Dethridge wheel
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 Dethridge wheel in Finley, New South Wales, 2011 | |
| Type | Irrigation management |
|---|---|
| Inventor | John Stewart Dethridge |
| Inception | 1910 |
| Notes Origin: Victoria, Australia | |
The Dethridge wheel is an irrigation tool that was invented in 1910 by John Stewart Dethridge (1865–1926).[1] It works in a similar way to a traditional water wheel and rotates as water passes through its vanes. The rotations are then measured[2]
The Dethridge wheel was prevalent throughout the 20th century and was used in several countries including Australia, India, Indonesia, Israel, Africa and the United States.[3][4]
Past use
In 1910, the Victorian State and Water Supply Commissioner, John Stewart Dethridge, developed the "Dethridge Direct-Measuring Water Meter" or "Dethridge Wheel". Its initial use was to accurately measure the flow of water at specific irrigation sites in Australia, especially in areas throughout New South Wales and Victoria.[5] The flow of water had to be regulated to ensure that there was a sustainable and efficient use of the water in irrigation. The Dethridge Wheel was being used all the way until the 21st century and there are several countries that use its technological insights.[6]
Due to the fact that Australia is vulnerable to drought and loss of water,[7] The flow of water had to be regulated to ensure that there was a sustainable and efficient use of the water in irrigation. The Dethridge Wheel was not the only invention that was developed by John Dethridge, but it is widely regarded as one of the most influential pieces of machinery that he is credited with inventing.[6]
The Dethridge wheel was used until the 21st century and there are several countries that use its technological insights. Due to its consistent use many people, especially in Australia, have an appreciation for the tool. In 1965, a memorial was erected in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia to commemorate the Dethridge Wheel and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area or "MIA" is a portion of the Riverina Area which was established to bring water from local rivers to assist food production.[8][9]
The Dethridge wheel was developed to measure water levels in irrigation canals as the water passed over land. It has been described as "simple" by faculty at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences as it used uncomplicated technology to measure the volume of water that passed through it.[10] The wheel functioned by allowing water to pass under it, in turn causing the wheel to spin. The speed of the wheel's rotations while water was passing through would then be measured and would provide accurate data concerning the use of water for farmers throughout Australia.[11]
The wheel was an influential tool for water usage and sustainability throughout the 20th century. One of the locations where the Dethridge wheel was used continually is the Murray-Darling Basin Area. The area is 1,061,000 million square kilometres (410,000×106 sq mi) and encompasses the Murray and Darling rivers, which are among the longest rivers in all of the Australian Continent.[12]
In 1950, a quarterly review of irrigated dairy farms in Victoria was released. It mentioned the use of the Dethridge wheel as a water measurement device and said, "Figures for water used must be treated with reserve due to the difficulties associated with the measurement of water delivered to farms, even where the Dethridge wheels are installed". Early first-hand accounts of the Dethridge wheels use in the 1950s provide evidence of the importance of the wheel as an irrigation tool in Australia.[13]
