From Canterbury to Canada: A Shared Vision for Smarter Irrigation.

Raymond Irrigation District (RID), a 100-year-old Canadian irrigation scheme, is looking to Central Plains Water Ltd. (CPWL) as it transitions from open race irrigation to a gravity-fed piped system.

Operating across 20,240 hectares in Alberta, RID supplies water to over 300 users, including farms, municipalities, and habitat areas. With plans to integrate gravity pressure systems similar to CPWL’s, RID’s leadership team visited Canterbury in November 2024 to learn from CPWL’s experience.

“We’re developing a gravity-fed pipeline, but managing pressure is a key challenge,” said RID General Manager Jason Miller. “CPWL is one of the few schemes globally operating a system like this at scale, so we reached out to learn from their expertise.”

The visit provided RID with valuable insights – not just on infrastructure, but also on the importance of long-term strategic planning.

“CPWL’s future-proofing approach really stood out” said RID Chair John McKee. “We’ve been around for a century, but we tended to plan in small steps. Seeing CPWL’s 100-year strategy has made us rethink how we plan for water availability, energy efficiency and good environmental stewardship’.

CPWL’s Engineering Manager, Andrew Broughton, said the discussions reinforced CPWl’s approach while offering fresh perspectives.

“RID faces many of the same challenges as we do in designing and maintaining a gravity-fed system,” he said. “Sharing knowledge reaffirmed our thinking and introduced new ways to refine our operations.”

Beyond engineering, RID is preparing for tighter water regulations and sees CPWL as a model for managing water permits and social licence.

“We don’t yet operate under the same rules as New Zealand, but we know they’re coming,” McKee said. “CPWL is ahead of the curve, and their investment in sustainability and compliance is something we need to adopt.”

The collaboration is set to continue, with potential farmer exchanges between the two regions.

“There is no doubt CPWL is setting a benchmark,” said Miller. “Their work in water efficiency, energy reduction, and environmental management is showing what’s possible. By adopting similar approaches, we’ll not only cut emissions but also improve how we use and safeguard water for future generations.”

CPWL Chief Executive Susan Goodfellow reinforced the importance of international collaboration in water management.

“Water supply is increasingly a global issue,” said CPWL Chief Executive Susan Goodfellow. “Our exchange with RID reinforced the importance of international collaboration in water management. While emissions have been a major environmental focus, water efficiency and sustainability must also take priority. This shift is coming, and we need to be ready.

“The challenge we share with RID is how to minimise water waste while maximising and diversifying its uses. This is not only an economic advantage – it is a community and social good. It also depends on the long-term planning we are proud to have embedded in the way CPWL operates. It was great to see RID aligned with this approach, and both organisations gain valuable insights from this exchange of ideas.”

Looking ahead, both CPWL and RID recognise that our future of irrigation depends on innovation, collaboration, and long-term planning. By sharing knowledge and strategies, the two organisations are not only improving their own schemes but also contributing to the global conversation on sustainable water management. As challenges around water efficacy, regulation, and climate resilience continue to grow, this partnership highlights the importance for forward-thinking solutions that will shape irrigation for generations to come.