Irrigation Water Characteristics in Pennsylvania

Amy Galford Water Resources Educator Penn State Extension Cumberland County [email protected] 717-240-6500

Water Resources Webinar, 6/24/2015 Outline

* Irrigation statistics in PA

* Testing to consider

* Accredited labs and on-site testing

* Data from PSU AASL

* Publications and links for more info

* Poll questions and Q&A Farm Irrigation in PA Farm Irrigation in PA – Top Counties USDA Ag Census

County # Farms with Irrigation County Acres Irrigated Lancaster 930 Lancaster 6076 Chester 220 Franklin 2845 Berks 216 Adams 2198 Franklin 159 Schuylkill 1663 Cumberland 157 Berks 1633 York 149 Cumberland 1595 Bucks 131 Lebanon 1463 Snyder 113 Northumberland 1422 Adams 102 Chester 1211 Centre 100 Centre 1060 Montgomery 100 PA Total 38,990 PA Total 4,539 Farm Irrigation in PA – Trend

USDA Ag Census – PA Statewide

2007 2012

Acres 37,786 38,990 Irrigated

Farms with 3,958 4,539 Irrigation

Total Farms 63,163 59,309 Total Irrigation in PA – How much?

USGS: Crop and turf combined, sprinkler and drip irrigation combined:

7.39 Million gallons/day groundwater 19.75 Million gallons/day surface water

68,110 acres irrigated: 53,020 acres sprinkler irrigation 15,090 acres drip irrigation

Irrigation Water Sources in PA

Estimate yields needed, compare water quality of sources if there are several options

Do you need storage for peak use?

New irrigation system?

Budget for all components

Main water lines and drip lines

Power, buildings, treatment devices Irrigation Water Sources in PA

Wells New wells - watch construction features Agricultural wells vs. home wells

Surface water: Ponds, Rivers Storage in larger ponds, gravity feed options Variable water quality across seasons and daily Plant pathogens; Food safety (E. coli)

Wastewater / recycled water Variable water quality Higher concentrations of salts and nutrients? Plant pathogens; Food safety (E. coli) Testing to consider

Tests at a DEP-accredited lab several times per year. pH, alkalinity, conductivity (salts) nutrients relevant to your crops potential toxins bacteria as needed for food safety (E. coli)

More frequent tests with test strips, handheld meters.

Test before and after: treatment equipment pH adjustment adding nutrients, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.

Interpret in conjunction with soil testing. pH of Irrigation Water pH (acid/base) affects other chemicals

…naturally found in irrigation water sources and soil

…that we add on purpose (fertilizers, pesticides, disinfectants)

…in irrigation equipment

Ideal pH is a range – consult horticulture educators

Many plants do well with acidic irrigation water, e.g., rain

Acid adjustment

Covered in previous webinars

Addition of acid to lower alkalinity citric, sulfuric, nitric, phosphoric

Proportional injectors, online recipes (AlkCalc)

Check with testing

Acids add nutrients – take into account

Some fertilizers or other additives change pH Read labels Test on-site Water source affects pH, alkalinity, and hardness

Limestone rocks and soils blue zones on map high alkalinity wells, streams hard water high yield

Alkalinity = pH buffering, carbonates and bicarbonates

Hardness = Calcium + Magnesium. Often correlated w/ alkalinity.

Calcite (CaCO3) and other deposits can clog drip irrigation lines.

Calcium and magnesium ions can interfere with other products. Water source affects alkalinity

In ponds, photosynthesis by algae and aquatic plants - during day uses CO2 or HCO3

Respiration by all living things night and day releases CO2 pH and alkalinity vary during the day

When are you irrigating?

When and where are you sampling for water chemistry?

Accredited labs

In PA, DEP accredits environmental testing labs in PA (other agencies in other states)

Search engine on DEP site, spreadsheet there and on Penn State Extension site or contact us

Labs accredited for particular tests and water types Drinking water (potable water) Non-drinking water (nonpotable water) Wastewater

Labs may have packages and/or individual tests to order.

Pick up bottles in advance. On-site testing

Chemistry testing equipment at farm/site: Less expensive checks between lab testing. More frequent and rapid testing. Troubleshooting or testing treatment equipment.

Supply catalogs, websites Test strips (pH, alkalinity, hardness, etc.) pH digital meter Conductivity/TDS meter Standard test solutions to calibrate equipment Spare batteries Sterile bottles and clean containers

Keep records Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory (AASL)

DEP-accredited lab located on campus

Several irrigation test packages available or individual tests. Prices in brochures and on website.

Kits available from county offices (call first) or the lab; mail to lab. Keep samples cold, may need overnight shipping.

Data: not random sample of PA irrigation water; next slides are summaries of submitted samples Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory (AASL) Kits Farm Food Safety – E. coli $35

Turf irrigation $35/$55

Nursery/Greenhouse Irrigation – 2 options $35 Basic $55 w/ more nutrients, metals

Or individual tests Data from PSU AASL – E. coli

FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules under revision Factors: E. coli die-off in soil, treatment, water uses

AASL Farm Food Safety kit = E. coli bacteria testing

22/61 samples PA and adjoining states positive for E. coli 1 to >2420 colonies per 100mL

13/32 PA samples positive for E. coli 2 to >2420 colonies per 100mL

10/14 lake/pond/river/stream 3/3 spring 0/13 private well Data from PSU AASL - Turf

198 PA samples; 160 indicated source

29 effluent / recycled / graywater / byproduct pH 4.1 to 11.7 24 out of 29 > 1000mg/L TDS

73 lake/pond + 26 river/stream pH 6.94 to 10.31

18 well + 10 public pH 6.65 to 8.44

Data from PSU AASL – Irrigation Kit

Data from 34 counties

> 10 samples from Counties: Allegheny, Bedford, Berks, Centre, Chester, Cumberland, Franklin, Lancaster, Montgomery, Union

263 PA samples (removed acidified and fertilized) Data from PSU AASL – Irrigation Kits - TDS

263 PA samples (removed acidified and fertilized) wide range most over 1000mg/L TDS were wastewater/recycled/effluent some sodium and chloride high

Data from PSU AASL – Irrigation Kits - pH

263 PA samples (removed acidified and fertilized) pH mostly basic, may need acidification; mean pH by source:

22 public 7.61 101 well 7.48

10 spring 7.25

1 bog 4.49

samples # 48 pond 7.65 6 stream 7.93

51 wastewater 7.42 pH Data from PSU AASL – Irrigation Kits - Alkalinity

263 PA samples (removed acidified and fertilized)

most over 100mg/L CaCO3 alkalinity

reducing pH will be difficult

# samples #

alkalinity

(CaCO3) Data from PSU AASL – Irrigation Kits - Hardness

262 PA samples (removed acidified and fertilized and softened) most very high Ca and Mg hardness precipitation in drip lines

interference with other

additives # samples #

hardness

(CaCO3) Summary

Irrigation is increasing in PA and economically important.

Water chemistry is affected by water source, geology, and water treatment.

Much of PA’s irrigation water has higher pH, alkalinity, and hardness than ideal, may need chemical treatment.

Testing for E. coli will be important for some water uses.

Test water chemistry at accredited labs and on-site.

Keep records of water chemistry and irrigation usage. Resources that will be posted to the Penn State Extension water webinar site soon:

Archive of webinar and PDF of this presentation

Links including - Penn State Extension Water for Agriculture page - PSU Ag Analytical Services Lab - water testing labs - other webinars - fact sheets