York Region Water Reuse Research and Demonstration Project

The Water Reuse Research Demonstration Project evaluated the effects of the use of reclaimed treated municipal water as an irrigation source for sod production on plant health, soil properties, and surface water and groundwater quality. An on-farm assessment was conducted that followed the soil (detailed soil cores to 60cm), water (lysimeters, nested groundwater wells, and tile water) and crop (plant health, germination and alternate crop) effects of over the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, on replicated test and control plots. Both treatment and control areas were managed identically with the exception of the irrigation water source: control (irrigation pond water) and treatment (reclaimed water from the Regional Municipality of York).

Evaluation of the impacts of land application of greenhouse nutrient feedwater (GNF) under Ontario regulations

The project assessed the potential environmental impacts of land application of Greenhouse nutrient feedwater (GNF) under the Ontario Nutrient Management Act as a best management practice (BMP) through field infiltration experiments established at four greenhouse operations representing a cross section of the vegetable greenhouse sector near Leamington, Ontario. The results demonstrated that the majority of the nutrients and other dissolved constituents in GNF applied at the highest permissible rates and practical loadings over a variety of soil types and agricultural land use practices remained within the vadose zone and at low concentrations over the course of the monitoring period. No evidence of significant environmental impact from the land application of GNF was observed. Overall, the results of the study suggest that land application of GNF in accordance with Ontario’s regulations is a feasible and environmentally reasonable treatment option for managing GNF.

Best Management Practices for the Ontario Greenhouse and Container Nursery Industry to Protect Surface and Sub-surface Water Quality TOGA-OMAFRA Great Lakes Project 07-038)

The project objectives were to demonstrate the principles of collection, treatment, and reuse of irrigation runoff water in the greenhouse horticulture industry and develop and draft a. Existing treatment systems were monitored at three sites and new systems were installed and monitored at the seven sites. Irrigation water runoff and water at interim stages of each treatment system were monitored to determine their effectiveness. A Greenhouse and Container Nursery Water and Nutrient Management BMP document was drafted which formed the basis of the three individual OMAFRA BMP and self-assessment guides for greenhouse vegetable, container nursery, and greenhouse floriculture production.