Award win for Australia's irrigation farmers

The National Water Commission has congratulated the winners of the Peter Cullen Eureka Prize for Water Research and Innovation on their outstanding contribution to water science.

CEO and Chair of the Commission Ken Matthews said, “Associate Professor Leslie and Visiting Professor Sutton and their reverse osmosis subsurface drip irrigation system offers the prospect of a lifeline for Australia's irrigation farmers and their crops.

“Australia’s blueprint for water reform, the National Water Initiative, is focused on increasing the efficiency of Australia’s water use, and this award-winning irrigation system is a practical example of that,” said Matthews.

“When the commission decided to sponsor this prize, it was hoping to encourage recognition for water science that is both inspirational and applicable to Australia’s unique water challenges.

“The commission believes that this groundbreaking irrigation system has the potential to lead to substantial improvements in the way Australia's farmers manage and use their water resources.

“The reverse osmosis subsurface drip irrigation system not only allows irrigation farmers to make use of their brackish groundwater but it does so at low cost, and reduces energy use and water waste.

“The commission would like to take this opportunity to wish Associate Professor Leslie and Visiting Professor Sutton well with the future development on this important innovation,” said Matthews.

The Peter Cullen Eureka Prize for Water Research and Innovation is sponsored by the National Water Commission.

The National Water Commission sponsors this award in honour of Professor Peter Cullen’s legacy as one of the National Water Commission’s founding commissioners.