Integrated Pump Rental is applying its equipment and experience to ensure farmers optimal use of water resources by implementing effective pond dredging.

As the economy’s largest consumer of water, the agricultural sector is learning the value of effective pond dredging.

According to Lee Vine, managing director of Integrated Pump Rental, the company has been applying its equipment and experience in the Northern Cape to help farmers ensure optimal use of water resources.

“With increased competition for the country’s scarce water supply – and drought conditions in some provinces – farmers are looking for ways to conserve and optimise water,” Vine says. “A key aspect of this is preventing their dams from silting up over time.”

Too much silt means less storage capacity for a farmer’s water, which can undermine the whole agricultural operation. It can also lead to sediment finding its way into pipes and pumps causing costly blockages and equipment damage.

“We find that a number of farms have challenges with blocked pipes and pump failure as a result of high solids in their water,” he says. “We have assisted with solutions using purpose-designed pumps, dredging barges and auxiliary equipment.”

Vine highlights that the rental equipment is easy to use and can be offered with specialised on-site supervision and training. Integrated Pump Rental also manages all the logistics to get the right equipment to the right place timeously.

“Our many years of experience in the mining sector – dredging process water ponds – gives us valuable insight into how to solve the challenges that farmers face,” he says.

A key aspect of Integrated Pump Rental’s offering is its SlurrySucker dredging unit, with a specially engineered dredge head that copes not only with high solids but with vegetation and sewerage. This solution features fit-for-purpose floats constructed from polyethylene for ultra-violet resistance. This gives them a service life of over 20 years. They are also poly-filled to ensure maximum buoyancy.

“Our range of quality accessories enhance the cost efficiency of the dredging process,” he says. “Our pump hoses, fittings and purpose-designed hose flotation devices ensure that the job can be completed quickly and effectively.”

Vine notes that many customers find Integrated Pump Rental’s rental option the best way to reduce capital outlay, while others request a full turnkey solution to address a particular challenge. The group also engineers bespoke dewatering solutions that match customers’ specific needs. These services range from concept generation and technical drawings, to structural simulations and thermal analysis; bespoke products can then be built, installed and monitored.

“Through our on-site operational assessments, we help farmers troubleshoot and we then design solutions that work,” says Vine. “With our technical teams on hand 365 days a year, we also make sure that we closely support the solutions we provide.”