TDID has used a float system to control pumps and motors for 60 years. This system consists of old brass floats and electronic switches that talk back and forth between each plant so that the amount of water being pumped is enough to keep up with demand. This system has worked great for a long time. The downside of this system is the lack of information it can give us. We are limited to “eyeballing” the amount of water in a tank or reservoir instead of getting an accurate measurement of how much water we have to work with.

We are working to modernize our system to give us the ability to read reservoir levels accurately and for the system to provide us with data that will be used to avoid system shutdowns proactively. Our goal with every project is to safely deliver a consistent, reliable source of irrigation water to our patrons.

In the summer of 2022, TDID purchased 32 new ClaVal PRVs. These new units will replace the aging Bailey units we have been running for the last 50 years. The Bailey’s were a great valve, but rebuild kits and parts are becoming increasingly scarce. The ClaVal’s have proven to be a great replacement. We hope to have every valve in the district replaced in the next 8-10 years. This will help us continue to provide a reliable source of irrigation water to our patrons.

The TDID crew has been working hard to connect every agricultural site to our Telemetry system. This will allow TDID to monitor water usage remotely. We have been using this technology on a few sample sites for a short time and the information has been great for the staff as well as the patrons. Farmers will now be able to see how many gallons per minute they are using at multiple sites in the palm of their hands. If you would like to be included in the users currently accessing this data, please email us at tdid@gorge.net, and we will set up your site.