Feet on the ground and in the water, alongside farmers with ISO 23991:2022

To date, water withdrawals in the world are distributed as follows: 10% for domestic use, 20% for industrial and energy needs, and 70% for agricultural irrigation. Water withdrawals and consumption vary greatly from one country to another depending on the climate, the distribution of the population and the rate of urbanization, and the degree of economic development (60% for the needs of industry in highly industrialized countries, 90% for irrigation in certain regions of the world).

The problem with water is not the resource but its distribution in time (summer/ winter) and in space (desert/ wetland). Climate change accentuates the disparity. Arbitration becomes permanent, between the distribution of drinking water, agricultural and industrial policies, regional planning, and even national security. The question of the legitimacy of uses and therefore prioritization (human consumption and biodiversity) is now more acute.

Today, nearly 20% of irrigated land in the world (5% in Africa / 35% in Asia) produces more than 40% of the world's food. Multiple approaches are implemented by the agricultural world to reduce water withdrawals while improving the yields of irrigated perimeters (which ensure productivity 2.7 times higher than those of land irrigated by rain) :

• Continuous improvement of means (spreading, sprinkling, drip, burying the pipes …)
• The reuse of wastewater (naturally or artificially treated)
• Rerouting or storage when waters are abundant while limiting the impact on biodiversity.
• Also, the adaptation of crops to the climate, that can even call into question human food habits.

ISO 23991:2022 “Irrigation applications of ductile iron pipelines — Design and installation of products”

Heir to centuries-old and even thousand-year-old practices, irrigation networks combine open-air canals and closed pipelines, each constructed from multiple materials (earth, wood, cement, iron, plastic, etc.)

High-tech has entered the downstream level of the perimeter of fields (irrigation lines )to meet the bare necessities. For example satellite observations, measurement of evaporation on plants, etc. It is nonetheless necessary to pay particular attention to the upstream level of transport « from the resource to the block of fields » ( main and branch lines) in order to limit the water losses online even before its distribution.

As part of the ISO/TC 5/SC2 working group, producers of ductile iron pipes have brought together their experiences to show how the characteristics of ductile iron pipes and fittings and their joints perfectly meet the many challenges faced by designers and operators in piped irrigation networks(PIN).

ISO 2531 “DIP for water distribution” and ISO 7186 “DIP for sewerage applications” were drafted respectively for the specificities of drinking water and sanitation networks. ISO experts thought it wise to complete the collection with ISO 23991 “Irrigation applications of ductile iron pipelines — Design and installation of products”