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Alternative resources for agricultural irrigation
Published on 14 May 2020
Germany
Lüneburg
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Uelzen is a region with an intensive agricultural use and a high demand of irrigation water. For the stabilisation of the groundwater balance in the Uelzen region, the following basic measures have been examined and implemented in large parts:
- Increase in groundwater recharge, especially through forest conversion, storage of elevated runoff (floods, heavy rainfall) in the area.
- Use of clear water from sewage treatment plants (350.000 m³/a): a monitoring well is build, all authorities and stakeholders participate in an annual round table.
- Use of production (waste) water from a sugar factory (> 1 million m³/a): In 2002/2003, the Uelzen sugar factory and the Uelzen water and soil association set up the first of 4 water reservoirs in the Uelzen district to collect the water quantities produced during the beet campaign. The water is warm, rich in nutrients (especially potassium) and hygienically safe (controlled by the Lower Saxony Office for Plant Protection regarding phytosanitary pathogens).
These reservoirs enable the reuse of 1,4 Mio m³ per Year. The reservoirs are filled up during the campaign with pre-cleaned water and this is then used for field irrigation in the following year.
Since the water surface is an attractive attraction for water birds, the water reservoir has developed over the years into a magnet for many species.
- Use of water from surface waters.
- Increase in groundwater recharge, especially through forest conversion, storage of elevated runoff (floods, heavy rainfall) in the area.
- Use of clear water from sewage treatment plants (350.000 m³/a): a monitoring well is build, all authorities and stakeholders participate in an annual round table.
- Use of production (waste) water from a sugar factory (> 1 million m³/a): In 2002/2003, the Uelzen sugar factory and the Uelzen water and soil association set up the first of 4 water reservoirs in the Uelzen district to collect the water quantities produced during the beet campaign. The water is warm, rich in nutrients (especially potassium) and hygienically safe (controlled by the Lower Saxony Office for Plant Protection regarding phytosanitary pathogens).
These reservoirs enable the reuse of 1,4 Mio m³ per Year. The reservoirs are filled up during the campaign with pre-cleaned water and this is then used for field irrigation in the following year.
Since the water surface is an attractive attraction for water birds, the water reservoir has developed over the years into a magnet for many species.
- Use of water from surface waters.
Resources needed
In the region around approx. 12 Mio. Euros were invested in a time frame of 10 years.
Evidence of success
These measures enabled a real increase in the availability of water for agricultural irrigation.
The farmers who invested in the reuse of the production water and reuse of treated waste water have been granted increased groundwater production for irrigation
The farmers who invested in the reuse of the production water and reuse of treated waste water have been granted increased groundwater production for irrigation
Potential for learning or transfer
Water scarcity is a situation more and more common in the most of the European countries. To preserve any source of water is crucial. The need for irrigation will increase due to climate change. Food processing industry is often located near the agricultural land to be irrigated. Uelzen can be an example to use these synergies.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony
Germany
Lüneburg
Contact
Adviser for Innovation Networks