Enabling the reuse of industrial wastewater to meet freshwater demands of greenhouse agriculture by using aquifer storage and recovery (ASR)

“Continuous availability of reliable and high-quality freshwater is a prerequisite for the greenhouse sector. This was not self-evident for Nieuw-Prinsenland, a modern greenhouse area of 260 ha developed in Dinteloord, the Netherlands. Local groundwater is brackish and inflow of fresh surface water is limited. Thus, the irrigation water demand is largely satisfied through collection of rainwater and storage in aboveground basins. However, serious water shortages arise during droughts. A neighboring sugar company produces large volumes of wastewater between September and January, which could form the required additional water source after treatment. Unfortunately, its availability is out-of-phase with the projected demand of the greenhouse sector (April-August). To bridge the gap between availability and demand, a large scale aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system was realized. A careful path was followed to the realization of the water system, in which the ASR-facility is equipped with an automated control unit and connected to greenhouses, sugar factory, and neighboring food processing industries by a 5 km distribution loop. The system has the potential to supply an additional 300,000 m3 of irrigation water every year, at an average price of 0.51 €/m3. It exemplifies the feasibility of hybrid grey and green infrastructure, and demonstrates how managed aquifer recharge (MAR) can contribute to water reuse in the circular economy. The keys to success are thorough organization, gradual realization, automation, frequent evaluation, and transparent communication.”

(Citation: van Dooren, T.C.G.W., Zuurbier, K.G., Raat, K.J., Hartog, N., Stuyfzand, P.J. – Enabling the reuse of industrial wastewater to meet freshwater demands of greenhouse agriculture by using aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) – ISMAR 10, Madrid, Spain, 20-24 May 2019, p.288-298)