responsible disposal of hydroponic nutrient waste

[illchemist]

I could not find anything regarding this in the search engine.

What is the best way to dispose of old nutrient solution (from reservoir)? Since almost all of these nutrients are highly soluble nitrate/phosphate/etc salts of some sort, they should be treated in the same way as industrial fertilizers.

I try to water plants in yard as much as possible. However, I am sure that some makes it's way to groundwater and eventually the river when it rains heavily (as small as the disposal is). This is a major concern for unnecessary algal blooms and death of aquaculture. Nitrates are toxic to humans, too. A hydroponic grower shares the same concerns as an industrial farmer, correct?

 

[illchemist]

Never mind... I answered my own question

http://boards.cannabis.com/hydroponics/156247-hydroponic-wastewater-disposal.html

 

[guest1ab]

Hmm....Good question. What do industrial farmers do?

 

[illchemist]

They let that shit runoff into the streams and then it creates disasters like the 'dead zone' in the gulf of mexico.

It seems necessary to construct some sort of self contained wetland to filter and process excess nitrates and phosphates. It is especially important to create a wetland if you are dumping witin 1000 ft of a body of water/stream.

 

[illchemist]

some more articles...

 

[cyberwax]

wont running your waste water through a carbon filter clean up most of the "bad" waste?

 

[illchemist]

Carbon filters don't filter everything (some heavy metals and organic compounds mostly). They leave salts behind. Even if you used an RO filter, you aren't getting rid of the nitrates... you are just trapping them. It is also a high-energy process to filter out salts. It's not really feasible.

I have yet to read through that Swiss method thoroughly as I am very busy at the moment but it seems that they use their effluent to grow other valuable wet land-type crops. You could theoretically grow lillies for surrounding flower markets. You need a plant organism to convert the nitrate salts into N2.

This is something that needs to be addressed as MMJ takes off and more and more waste is generated. You don't want this stuff in your drinking water.

 

[madpenguin]

If your on a city sewage sysytem then just dump that shit down the drain. Waste water treating plants are highly effective at removing all that crap from the water. Of course, then your left with a huge pile of sludge which either gets burnt off or dumped somewhere.....

I suppose you have a tangible concern if you live out in the country. I'd probably spend the extra money to RO the waste and be conscience about it as well.

 

[cygnus]

What effect does this have on a septic system? I have always just dumped them where I plant my outdoor veggie garden But this season has been really cold so I started putting them down the drain.

 

[narutonut]

here is an idea for you. GE Merlin R/O filter is a unit that allows 764 GPD water flow through it. My friend uses this unit and filters his res through through it and even reuses the water for an entire grow. Now I'm planning the same as soon as finances allow.
http://www.rosystems.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GE-Merlin

Seems a pretty responsible solution to me.

 

[redspaghetti]

I use them to water my veggies garden ( tomato, chilly, herbs, carrots ect.. ) and they are happier then ever.

Not sure if that is good tho.

Cheers,

Red.

 

[highonmt]

The problem with RO system is they concentrate salts(waste) on one side of the membrane and dispose of it into waste water(alternatively they return it to the drinking water eg zero waste filters) So if you have a septic system thats where the nitrates all end up. On a moderate scale this will be ok just add ridex etc to your tank. Small scale additions to the flower garden/veggie garden are great. Ideal wetland conditions are fantastic for the efficient performance of the decay/ denitrification half of the nitrogen cycle. For those of us in northern climates it is really only efficient for a few months, but in the warmer parts of the country a properly constructed wetland/water garden is ideal.

Plants are very good at processing nitrate and ammonia salts into amino acids and various alkyloids and amine compounds. These are useful to humans as food and medicine etc. and to microbes during decomposition. Please be responsible with concentrated nitrate solutions and keep them out of ground water, rivers and lakes.
HM

 

[highonmt]

Ill chem,
Looks like you're a cactus alkyloid fan. You should have look at TiKAL a fine collection of phenethylamines and classic synthesis. Are you a chemist or student of chemistry? I've been a professional chemist for 15years...
Cheers,
HM

 

[Haps]

Is it more harmful than my shit? It does not smell as bad. I put mine down the drain, it is processed, along with my poop, then resold as fertilizer to farmers, no worries.
H

 

[illchemist]

highonmt: Yeah, I'm a big fan of PIHKAL and TIHKAL!

Haps: It seems that sludge fertilizer does not leach as much as nitrate salts: http://www.springerlink.com/content/m337717q1820253m/

 

[grapeman]

Just dump your waste in the sewer or in the backyard. WTF is the big deal? Taking this green shit way too far.

 

[highonmt]

Well you could do that and your waste will only make a small difference; the problems come when millions of people like you say "WTF whats the big deal" and you end up with anoxic streams and lakes filled with live algea and dead fish. You may say that this just doesn't happen but I grew up in the lake country of MN and watched several lakes which were chrystal clear and had thriving fisheries become severly degraded and nearly anoxic just from morons irrigating and fertilizing their lawns. If you are just dumping your waste make sure the runoff from your lot doesn't drain directly to a stream...oh and that green shit will hopefully preserve this planet for our grandkids...
HM