Viticulture water saving tips

Making water-wise fine wines

The economic benefits of being water-wise in grape and wine production include:

• decreased cost of water supplied (mains water) and wastewater disposal
• reduced pumping needs, which reduces annual energy costs (and greenhouse emissions)
• fewer infrastructure requirements, such as the maintenance of pumping equipment and water pipes.

How to use just the right amount of water in the wine industry

Keep track of your water use

• Install water meters on major plant machinery or processes to track water use performance, identify leaks and set targets for water reductions.
• Conduct a detailed water audit to identify problem areas and prioritise solutions. Your water authority may be able to provide advice on how to do this.
• Develop a standard reporting procedure for water issues, including:
  • total water use over a defined period (week, month, quarter)
  • water use performance of major plant and processes
  • a comparison to previous water use patterns and identified goals - Issues that need addressing (such as leaks), and responsibilities for action.

Modify or upgrade plant equipment

• Install equipment with automatic shut-off devices, to eliminate water wastage.
• Install flow restrictors to control flow rates to equipment and taps.

Cleaning practices

• Sweep down surfaces rather than hosing or mopping. Use brooms, scrubbers and squeegees
• Use water sparingly when cleaning equipment.
• Use high-pressure nozzles and spray devices. The higher pressure should clean surfaces more effectively, with limited volumes of water.

Recycling

• Reuse the water used in leak-testing barrels.
• Consider treating and reusing winery wastewater for vineyard or other crop irrigation.
• Consider using rainwater and stormwater collected from the site for activities such as wash-downs and toilet flushing.

Be kind to the wastewater system

• Try to avoid mixing solids with water wherever possible.
• Filter out organic materials before discharging water as effluent.
• Introduce automatic cleaning systems to reduce both water and chemical use.