Spotlight On: Water Batteries For Farms To Tackle Water Scarcity

Farming and agriculture is the most water-intensive industry of them all, consuming 70 per cent of global freshwater resources.

And as the water crisis continues to deepen, buckling under the combined pressures of climate change, population growth, industrialisation and urbanisation, the sector will need to build resilience into systems and ensure secure access to water supplies in order to continue feeding the nation, protecting the environment and safeguarding individual livelihoods.

A joined-up approach will be necessary, one that takes into account both flood and drought risk management.

Flooded farmland can remain unproductive for years following a significant event because of damage done to the soil, while periods of drought can have a significant impact on both crop health and livestock welfare.

Naturally, there are various strategies that can be employed to help farmers deal with these challenges, including using rainwater harvesting equipment, improving soil management, greywater recycling for irrigation, planting drought-tolerant crops and so on.

However, there may be one previously overlooked approach that could prove particularly valuable… and that’s the concept of water batteries.

What are farming water batteries?

The concept behind water batteries is relatively simple… farmers create water storage ponds on site in soil sponges, as well as in lakes and ponds, which can be recharged when it rains. These can then be drawn upon during periods of drought, which are becoming increasingly common as time goes on.

When taken together, the batteries form a smart water grid to build even more resilience into public supplies as climate change continues to take hold, in much the same way that domestic solar panels store excess electricity that can later be sold back to the National Grid.

One dairy farmer, Will Luke, is already discovering the benefits of these water batteries, telling the BBC that he was inspired to take action after seeing the summer months grow progressively drier year on year.

He explained: “Once [water] leaves the farm, it’s no good to me. If we capture the water, we can get more use out of it. We’re much more resilient.”

Mr Luke went on to say that many farmers are now thinking about how to adapt to more severe weather events, adding that water batteries such as his could be part of the solution.

Westcountry Rivers Trust water batteries project

The Westcountry Rivers Trust has been leading the WATERGRID Project for the last two years, exploring how water storage in the landscape could be used to tackle droughts through the creation of Smart Water Grids.

Nature-based solutions such as wetlands, ponds and lakes can be used as these so-called water batteries to hold and store excess water on farmland, aiming to address the issue of increasing water scarcity and extreme drought events.

The stored water in lakes and ponds could be used for dairy herds to offset tap water usage during droughts, as well as being released into rivers during peak drought periods when habitats and species are in distress, and as supplementary supplies for drinking water treatment.

The project recently received Ofwat funding, a decision welcomed by CEO of the Westcountry Rivers Trust Dr Laurence Couldrick.

He said at the time: “Restoring natural sponges such as healthy soils, woodlands and wetlands can make a huge difference to agricultural water availability during dry seasons, but the creation of additional on-demand storage has even more potential.

“Just like we might use a battery to capture solar power and either use it ourselves or sell it back into the grid as needed, trapping and maintaining additional supplies of water on farms truly has potential to combat the effects of drought on an essential British industry, creating a smart water grid that can help farmers and the local communities.”

The added benefit would be that pollution buildup can be tackled during drought by delivering more freshwater to rivers, as well as supporting soil health, wetlands and woodlands, improving flood protection and aquatic biodiversity.

How else can businesses help reduce water scarcity?

Whether you’re a farming business or in a different industry altogether, there are plenty of ways in which you can help tackle the issues of water stress and scarcity.

The first step to reducing your organisation’s water consumption is to have an audit of your site carried out. This will reveal vulnerable areas across your business, allowing you to implement the most appropriate water-saving solutions and adjust these over time as the needs of your business change.

If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the SwitchWaterSupplier.com team today to see how we can help.