WINETECH Technical Yearbook 2019

PHOTO 7. Sign indicating the use of reclaimed water at the Waite Campus in Adelaide.

PHOTO 8. Anu Kumar and Carolyn Howell d i s cus s i ng the effec t s of i r r i gat i ng grapevines with winery wastewater.

PHOTO 9. River muscles used to quantify pollutants in rivers.

PHOTO 10. The experimental winery at the Waite Campus in Adelaide.

PHOTO 11. Edgar Johnson and Mitch Laginestra of GHD meeting with Carolyn Howell in Adelaide.

of winery wastewater, there have been numerous projects in the past. Paul Grbin gave an overview of the most important studies to date. These include a survey which was conducted in Australia using four companies to look at microbes in the treatment of winery wastewater. There was a consistent group of organisms at the plants. Therefore, there was no diversity and the system did not peak efficiently. Raw winery wastewater was added into SBR and, over time, diversity increased. They investigated the C:N ratio on glycogen accumulating bacteria in aerobic systems. Paul Grbin indicated that a C:N ratio of 60:1 maintained diversity. The University also has plans to expand their winery in the near future. In that case, a wastewater treatment system will most probably be installed.

wastewater is generally cheaper than clean water. A purple pipe system indicates the use of municipal wastewater for irrigation. Generally the public is aware of this. Aside from using municipal wastewater for irrigation of agricultural crops, DNA testing on municipal wastewater can also give an indication of areas where drugs are being used. CLOSING REMARKS Having a National Wine Centre in a city is beneficial to the wine industry as it provides tourists with the opportunity to experience the wine industry without necessarily having to go into the wine producing regions. In Australia, and South Africa, beneficial irrigation with wastewater is strived for. As such, the respective wine industries

have supported research pertaining to the irrigation of vineyards with winery wastewater. The use of a purple pipe system indicates that municipal wastewater is being used for irrigation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The South African Society for Enology and Viticulture (SASEV) for awarding the prize for the best article in 2014. Winetech for funding of the prize for best article in the SAJEV journal. Funding for the technical tour was also provided by the Local IWA Organising Committee. The ARC Infruitec- Nietvoorbij for the opportunity to undertake the technical tour. All my hosts in Australia who showed exceptional hospitality and showed such an interest in the South African wine industry.

MI TCH LAG I NESTRA AND EDGAR JOHNSON, PRINCIPAL ENGINEER AND SPEC I AL I ST CONSULTANT: WATER EFFICIENCY, RESPECTIVELY, AT GHD GHD is a company operating in the global market sectors of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. The GHD offices are located on Victoria Square and two colleagues (Photo 11) attended the discussion and shared some interesting information regarding wastewater. In the Willunga Basin, McLaren Vale, there is a lot of recycling of municipal wastewater to vineyards, farms and trees. There are guidelines for different industries for management of the wastewater and irrigation. The recycled municipal

– For more information, contact Carolyn Howell at howellc@arc.agric.za.