Reuse Water In Agriculture, Policy and Implementation February 16, 2017 WateReuse Webcast Series © 2017 by the WateReuse Association A Few Notes Before We Start… Today’s webcast will be 60 minutes. There is one Professional Development Hour available. A PDF of today’s presentation can be downloaded when you complete the survey at the conclusion of this webcast. If you have questions for the presenters please send a message by typing it into the chat box located on the panel on the left side of your screen. Today’s Program Moderator Lynn Spivey City of Plant City Charles M. Shinn III Kerry Kates, PE Christopher McKinney Florida Farm Bureau Federation Florida Fruit & Vegetable City of Escondido Association The Role of Reuse for Agriculture in Meeting Water Supply Goals Charles Shinn, Director Government & Community Affairs A Cooperative Water Reuse Project by the City of Orlando, Orange County and the Agricultural Community City of Monticello - $700k to help a local nursery to use recycled water City of Tallahassee – City spray fields used for crops Pacific Tomato Growers - $1.6M rainwater collection and reuse Reuse by Agriculture • Location, location, location • Cost • Availability (Timing) • Quality • Sustainability of Service Reuse and Conservation on the Farm Charles Shinn, Director Government & Community Affairs 352-374-1522 [email protected] WateReuse: Florida Agriculture & Reuse February 16th, 2017 Kerry Kates, P.E. Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Water Policy • For years, areas in the state identified as “water- use sensitive” have been legislatively mandated to create water-supply plans with a 20 year planning horizon, updated at 5 year intervals • The task is undertaken by the respective water management districts Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Water Policy • We have several water use caution areas in the state • Areas where water withdrawals are causing or may cause adverse impacts to the water resource and the natural system – Reduced river flow – Reduced spring flow – Impact to wetlands – Salt water intrusion Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Water Policy Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Water Policy Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Water Policy Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Water Policy Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Water Policy • In 2014, recognizing the need to adequately plan and implement alternative water supply strategies, the FL Legislature passed SB 536 • Required the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to conduct a comprehensive study on how to meet future demands utilizing: – Reclaimed Water – Stormwater – Excess Surface Water Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Water Policy • Florida’s population is estimated to reach 23,609,000 million peopled by 2030 – 26% increase over 2010 • Freshwater demand is projected to reach 7.7 billion gallons per day by 2030 – Additional 1.3 billion gallons over 2010 water use Florida Agriculture & Reuse Agricultural Reuse in Florida • 62-610.475, F.A.C., FDEP limitations on reuse – “Irrigation of edible crops that will be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption is allowed” (direct contact is allowed) – “Irrigation of tobacco or citrus is allowed. Direct contact of the reclaimed water with tobacco or citrus is allowed” Florida Agriculture & Reuse Agricultural Reuse in Florida • 62-610.475, F.A.C., FDEP limitations on reuse – “Irrigation of edible crops that will not be peeled, skinned, cooked, or thermally processed before consumption is allowed if an indirect application method that will preclude direct contact with the reclaimed water is used” – “Irrigation of edible crops that will not be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption using an application method that allows for direct contact of the reclaimed water on the crop is prohibited” Florida Agriculture & Reuse Agricultural Reuse in Florida • FDEP reported that Florida was reusing approximately 738 MGD of reclaimed water for beneficial purposes • 44% of the total domestic wastewater flow in the state • 13,290 acres of edible crops were irrigated with a total of 10.5 MGD of reclaimed water – 80% of this acreage was dedicated to citrus production Florida Agriculture & Reuse Agricultural Reuse in Florida • Water Conserv II is largest reuse project of its kind in the world • Out of a need to eliminate wastewater discharges to surface waters, the City of Orlando and Orange County formed a long-term partnership • "A Cooperative Water Reuse Project by the City of Orlando, Orange County and the Agricultural Community" Florida Agriculture & Reuse Agricultural Reuse in Florida • Combines agricultural irrigation (citrus) with aquifer recharge via rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) Florida Agriculture & Reuse Agricultural Reuse in Florida • It was the first project permitted by FDEP to irrigate crops for human consumption with reclaimed water • Water flows average 25-30 MGD Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns Florida Agriculture & Reuse Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • FSMA went into effect on January 26, 2016 • The most sweeping reform of our food safety laws in more than 70 years • Contains an Agricultural Water component for raw agricultural commodities – A raw agricultural commodity is any food that is consumed in its raw or natural state – If the produce is commercially processed, it is exempt from the rule Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Establishes two sets of criteria for microbial water quality based on the presence of E. coli – No detectable generic E. coli are allowed for certain uses of agricultural water in which it is reasonably likely that potentially dangerous microbes would be transferred to produce though direct or indirect contact Includes water used to directly contact produce during or after harvest and water used for sprout irrigation Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Establishes two sets of criteria for microbial water quality based on the presence of E. coli (cont.) – For agricultural water that is directly applied to growing produce (i.e. irrigation water), the geometric mean of water samples taken must be 126 CFU or less of E. coli per 100 mL of water and the statistical threshold for samples must be 410 CFU or less per 100 mL of water Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Compliance with FSMA is based on annual sales – Very small businesses: 4 years from effective date – Small businesses: 3 years from effective date – All others: 2 years from effective date • First group will have to come into compliance on January 26, 2018 Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Adapting to market demand – Will utilizing reclaimed water preclude me from switching commodities? • Buyer contracts containing language precluding use of reuse/reclaimed water – Driven by public perception – Driven by food safety recalls Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Always having access to a clean, reliable source of water – During droughts, there’s increased competition – Demand for reclaimed water is at its peak – Might result in reduced availability for growers Is there enough storage capacity to ensure demand is met? Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Will the system be able to provide adequate supply for sustained frost/freeze protection? Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Will the system be able to provide adequate supply for sustained frost/freeze protection? Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Will utilization of reuse water increase the salt content in the soil profile and impact the crop? – Reported that reclaimed water can contain 300 to 400 mg/L more salt than potable water Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Will nutrient laden water be introduced onto the farm and will additional best management practices be required? – Numeric Nutrient Standards – This could cause issues within BMAP areas – Nitrate leaching could be an issue in recharge areas 1st magnitude spring sheds Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Will the cost of reclaimed water continue to incrementally rise? Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Who will pay the infrastructure costs? – Most agricultural land within Florida does not abut directly against the urban, built corridors where existing utility infrastructure would make the notion of expansion more financially feasible – It’s possible to subsidize costs by partaking in cost-share and incentive programs offered by the State, but that portion levied upon the utility will inevitably get passed down to the end user Florida Agriculture & Reuse Grower Concerns • Reuse/Reclaimed water still carries a stigma in the public’s eyes – “Toilet to tap” – Public concern regarding removal of endocrine disruptors • The buying public must have their fears assuaged – Potential marketing issue • More educational outreach Florida Agriculture & Reuse Resources • “Report on Expansion of Beneficial Use of Reclaimed Water, Stormwater and Excess Surface Water (Senate Bill 536 Report)”: https://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/reuse/docs/sb536/SB536-Report.pdf • “FDEP Annual Reuse Inventory Report”: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/reuse/ • CONSERV II: http://waterconservii.com/index.html • California Ag Water Stewardship Initiative: http://agwaterstewards.org/practices/use_of_municipal_recycled_water/ • “Reclaimed Water Use for Edible Crop Production in Florida”: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss561 Florida Agriculture & Reuse Contact