP load discharged from the district is reported quarterly to the Environment Protection Authority. Modellers and researchers also use the data to advise on management actions to minimise nutrient loads.

Nutrient management
Southern Rural Water actively supports nutrient reduction in the MID. SRW actively participates in regional forums with other stakeholders to coordinate and improve our efforts, and provide data for research on nutrients and blue green algal blooms.
- cooperating with landholders to convert drains into irrigation reuse systems
- reporting illegal discharges to irrigation drains to the EPA
- providing input to whole farm plans
- reducing outfall of waters from irrigation channels into drains
- revegetating irrigation drains
- undertaking educational activities to promote nutrient reduction in the MID.