Smart Water Solutions for Dairy Farmers
A new five-year research project is working to help dairy farmers reuse wastewater through natural treatment systems. Led by Dr. Audrey Murray, a scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the initiative is backed by Alberta Innovates and Results Driven Agriculture Research. It brings together experts from the University of Alberta and the University of Waterloo.
The project focuses on improving water use on Alberta dairy farms where drought has caused water shortages. Typically, farms use water from shared irrigation systems and store it in ponds for cattle, household, and crop needs. In dry seasons, irrigation becomes a challenge.
Dairy farms also have holding lagoons for wastewater, including milk rinse water, manure, and used bedding. This mix is usually applied as fertilizer in spring. But Dr. Murray’s research explores extracting the middle layer of lagoon water—which is cleaner—for irrigation.
The water will be treated using constructed wetlands. These systems naturally filter water using plants and soil. Wetlands are already known to improve water quality, support wildlife, and reduce greenhouse gases.