In an existing winery facility we are capturing 100% of our process wastewater (which is significant) and treating it onsite in aerated retention ponds, then using it for vineyard irrigation. The ponds and vineyards are not within our LEED boundary, but are under the winery's ownership. I am not sure if this meets the NSF standard, but would it be reasonable to count this under Option 3 - using the nitrogen and organic carbon as fertilizer?
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Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11475 thumbs up
July 30, 2011 - 2:37 am
Prudence, I can't speak to the technical credit requirements, but I don't see any issue relative to the LEED boundary. Projects can use land outside their boundary for specific credit compliance.
Karen Poff
Product Development CoordinatorAustin Energy
29 thumbs up
August 2, 2011 - 6:03 pm
Hi Prudence,
Thank you for your comment. It doesn’t sound like the scenario you described would meet the requirements outlined under Option 3 but I can’t be sure without more information. Option 3 is intended to specifically recover and use the carbon/nitrogen. Under the aerated retention ponds scenario you described, are you recovering the nutrients and using them as fertilizer? Or does the pond remove/reduce the nutrients and then the effluent is used to irrigate? Option 2 seems like a better fit but we are still reviewing whether treatment and use of the wastewater outside of the LEED boundary is an issue. Is the location of the treatment ponds and vineyard adjacent to the LEED boundary? Are there local requirements in your area for using treated process wastewater for irrigation purposes?
Prudence Ferreira
PrincipalIntegral Impact
88 thumbs up
August 3, 2011 - 1:47 pm
Karen,
The water is treated to reduce the biological oxygen demand, etc. So it would probably count as reducing the nitrogen and carbon content, then once it has been treated the effluent is used for irrigation. There are local requirements to treat winery waste water, but no requirements that the effluent is used for irrigation. The treatment ponds and vineyards are directly adjacent to the project boundary or up to 1/4 mile away - all on land owned by the project owners.
Karen Poff
Product Development CoordinatorAustin Energy
29 thumbs up
August 12, 2011 - 12:05 pm
Hi Prudence,
Based on your response, it doesn't appear that your project would meet the intent of Option 3. Option 2 would be a better fit provided your treated effluent meets the NSF 350 standard or local code (whichever is more stringent) for irrigation. We are continuing to review whether treatment and use of the wastewater outside of the LEED boundary is an issue and I will post a clarification as soon as a decision is made. Thanks, Karen