(Wines&Vines) - As California wineries know too well, water is a valuable resource. Often it seems the industry is caught between a rock and a hard place: Water is either in short supply, or there’s a fight to keep what’s available clean so everyone—from farmers to fish—can enjoy it. 

But in Canada, governments are putting increasing pressure on wineries to manage wastewater in an effort to relieve the pressure on sewage systems and limit risks to the environment. 

Working on behalf of the Wine Council of Ontario, Mississauga’s Bloom Centre drafted a briefing note last year that identified the risks of inadequate winery wastewater management. The association currently is developing guidance for wineries seeking to address these risks. 

Need for water management

Jay Mullin, project manager at Bloom, said many wineries focus on production and growing their business. Waste management is a lower priority, but it’s a growing issue for cost-conscious municipalities where the wineries are located.