Start talking about water circularity in your greenhouse

Added on 20 December 2023

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Start talking about water circularity in your greenhouse

Photo: Katrien Van Crombrugghe

As global water scarcity intensifies, commercial greenhouse operations must pivot towards innovative solutions that not only conserve this precious resource, but also bolster operational efficiency. Advanced irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, and intelligent water recycling mechanisms emerge as pivotal components for successful water circularity in greenhouse operations.

First approaching those conversations, however, can be difficult, as ever-shifting operational priorities keep greenhouse growers busy. But water circularity is not just an ideal to be targeted down the road, it’s an investment in your business’s, and the industry’s, future.

Here, we offer some food for thought and advice on integrating water circularity principles in greenhouse operations to help increase water efficiency and profitability.

Review Plans and Data

The first step in evaluating potential water-saving opportunities is to map out the current water system. Reviewing updated plumbing and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) will help greenhouse operators understand currently installed equipment and how water flows through the facility.

When reviewing plans, Jeff Neff, Senior Technical Lead at Resource Innovation Institute member Argus Controls, advises decision-makers to consider the utility of every piece of equipment present in those plans.