Counting Costs: Modeling Operational Water Treatment Technologies to Help Ornamental Growers Understand the Costs and Benefits of Recycling Irrigation Water

What drives growers to make changes at their operation? Saving time or money is most important for some, while for others it could be reducing environmental impacts or improving consumer perceptions. Helping nursery producers understand current practices and modify them with research-based information is critical to addressing this question. Models can help growers address questions specific to their operation, and can demonstrate the impact of current practices and predict the impact of changes in terms of cost, labor, environmental benefits etc. A disinfection model is the first in a series of models being developed to simulate what happens when irrigation water is recycled. The model series will incorporate research data and operation-specific information to inform growers about the impacts (and benefits) of current and prospective practices. An important caveat is that models are valid only to the extent of the accuracy of their underlying data. Model assumptions, input parameters, and any data gaps need to be identified, and guidance for their use provided. This model series uses the Stella ® framework to simulate responses over time, facilitate development of models with varying complexities, a user-friendly interface, and the ability to publish and download completed models from an internet library. The developed models will function both independently or sequentially. The overarching goal of this model series is to help assess the impacts of current practices, and understand how changes may impact an operation. Additional models will aid in understanding pond dynamics, irrigation and runoff dynamics, nutrient uptake and loss, pesticide movement, and plant pathogen proliferation. Models for water treatment systems (e.g. vegetated buffers, floating wetlands) will also be developed and tested.