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Recycling Water Series

Ornamental growers in New Jersey are concerned with the management of irrigation water in anticipation of fresh water depletion and the introduction of agricultural water regulations. This video series highlights 5 of these growers through interviews with Dr.Robin Brumfield, Rutgers University Farm Management Specialist, and Alyssa DeVincentis.

These operations have invested in technology to disinfect and recycle irrigation runoff to reduce pressure on their aquifers using chlorine, ozone, UV light, or copper treatments. Ray Blew of Centerton Nursery says that “recycling is not profitable but it has to be done.” Several of the growers made this investment to “be environmentally friendly and do the right thing.” A more detailed explanation of the costs, benefits, and anecdotal experiences with these water management systems can be seen in a 6-article series in Nursery Management and Greenhouse Management Magazines.

Infographics to accompany the videos and articles summarize each water management system. We hope all of these tools help growers throughout the state to make informed decisions about water management and recycling. (Infographics to accompany the videos and articles summarize each water management system and were created by Rebecca Cook.)

Photo of irrigation resevoir.

10 Tips for Recycling Irrigation Water (Greenhouse Management website)

With its recapturing system, Loew’s Nursery has avoided the expense of drilling 2 new wells to maintain a pump capacity of 50 million gallons per year, which is a significant expense for a nursery this size.

[Video:  https://youtu.be/yCh_A8_yVMs] (Opens new page on YouTube)

Case Studies

Loews Nursery

[Video: https://youtu.be/79B3CaWJ4OA (Opens new YouTube window.)]

Loews Nursery recaptures runoff and treats it with chlorine gas, saving water and fertilizer use. Read about A Case for Chlorine (Opens in new window.) 

Loews Nursury infographic showing irrigation, recovery cycle.
Recycle to minimize runoff into the Cohansey River

Overdevest Nursery

[Video: https://youtu.be/RNK43MrHxK8 (Opens new YouTube window.)]

Years before state mandates, Overdevest Nursery started capturing and cleaning irrigation runoff. Read about more  A Clear Vision.

Overdevest Nursuries infographic showing water recovery, runoff cycle.
“We try to do the right thing, but it gets expensive.”

 

Centerton Nursery

Centerton Nursery’s water recycling system provides 30 million gallons of water each year.

A Step Ahead (Opens Nursery Management page)

[Video: https://youtu.be/8SRKMLHBAL4 (Opens new YouTube window.)]

Centerton Nursery infographi showing irrigate, recovery, filter, disinfect cycle.
“Recycling is not profitable but has to be done. Centerton Nursery’s water recycling system provides 30 million gallons of water each year.

 

Lucas Greenhouses

[Video: https://youtu.be/AHVV44eJfCw (Opens new YouTube window.)]

Nearly 12 years after being the first grower to do so, the benefits of employing a water-disinfection system using ozone, UV light, and beneficial bacteria, continue to flow for Lucas Greenhouses.  Read more about Reclaiming H2O in the Ozone.

Lucas Greenhouses infograpich showing water disinfection system cycle.

 

Kube Pak

[Video: https://youtu.be/yCh_A8_yVMs (Opens new YouTube window.)]

Kube Pak’s water program isn’t about recycling, but it is about effective management and disinfection of its water. Read about Keeping Water Clean with Copper (Opens Nursery Management page).

Kubepak infographic showing copper disinfection, aquatic plant filtration cycle.