Winery wastewater management: Online resource kit
About this product
This document is one of three main products from a review of research and technical reports about winery wastewater management and recycling. The products are designed to help Australian wineries and viticulturalists lead world best practice in sustainable management.
The products are:
Business fundamentals – an overview, outlining the fit between winery wastewater management and operations in the winery and vineyard.
Operational guidelines – a detailed guide, presenting information to assist the planning and management of winery wastewater treatment and its disposal or recycling.
Resources kit (this document) – an electronic product, presenting tools (such as spreadsheet calculators), case studies and reference materials (e.g. industry fact sheets, reports and presentations).
This resources kit is aimed at anyone wanting additional information about the application of the principles presented in the other two products. It provides tools, examples and further references regarding the generation, treatment and recycling of winery wastewaters.
Introduction
Tools
Winery wastewater environmental index
For a quick insight into the environmental performance of a winery wastewater management system, try the CSIRO Environmental Rating Index.
Audit quick-check benchmarker
For a quick comparison of site performance with industry ‘best practice’ for some key aspects of wastewater management, try the CSIRO Quick-check Benchmarker.
References
Winery wastewater overview
An overview of treatment and recycling issues and their management.
Planning & evaluation
Tools
CSIRO wastewater audit tools
Because winery waste streams are so variable between sites and through time, it is essential to characterize those of your site.
CSIRO have developed a spreadsheet tool to help wineries audit their own site. The Manual provides information on how to use the audit spreadsheets. Separate models are available for small and large wineries.
Treatment costing tool
References
Benchmarking audit report
The CSIRO has surveyed sites of differing size, across Australia to provide some indicative benchmarks. The survey for the involved wineries providing their best information on wastewater and its management.
Evaluation of organic Matter concentrations
Information on the relationships between BOD, COD and TOC in winery effluent as a research article and conference poster from CSIRO.
Risk management
Tools
Water budget – irrigation
A spreadsheet tool to prepare an irrigation water budget, a guide for assessing irrigation priorities in times of water scarcity, and a presentation about the tools.
Salt balance
References to salt balancing tools:
- Salinity Management guide
- This guide is a practical reference for vineyard managers who want to learn more about the principles of ‘best management practice’ for salinity.
- Winery Waste Water Management
- Salinity unit converter and tolerance levels of fruit/vegetable crops (NSW DPI)
Nutrient balance
References to nutrient budgeting tools
References
Water budgets – ponds
An example of how to prepare and use a water budget for a lagoon.
Environmental impact studies
CSIRO report on the impacts of winery wastewater on aquatic environments, wetlands and soil health following irrigation, present a poster with information on the environmental impacts of commonly used flocculants, and provide a journal article on impacts on wetland plants (reeds and rushes).
Monitoring & evaluation
References
Sampling guidelines
Tips on collecting soil samples and inspecting grapevine root systems, from Viticare.
Soil – physical attributes
Tips on assessing physical attributes of soils, from Viticare.
Soil – chemical and water content
Tips on assessing the salinity etc and soil water moisture levels, from Viticare.
Business considerations
Tools
Treatment costing tool
A spreadsheet tool and explanatory manual have been developed by CSIRO to help wineries establish the operating costs of current and alternative winery wastewater treatment systems.
Management options
References
Systematic approach to management
A comprehensive report by CSIRO covering all aspects of winery wastewater management.
Small WA wineries
A summary report on wastewater management in small West Australian wineries.
Cleaner production
Tools
Process flow charts
CSIRO have developed a series of flow charts for different stages of wine making, highlighting the typical inputs and outputs and ‘best practices’ that will result in cleaner production. The flow charts tie in with the Audit Tool spreadsheets (see Planning and evaluation / Waste streams).
References
Reducing volumes and loads
A WA Winewatch Fact Sheet with tips on cleaner production for small wineries.
Three Rs – Reduce, reuse, recycle
A presentation of tips for cleaner production.
Case studies
Reduce
Water use and wine losses can be reduced.
Segregate
Segregation simplifies treatment and enhances re-use options.
Recycle
Water and cleaning agents may be recycled.
Fit for purpose treatment
References
Ponds
A WA Winewatch Fact Sheet with information on planning and managing treatment ponds.
Leachfields
A WA Winewatch Fact Sheet with information on leachfields as treatment and disposal option for small wineries.
Wetlands & soil based bioremediation
CSIRO report on trials with wetlands (via a poster) and progress in developing a low cost treatment system relying on soil based bioremediation.
Case studies
End-use considerations
The end-use of winery wastewater should be factored into the degree to which it is treated, along with the quality of the incoming effluent.
Discharge and recycling – irrigation
References
Irrigation
WA Winewatch Fact Sheets on disposal via irrigation and a worked case study for small wineries.
Salinity management
Technical notes, a presentation and fact sheet on managing salinity in vineyards, from the Innovators Network.
Yield and water
Technical notes, a presentation and fact sheets on irrigation impacts on grape yields, from the Innovators Network.
- Yield and water notes
- Yield and water presentation
- Yield and water fact sheet
- Post harvest irrigation
Viticare information on irrigating at times of water scarcity.
Soil health
Information from CSIRO on soil health (poster), the impacts of potassium (research paper) and a presentation on key issues for land irrigation.
Technical notes (a presentation) and a fact sheet on soil health in vineyards from the Innovators Network.
Case studies
Discharge and recycling options
Amongst other things, treated winery wastewater may be recycled for irrigation or discharged to sewer.
Problem solving
References
Odour
A CSIRO Fact Sheet on issues and management options to avoid problem odours.
Copyright: Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation. Adelaide, SA.
Published: 2011
Prepared for: Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation
Project Manager: Troy Fischer
By: Peter R Day Resource Strategies Pty Ltd
Project Team
- Peter Day – Peter R Day Resource Strategies www.resourcestrats.com.au
- Adjunct Professor Julian Cribb – Julian Cribb & Associates www.sciencealert.com.au/jca.html
- Dr Anne-Maree Boland and Matt Shanahan – RMCG www.rmcg.com.au
- Dr Darren Oemcke – DO Consulting
- Dr Anu Kumar – CSIRO www.csiro.gov.au
- Geoff Cowey and Karl Forsyth – Australian Wine Research Institute www.awri.com.au
- Anne Burgi – Substitution www.substitution.com.au