Reclaimed water - a new irrigation source for citrus irrigation in Florida
Date
2002-07
Authors
Payero, Jose O., author
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Abstract
Many communities in Florida considered wastewater to be a disposal problem before 1980. When it was proposed to convert wastewater to reclaimed water for crop irrigation, citrus growers refused to accept the water because of fears of heavy metals, flooding, or disease. Ultimately, several reclaimed water projects were started, and Water Conserv II west of Orlando has become one of the world's largest agricultural reclaimed water irrigation projects of its type. This project provides irrigation for more than 4300 acres of agricultural crops and two golf courses. The water is chlorinated, is odorless and colorless, and has been used successfully for crop irrigation for 15 years. Excess reclaimed water is discharged to rapid infiltration basins (RIBs). The water meets drinking water standards for a number of compounds including nitrate, sulfate, Na, Cl, Cu, Zn, Se, and Ag. Initial fears that reclaimed water would cause problems were unfounded. In the sandy well-drained soil, excessively high irrigation rates with reclaimed water (100 inches/year) promoted excellent tree growth. Because of a recent severe drought in Florida, attitudes toward reclaimed water have changed. Once believed to be a disposal problem, reclaimed water is now considered to be a viable resource that can meet irrigation demands. Average statewide reuse flow rates have increased by 116% in ten years.
Description
Presented at the 2002 USCID/EWRI conference, Energy, climate, environment and water - issues and opportunities for irrigation and drainage on July 9-12 in San Luis Obispo, California.