Reusing water benefits cows and salmon alike

A new filtration system in use on the Coldstream Farm in Whatcom County in Washington is reusing water and keeping a Pacific Northwest river clean. 

Reused water, often referred to as reclaimed or recycled water, is wastewater treated to reusable standards, often for irrigation or industrial purposes.

The filtration system treats approximately 60,000 gallons of manure-tainted water per day. In just a few minutes, the system, developed by Regenis of Ferndale, treats the water to a standard that cows can drink.  It can also be pumped into the nearby Nooksack River, which means it’s clean enough for salmon to swim in it during the dry summers.

Coldstream and Regenis are teaming up to treat 4.3 million gallons of wastewater annually.

As a bonus, the system separates the solids, which are used as fertilizer on the farm, reducing the use of chemicals.

It’s encouraging that the public’s perspective on reuse continues to progress, because it can be a useful tool to work toward clean water and protecting downstream users while extending the useful life of each drop of water.

Photo credit: KING 5, Seattle