Plenty of rainwater
The bromelia nursery uses rainwater that has been collected in their two 3,500 m3 rainwater basins to water their greenhouses. “Bromelia has low water usage”, says John Meewisse. “Even in periods of drought, we have enough rainwater at our disposal. After the dry month of June, the basin is still three-fourths full. Only if the drought continues for a long time we need to refill with tap water.”
The bromelia nursery uses rainwater that has been collected in their two 3,500 m3 rainwater basins to water their greenhouses. “Bromelia has low water usage”, says John Meewisse. “Even in periods of drought, we have enough rainwater at our disposal. After the dry month of June, the basin is still three-fourths full. Only if the drought continues for a long time we need to refill with tap water.”
Mapping currents
Consultancy firm Delphy has carried out a Company scan of Water Currents. The scan is part of the Duursaam Glashelder (Sustainable and Clear) project, in which the bromelia cultivator participates. The formatted report has been discussed in the presence of the consultancy firm by Meeuwisse with the competent authorities, representatives of the implementing organization RUD Drenthe and the Waterschap Vechtstromen. In these discussions, it came to light that the rinsing water of a SAF-Filter needs to go back into the basin and is not allowed to go into the ditch. With this small adjustment, the bromelia cultivator is ready for zero discharge. The grower has good guidance and has been advised by both Delphy and the competent authorities.
Advantages of new buildings
To save water, Meewisse has placed many new pipes that return the water to the basin during the rebuilding in 2000. “During the rebuilding, there were not yet rules for emissionless cultivation. By centralizing the water currents we did, however, manage to get it right anyway. We now see the advantage this has given us. The only thing we needed to do is plug the old, non-visible, drainage pipes that ended out in the ditch.
To save water, Meewisse has placed many new pipes that return the water to the basin during the rebuilding in 2000. “During the rebuilding, there were not yet rules for emissionless cultivation. By centralizing the water currents we did, however, manage to get it right anyway. We now see the advantage this has given us. The only thing we needed to do is plug the old, non-visible, drainage pipes that ended out in the ditch.
Watering from above
The grower gives both bromelias in the wheeled containers with open gauze grounds and on the closed cultivation grounds water via the drainpipes. The grounds have been closed by a foil on which anti-root blankets have been placed. The excess water runs through the gutter and ends up in the drain. From there it is pumped to the drain water silo, but first, it goes through a SAF-filter to clean it off from organic material. The drain water is being reused without disinfection. The bromelia cultivator mixes the drain water with the rainwater. Before the water goes from the rainwater basin to the clean day supply, it goes through a SAF-filter.
Low water usage
The bromelia uses only a little water. On the 4 hectares, the water use is only 300 m3 per week in the summer conditions. Of this, 10 percent comes back as drain water that will then be filtered. This 30 m3 gives 150 liters of rinsing water. “We ask ourselves what the influence of this 150 liter of water would be in a ditch”, so say the growers. “Still we need to comply with the laws about emissionless cultivation. But it does need to be executable and controllable.”
source: Glastuinbouw Waterproof