Protect and Enhance the Nation’s Natural Resource Base and Environment

Developing Water Conservation Techniques On High Desert Ranches

Issue (Who cares and why?)
      Communities in arid regions of the world are increasingly turning to water reclamation and reuse to stretch water supplies. Through water reuse, communities can keep water tables from dropping and water resources from shrinking.
      With ever-increasing demands upon limited water resources, increasing costs for water treatment, and more stringent effluent disposal regulations, it makes sense to consider reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes. Also, as urban populations increase, the need for more creative solutions to stretch water supplies has led to new technologies and more possibilities for water reuse.

What has been done?
      Starting in 1997, the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station and the City of Reno started a pilot reuse project on 150 acres of NAES forage and perennial pastures. Over time, a non-looped, effluent reuse sprinkler system was pieced milled together with above ground flow line to irrigate 350 acres. In 2002, the installation of 13,750 liner feet of 30 inch ductile main line, 11,880 linear feet of 12 inch PVC irrigation pipe, 26,300 linear feet of 8 inch PVC irrigation pipe, 22,500 linear feet of 2 inch stock water pipe, 700 4 inch risers, 34 frost free hydrants were installed. And an addition 20.25 mile wheel line sprinkler assemblies to complement the existing 24 wheel line assemblies. Construction was completed in 2002, thus releasing the 1,100 acres property from reliance on the Truckee River for irrigation needs.

Impact
      Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station’s Main Station Research Laboratory, an 1,100 acre ranch located in the heart of Reno, Nevada is doing its part in the effort to conserve regional water supplies. Through the reuse of municipal and industrial wastewater, NAES has reduced local treatment facilities impact on the Truckee River.       In 2004, over 4.5 million gallons per day (spring through fall) of pristine Sierra-Nevada runoff remained in the Truckee River as the NAES ranch released its dependency on standard water rights to the river. By diverting effluent to the ranch, over 7.250 million pound of dissolved solids did not enter the river. That is equivalent to 376 large dump truck loads of waste not polluting Reno’s water supply.

Contact
Don Kennedy
Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station/222
University of Nevada
Reno, Nevada 89557
dkennedy@cabnr.unr.edu