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A.D. Dutta
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In the coastal regions of the Netherlands, agricultural water security is becoming a growing concern due to the impacts of climate change, particularly the increasing frequency of summer droughts. A critical constraint is the absence of fresh groundwater for agriculture, which makes fresh rainwater the primary water source. This EngD research, conducted under the AGRICOAST project, investigates the potential of repurposing existing Tile Drainage (TD) systems for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR). This approach captures excess rainwater to store underground, saving it for irrigation during dry spells when it is needed most.
A principal challenge to this strategy is the poor quality of Tile Drainage Water (TDW), which is characterized by elevated concentrations of suspended solids, nitrates (NO₃), phosphates (PO₄), and pesticides. These constituents pose a dual challenge: they risk clogging ASR infiltration wells, complicating operation and maintenance (O&M), and they frequently exceed the water quality standards mandated by the Dutch Water Board for aquifer infiltration.
This report, therefore, aimed to develop, test, and evaluate a robust, low-cost, and low-maintenance pre-treatment system to render TDW suitable for ASR. The research objectives were fourfold:
(1) to design, install, and operate a pilot-scale treatment system;
(2) to investigate, through complementary laboratory-scale experiments, the mechanisms of phosphate removal;
(3) to develop predictive models for nitrate removal; and
(4) to conduct a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of the system's feasibility.
A pilot Sandwich Sand and Carbon Filter (SSCF) was installed at an agricultural site in Hoofdweg, Texel, Netherlands. Initial results confirmed its efficacy in reducing pesticide concentrations to below 0.1 μg/L, with the initial regulatory limit being 0.5 μg/L. However, the subsequent reformation of requirements by the local water board in 2024 introduced the requirement of also reducing nitrate (<5.6 mg/L) and phosphate (<0.4 mg/L) before infiltration, necessitating a system modification that was not anticipated during the initial 2023 conception phase.
During this EngD project, the SSCF filter was modified to meet the new requirements. Laboratory tests were carried out, identifying iron-coated sand (ICS) as an effective phosphate adsorbent, which was subsequently used to successfully design and retrofit the existing SSCF. Post-modification monitoring confirmed consistent phosphate removal to concentrations below the 0.4 mg/L standard. While a denitrifying woodchip bioreactor (DN-WB) was designed for potential nitrate removal, its implementation was deemed unnecessary as field nitrate levels consistently remained below the regulatory threshold of 5.6 mg/l.
The performance of the optimized SSCF system was validated through weekly sampling and analysis during operational periods. A techno-economic evaluation further demonstrated that the integrated pre-treatment solution is not only technically viable but also cost-effective and environmentally favorable when compared to alternative water management and treatment strategies.
In conclusion, this thesis provides a validated, scalable, and climate-adaptive solution for sustainable agricultural water management. It makes a significant contribution to the field by demonstrating a practical method to overcome the qualitative barriers to using captured TDW via an ASR system. The findings indicate that with appropriate pre-treatment, ASR systems can be effectively deployed to enhance water security and build resilience in the coastal agricultural sectors of the Netherlands, where the reliance on seasonal rainfall is a fundamental challenge. ...
A principal challenge to this strategy is the poor quality of Tile Drainage Water (TDW), which is characterized by elevated concentrations of suspended solids, nitrates (NO₃), phosphates (PO₄), and pesticides. These constituents pose a dual challenge: they risk clogging ASR infiltration wells, complicating operation and maintenance (O&M), and they frequently exceed the water quality standards mandated by the Dutch Water Board for aquifer infiltration.
This report, therefore, aimed to develop, test, and evaluate a robust, low-cost, and low-maintenance pre-treatment system to render TDW suitable for ASR. The research objectives were fourfold:
(1) to design, install, and operate a pilot-scale treatment system;
(2) to investigate, through complementary laboratory-scale experiments, the mechanisms of phosphate removal;
(3) to develop predictive models for nitrate removal; and
(4) to conduct a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of the system's feasibility.
A pilot Sandwich Sand and Carbon Filter (SSCF) was installed at an agricultural site in Hoofdweg, Texel, Netherlands. Initial results confirmed its efficacy in reducing pesticide concentrations to below 0.1 μg/L, with the initial regulatory limit being 0.5 μg/L. However, the subsequent reformation of requirements by the local water board in 2024 introduced the requirement of also reducing nitrate (<5.6 mg/L) and phosphate (<0.4 mg/L) before infiltration, necessitating a system modification that was not anticipated during the initial 2023 conception phase.
During this EngD project, the SSCF filter was modified to meet the new requirements. Laboratory tests were carried out, identifying iron-coated sand (ICS) as an effective phosphate adsorbent, which was subsequently used to successfully design and retrofit the existing SSCF. Post-modification monitoring confirmed consistent phosphate removal to concentrations below the 0.4 mg/L standard. While a denitrifying woodchip bioreactor (DN-WB) was designed for potential nitrate removal, its implementation was deemed unnecessary as field nitrate levels consistently remained below the regulatory threshold of 5.6 mg/l.
The performance of the optimized SSCF system was validated through weekly sampling and analysis during operational periods. A techno-economic evaluation further demonstrated that the integrated pre-treatment solution is not only technically viable but also cost-effective and environmentally favorable when compared to alternative water management and treatment strategies.
In conclusion, this thesis provides a validated, scalable, and climate-adaptive solution for sustainable agricultural water management. It makes a significant contribution to the field by demonstrating a practical method to overcome the qualitative barriers to using captured TDW via an ASR system. The findings indicate that with appropriate pre-treatment, ASR systems can be effectively deployed to enhance water security and build resilience in the coastal agricultural sectors of the Netherlands, where the reliance on seasonal rainfall is a fundamental challenge. ...
In the coastal regions of the Netherlands, agricultural water security is becoming a growing concern due to the impacts of climate change, particularly the increasing frequency of summer droughts. A critical constraint is the absence of fresh groundwater for agriculture, which makes fresh rainwater the primary water source. This EngD research, conducted under the AGRICOAST project, investigates the potential of repurposing existing Tile Drainage (TD) systems for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR). This approach captures excess rainwater to store underground, saving it for irrigation during dry spells when it is needed most.
A principal challenge to this strategy is the poor quality of Tile Drainage Water (TDW), which is characterized by elevated concentrations of suspended solids, nitrates (NO₃), phosphates (PO₄), and pesticides. These constituents pose a dual challenge: they risk clogging ASR infiltration wells, complicating operation and maintenance (O&M), and they frequently exceed the water quality standards mandated by the Dutch Water Board for aquifer infiltration.
This report, therefore, aimed to develop, test, and evaluate a robust, low-cost, and low-maintenance pre-treatment system to render TDW suitable for ASR. The research objectives were fourfold:
(1) to design, install, and operate a pilot-scale treatment system;
(2) to investigate, through complementary laboratory-scale experiments, the mechanisms of phosphate removal;
(3) to develop predictive models for nitrate removal; and
(4) to conduct a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of the system's feasibility.
A pilot Sandwich Sand and Carbon Filter (SSCF) was installed at an agricultural site in Hoofdweg, Texel, Netherlands. Initial results confirmed its efficacy in reducing pesticide concentrations to below 0.1 μg/L, with the initial regulatory limit being 0.5 μg/L. However, the subsequent reformation of requirements by the local water board in 2024 introduced the requirement of also reducing nitrate (<5.6 mg/L) and phosphate (<0.4 mg/L) before infiltration, necessitating a system modification that was not anticipated during the initial 2023 conception phase.
During this EngD project, the SSCF filter was modified to meet the new requirements. Laboratory tests were carried out, identifying iron-coated sand (ICS) as an effective phosphate adsorbent, which was subsequently used to successfully design and retrofit the existing SSCF. Post-modification monitoring confirmed consistent phosphate removal to concentrations below the 0.4 mg/L standard. While a denitrifying woodchip bioreactor (DN-WB) was designed for potential nitrate removal, its implementation was deemed unnecessary as field nitrate levels consistently remained below the regulatory threshold of 5.6 mg/l.
The performance of the optimized SSCF system was validated through weekly sampling and analysis during operational periods. A techno-economic evaluation further demonstrated that the integrated pre-treatment solution is not only technically viable but also cost-effective and environmentally favorable when compared to alternative water management and treatment strategies.
In conclusion, this thesis provides a validated, scalable, and climate-adaptive solution for sustainable agricultural water management. It makes a significant contribution to the field by demonstrating a practical method to overcome the qualitative barriers to using captured TDW via an ASR system. The findings indicate that with appropriate pre-treatment, ASR systems can be effectively deployed to enhance water security and build resilience in the coastal agricultural sectors of the Netherlands, where the reliance on seasonal rainfall is a fundamental challenge.
A principal challenge to this strategy is the poor quality of Tile Drainage Water (TDW), which is characterized by elevated concentrations of suspended solids, nitrates (NO₃), phosphates (PO₄), and pesticides. These constituents pose a dual challenge: they risk clogging ASR infiltration wells, complicating operation and maintenance (O&M), and they frequently exceed the water quality standards mandated by the Dutch Water Board for aquifer infiltration.
This report, therefore, aimed to develop, test, and evaluate a robust, low-cost, and low-maintenance pre-treatment system to render TDW suitable for ASR. The research objectives were fourfold:
(1) to design, install, and operate a pilot-scale treatment system;
(2) to investigate, through complementary laboratory-scale experiments, the mechanisms of phosphate removal;
(3) to develop predictive models for nitrate removal; and
(4) to conduct a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of the system's feasibility.
A pilot Sandwich Sand and Carbon Filter (SSCF) was installed at an agricultural site in Hoofdweg, Texel, Netherlands. Initial results confirmed its efficacy in reducing pesticide concentrations to below 0.1 μg/L, with the initial regulatory limit being 0.5 μg/L. However, the subsequent reformation of requirements by the local water board in 2024 introduced the requirement of also reducing nitrate (<5.6 mg/L) and phosphate (<0.4 mg/L) before infiltration, necessitating a system modification that was not anticipated during the initial 2023 conception phase.
During this EngD project, the SSCF filter was modified to meet the new requirements. Laboratory tests were carried out, identifying iron-coated sand (ICS) as an effective phosphate adsorbent, which was subsequently used to successfully design and retrofit the existing SSCF. Post-modification monitoring confirmed consistent phosphate removal to concentrations below the 0.4 mg/L standard. While a denitrifying woodchip bioreactor (DN-WB) was designed for potential nitrate removal, its implementation was deemed unnecessary as field nitrate levels consistently remained below the regulatory threshold of 5.6 mg/l.
The performance of the optimized SSCF system was validated through weekly sampling and analysis during operational periods. A techno-economic evaluation further demonstrated that the integrated pre-treatment solution is not only technically viable but also cost-effective and environmentally favorable when compared to alternative water management and treatment strategies.
In conclusion, this thesis provides a validated, scalable, and climate-adaptive solution for sustainable agricultural water management. It makes a significant contribution to the field by demonstrating a practical method to overcome the qualitative barriers to using captured TDW via an ASR system. The findings indicate that with appropriate pre-treatment, ASR systems can be effectively deployed to enhance water security and build resilience in the coastal agricultural sectors of the Netherlands, where the reliance on seasonal rainfall is a fundamental challenge.