Is recycled water part of the answer to climate change Opportunities for the vegetable industry

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Is recycled water part of the answer to climate
change?Opportunities for the vegetable industry
Daryl StevensA, Jim KellyA, Peter MakrisB and
Simon WilsonA AArris Pty Ltd, 646a Bridge Rd,
Richmond, Victoria. dstevens_at_arris.com.au BLucas
Energy, Level 8, 160 Queen Street, Melbourne Vic
3000.

• dstevens_at_arris.com.au
• www.recycledwater.com.au

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Introduction

• Evidence of climate change
• Impacts on vegetable production (current and
  projected)
• Adaptation strategies available
• Opportunities for recycled water
• Volumes available and competing demands
• Cost and quality of recycled water
• Proximity to vegetable growing regions
• Next Steps

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Climate Change Rainfall 2008
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Climate Change 1 to 5 oC increase

• Water
• ? in tropics
• ? mid and semi arid latitudes
• 100s of millions exposed to water stress
• Ecosystems
• ? Increased risk of distinction (30)
• ? Coral mortality
• Terrestrial biosphere tend toward net carbon
  source
• ? Wildfire
• Food
• Cereal production areas to change
• low gt high latitudes
• Shift in food production areas

Stokes 2008 p35
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A Step Change in Perth Annual Flow to Perth dams
1911 to 1974
1975 to 1995
Total Annual flow to Peth Dams (GL)
Over the last 13 years a similar step change has
occurred in SE Australia
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Evidence of impact on vegetable production
Water quantity Not quality the perceived issue
ABARE, Economic survey, 2006-07
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Evidence of impact on vegetable production
ABARE, Economic survey, 2006-07
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Adaptation strategies available

• Improved irrigation system/efficiency offsite
  and onsite
• Onsite recycling
• Larger water storages
• Switch to less thirsty crops
• Move to parts of Australia getting wetter (Water
  OK, but climate not OK for many crops)
• Alternative water resources recycled water,
  desalinated water

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Recycling Wastewater

• Quality of recycled water can be readily varied
  to end use requirements.
• Recycled water classes A, A, B, C D
• Proven technology
• Continuous monitoring, QA excellent
• Some of the strictest guidelines in the world
• Fit for purpose

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Existing uses for recycled water

• Agriculture
• Woodlots
• Orchard
• Vines
• Vegetables
• Herbs
• Pastures
• Hay/fodder
• Forestry
• Aquaculture
• Cotton
• Cereal
• Flowers
• Turf

• Urban
• Sports fields
• Landscaping
• Golf courses
• Garden toilets
• Industry
• Mining
• Power generation
• Industrial uses
• Fire and water protection
• Environment
• Wetlands
• Flows

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Recycled water Cited Benefits

• Guaranteed water supply
• Consistent quality
• Recycling of nutrients
• Efficient and cost effective?
• Environmentally and socially beneficial

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Recycled Water Reality check

• Limited supply- Volumes available and competing
  demands for existing recycled water?
• Proximity to vegetable growing regions?
• Cost of recycled water?
• Water quality - salinity, sodicity, nutrients and
  chemicals of concern

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Recycled Water Volumes available

• Already significant demand for recycled water
• (Full utilisation of recycled water during
  irrigation season from 256 of 452 WWTP)
• Significant quantities of recycled water
  available in major population centres (capital
  cities), but land prices high. Is this viable for
  the vegetable industry ?
• Challenge Matching the availability of
  recycled water with the location to make it
  viable for the vegetable industry

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Water recycled (ML)
Source WSAA and NWC 2009, nd not determined
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Price of water - NSW
Estimated 98
Drinking 2006
Recycled 2006
Willingness of vegetable industry to pay for a
secure water resource ?
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Recycled Water Proximity to vegetable growing
areas (Method)

• Calculation of distance between WWTP vs Vegetable
  production areas
• Vegetable production very dispersed so initial
  used top 30 growing areas, estimated flows
  available against required.
• Compared distances with pipe and pumping CAPEX
  and OPEX cost

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Cost - Distance vs /ML
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Recycled Water Proximity to vegetable growing
areas

• Output Matrix of distance between source (WWTP)
  and demand (vegetable growing region)

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Opportunities Tapping into a growing pipe
network ?

• Queensland's A2 billion Western Corridor
  Recycled Water (WCRW) Project is the largest
  recycled water scheme to be constructed in
  Australia
• Eastern Water Recycling Proposal (Victoria )
  still under investigation ( Caruum to LaTrobe
  Valley)
• Will these pipe networks provide new
  opportunities for the vegetable producers?
• If reservoir storages refill, will this piped
  water be available at marginally above OPEX cost?
• Integration of water supplies

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Risk management Established processes for Water
Quality Issues

• Environmental management systems (EMS)
• Quality Assurance Programs (QA)
• Risk Assessment Guidelines
• Recycled water guidelines
• World leaders in water recycling CSIRO,
  Industry, Government Department (DHS, DEH, EPA,
  etc.)
• Aust. Guidelines for Water Recycling have set a
  new benchmark for the world!

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Water recycled (ML) - vegetables

• Victoria 14,275 ML/year
• South Australia 14,625 ML/year

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Desalination An inevitable next step ?

• Desalination of seawater and brackish water.
• 22 of water desalinated in Spain goes to
  agricultural irrigation.
• An Australian survey found that 53 of the
  population envisage desalinated water usage for
  irrigation of vegetables as highly likely.
• Israels large seawater desalination plant -
  Ashkelon produces water for agriculture ( US
  0.55 /m3)
• Salt levels lower, but boron can be elevated in
  desalinated seawater (e.g. Evidence of toxic
  symptoms in orchards after irrigation with
  desalinated water in Eilat 1.2 mg/l)
• Previous investigation of desalination of treated
  effluent at WTP (Melbourne)

Science, Vol 318, Nov, 2007
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The Bottom Line

• Recycled water is used around the world for
  vegetable production.
• Reuse schemes must be approved by health and
  environment related State Departments.
• Recycled water irrigation schemes offer
  substantial environmental benefits to the
  community, as well as a range of additional
  benefits to agriculture.
• The vegetable Industry should continue to explore
  emerging opportunities to achieve safe, reliable
  and cost effective use of recycled water.

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Thank you

• Water industries
• EPA DPI
• Horticulture Australia Limited
• For more info. or to be part ofour communication
  database
• dstevens_at_arris.com.au
• www.recycledwater.com.au
• [phone]