Irrigation Management with the Beneficial Reuse of Wastewater and/or Stormwater Runoff Collection
The wastewater community has been working to promote and implement the beneficial reuse of wastewater from domestic and industrial wastewater dischargers. Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse (RWBR) involves taking what was once considered waste, providing appropriate treatment, and using the effluent for certain restricted uses. RWBR has a myriad of application potentials including the spray irrigation of crops, parks, and golf courses; dust control; fire fighting; and toilet flushing, to list a few.
Another irrigation management option, either alone or in combination with beneficial reuse, is the collection, storage and transfer of stormwater runoff that would otherwise be lost. This water can be used for non-potable applications in place of potable water in order to reduce the demand upon surface water and aquifers.
Meadows at Middlesex Golf Course
The Meadows at Middlesex is an 18 hole golf course located in Plainsboro Township and was constructed as part of a planned residential development. The location of the development was not proximate to the sewage collection system that conveyed flow to the South Brunswick sewerage system. Accordingly, the development included the construction of the Princeton Meadows sewage treatment plant in order to accommodate the residential component of the project and the surrounding area.
Due to the quality of the residential waste stream, it was determined that the effluent from the treatment plant could be utilized as a supplemental source of water for the irrigation of the golf course areas. Effluent from the treatment plant is directed to an aerated storage pond at the course. Water is then pumped into the irrigation system and distributed throughout the course.
CME Associates aided the facilities operator, the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, in securing approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for the continuation of the use of the reclaimed effluent for irrigation purposes, as well as improvements to the irrigation pumping facilities.
Subsequent to that approval and as part of the Authority's New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit requirements, several nitrate uptake studies were performed to demonstrate that the soils and vegetation were capable of absorbing the amount of nitrate being delivered from the effluent/storm water source.