Farmers use a lot of water in day to day business from livestock drinking to crop irrigation and machinery washing. There are hidden costs to wasting water, which include energy pumping costs, dirty water treatment, reduced crop quality from poor water management and problems with livestock management due to poaching of fields. However, a few simple measures can help save money and the environment:
- Can you use less water? For example, could you install a rainwater harvesting system, invest in dry cleaning tools, repair leaks and floods or reuse plate-cooling water?
- Can you reuse or recycle water? For example, can you reuse vegetable wash water, can it be used for an initial wash at the preparation stage, and can you use this water for irrigation?
- Can you install a water treatment system? Alternative means of treating water, such as reedbed systems may be suitable for certain sites.
In this section:
Case studies:
Further information:
- Environment Agency - Water Efficiency Awards 2005 and their Spot Report 2005 all about sustainable waste management and pollution by businesses
- Waterwise on the Farm - A joint Environment Agency, NFU and Leaf publication giving water efficiency guidance for farmers [PDF, 485 KB]. Also available in hard copy, call 01903 832275.
- Centre for Alternative Technology Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9AZ. T: 01654 705950
- PF Cooper et al (1996) Reed Beds and Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment, produced by the WRC plc. ISBN 1898920273
To find out more about Transition Farming call 0117 9142400 or e-mail
ff@soilassociation.org