(Wines&Vines) - When winery staff think about water conservation, they often focus on winery operations such as barrel washing and tank sanitation.

 There are definitely savings to be found there, but the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance recently organized a tour to highlight water conservation and reuse through efficient, modern wastewater systems.

 “Water is directly connected to energy and greenhouse gas emissions—and, of course, money,” said John Garn, a resource consultant for the alliance and founder of the firm View Craft.

 Before the tour began, Garn addressed the group of about 40 who attended, most of whom were winemakers or winery staffers. He speculated that in the near future wineries won’t be able to just let their wastewater go down the drain and forget about it, they will need to look for ways to make it work for them. Such systems either provide clean water for irrigation or can capture the “bio gas” created during treatment to generate electricity. “I think that’s where things are going pretty soon,” he said.

 Clean ‘compost tea’ for irrigation

The first stop of the tour of three wineries in Sonoma County was Healdsburg, Calif.-based Matrix Winery, which is part of the Wilson Artisan Wineries group owned by Ken and Diane Wilson.