Winery Water Management

I live in the Pacific Northwest at the doorstep to Washington’s wine region.  I enjoy wine and have gained a much greater understanding of the wastewater challenges facing winery operators.  Winery wastewater streams can be very difficult to treat as the flows and concentrations swing widely and for a small winery, the treatment costs can be substantial.

The optimal approach for a winery is to not focus solely on the wastewater but consider all aspects of the winery and what I like to call the “Winery Water Cycle”.   This type of evaluation considers the wine making process, the wastewater treatment system and the discharge or reuse requirements as an integrated water cycle.  Each step effects the other and cannot be evaluated without fully understanding how changes will effect the other.

 INTEGRATED APPROACH

One of the keys to a successful water management plan is the adoption of an integrated approach.  An integrated approach considers the relationship between each step in the winery water cycle and incorporates site specific operations, treatment design and environmental compliance standards.

Winery operations
Minimize the generation and decrease the strength of wastewater through modifications and improvements in process steps and analysis.  Enhanced winery operations with lead to water savings and lower operational costs.

Wastewater Treatment
The treatment system should operate to minimize water discharge volumes and operating costs while achieving high quality standards required to reuse the treated water in a variety of applications at the winery.  Treatment systems that meet reuse quality standards operate more efficiently and at lower costs.

Water recycling or discharge
Incorporating a site wide recycling and reuse program will reduce potential environmental impacts and lower costs through more efficient water use.  Improvements to the wastewater treatment system, water reclamation steps and conservation measures all contribute to the stated goals.

 PLANNING PROCESS

The planning process will consider the winery’s water cycle and the operational aspects related to each step in the cycle.  This approach establishes a holistic treatment process that utilizes the best available and cost effective technologies to recycle water streams or treat wastewater generated from the winery.  The result is the development of an overall water management plan that considers the interactions of each phase of the winery’s operations while minimizing costs and preserving the integrity of the wine making process.

Water, water everywhere…

Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, 1798

Many have heard this quote and understand its reference to a mariner on the open ocean surrounded by saltwater he cannot drink.  But have you ever considered that the essence of this quote can apply to the drinking water supply of 780 million people on the planet¹?  We cannot live without water.  It is the single most essential nutrient needed for human survival and accounts for up to 75 percent of our body weight.  A lack of water causes major body functions to begin shutting down in as little as three days and occur within a week.  Face it, you need water or your up a creek, so to speak.

Unfortunately, millions of people in the world do not have access to safe water sources.  As a result there are 3.4 million deaths annually from water borne illness².  In developed countries we are insulated from a lack of clean water or poor sanitation.  We take water for granted.  Its always there, simply go the facet and fill your glass. Think I’m wrong, then ask yourself how much water we use on lawns?

The gap between the water haves and have nots is significant.  Just consider that a typical 5 minute shower sends more water down the drain than is used by a person living in a slum of an undeveloped country for an entire day to understand this discrepancy³.  This graphic (courtesy of water.org) does an outstanding job of illustrating this point.

So what can be done to help those in water need?  Some very simple ways for individuals and groups to get involved are outlined by water.org.  Visit any or all of the following links to learn more.

DONATE YOUR VOICE
RAISE FOR THE CAUSE
SUPPORT A COMMUNITY

1. WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation. (2010). Progress on Sanitation and Drinking-Water, 2010 Update.
2. World Health Organization (WHO). (2008). Safer Water, Better Health: Costs, benefits, and sustainability of interventions to protect and promote health; Updated Table 1: WSH deaths by region, 2004.
3.  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2006). Human Development Report 2006, Beyond Scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis.

Welcome to my wet world

Welcome to One Drop at a Time.

My goal is to provide insights into the science, politics and trends of the water and wastewater markets.  Topics discussed will range from singe family water conversation techniques to the treatment of wastewater generated by oil and gas fracking operations.

I hope you enjoy what you discover and I welcome your feedback and comments for topics you would like me to cover.