The Challenge
A new kiwifruit block required dependable water reserves for irrigation and critical frost protection. However, resource consent restrictions limited the rate at which water could be drawn from the orchard’s bore, leaving insufficient supply during high-demand frost events.
Rather than drilling a new bore in a distant location, the orchard needed a large-scale storage buffer that could accumulate water over time and make it available when most needed.
The Solution
A covered 606,000-litre water storage tank was installed, measuring approximately 16 metres in diameter and 3 metres high.
The covered design helped protect stored water before it was required for irrigation, with water treated as it was drawn from the bore. A single large tank was selected instead of multiple smaller units, providing the necessary capacity within a smaller overall footprint.
Flatpacked tank components could also be delivered through confined orchard access routes without heavy machinery, reducing the risk of damage to surrounding crops.
Advantages & Benefits of the solution
The storage tank provided a practical buffer between the bore’s restricted extraction rate and the orchard’s immediate water demand during irrigation and frost-protection periods.
The solution delivered:
Reliable stored water capacity for irrigation and frost protection.
A single high-volume installation with a more efficient footprint than multiple smaller tanks.
Covered storage to help maintain water cleanliness before use.
Flatpack delivery through constrained access areas without machinery affecting crops.
A cost-effective alternative to drilling a new bore elsewhere on the property. The result was a practical, high-capacity water-storage solution supporting the ongoing protection and productivity of the kiwifruit orchard.