Growing Forward 2: ASP: Water Management BMP

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ASP: Water Management BMP

	Program Contact Name: Josh Dillman Email: jdillman@gov.pe.ca Phone: 314-0783
	Resources: Program PDF Water Management PDF Program Overview

The agricultural sector requires access to secure, good quality water supplies for growing crops, providing drinking water to livestock and other agricultural operations. It is important that the sector develop the appropriate infrastructure to enable producers to meet their existing and growing needs through a water management program that stresses efficient and effective use of available rural water supplies.

FUNDING ASSISTANCE:

Program	Funding Level	Maximum Funding
4.1 - Agricultural water quality	50%	$15,000
4.2 - On-Farm water use efficiency	50%
4.3 - Improved irrigation efficiency	30%
4.4 - Sustainable Ag water supply	30%
4.5 - Well water management	75%	$6,000

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE APPLICANT

the applicant is responsible for obtaining all required licenses, permits, approvals or authorizations and for complying with all applicable municipal, provincial and federal legislation
applicant must adhere to Water Well Regulation Section of the Environmental Protection Act
the applicant must adhere to the appropriate Construction Guidelines to mitigate potential environmental risks during construction. These will be provided with project approval
the applicant must ensure that all works constructed through this program will be maintained and properly managed for a minimum 15 year period
if an applicant plans to fertigate, they must install a backflow device

4.1 AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY
On-farm wash lines generate large volumes of wastewater that can be high in suspended solids and organic wastes that can result in high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels if this effluent is discharged to a surface water body
Eligible Expenses:

water quality treatment – improvements to current systems or installation of a water treatment system to alleviate a water quality issue
wastewater treatment systems – costs associated with the design and construction of a wastewater treatment system to treat agricultural wastewaters
wastewater system funding requirements:
the system must be designed and approved by the Project Advisor or a qualified consultant. plans for the design must accompany the application
an Environmental Impact Assessment consultation will be required, through the PEI Department of Environment, Justice and Labour, for projects of this nature

4.2 ON-FARM WATER USE EFFICIENCY
Eligible Expenses:

On Farm Water use efficiency – installation of new devices to improve the water use efficiency of the system

4.3 IMPROVED IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
Using irrigation water more efficiently, helps assure a more secure supply for other users while maintaining adequate base flow rates for aquatic organisms. By decreasing the rate of evaporation losses, concentrations of salts and minerals can be lowered, resulting in better quality water reaching the crop roots. Fertigation technology provides opportunities for more efficient utilization of nutrients by applying dissolved nutrients through irrigation water. Fertigation is especially advantageous for intensive cropping systems such as horticultural crops being irrigated through drip or trickle irrigation
Eligible Expenses:

irrigation equipment modification/improvement to increase water use efficiency
low pressure/low clearance sprinklers
emitters for trickle or drip irrigation systems (above or below ground, including installation costs)
low pressure booms.
monitoring equipment, such as related sensors, soil moisture sensors or evapotranspiration monitoring equipment that increase water use efficiency
fertigation equipment, including containment tanks, mixing/blending/metering systems, and backflow valves.
backflow prevention systems of irrigation water to an existing irrigation system

Ineligible Expenses:

New irrigation system that involves increased irrigated acres
Pumps, pipe infrastructure (i.e. wheel move structures, traveling reels, mainline pipe) and water source development costs
repair or maintenance of an existing backflow prevention system that is in place

4.4 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLY
Eligible Expenses:

Installation of pipelines to convey water from a property or parcel of land that has an existing water supply to one that does not have an existing water supply
New dugout/pond construction, pond enlargement/rehabilitation. Pumps are not an eligible expense
Drilling a new well for irrigation or because of a contamination issue on an existing well
Establishing a well and tank for spray water instead of using a surface water source

4.5 WELL WATER MANAGEMENT
If the wellhead is located in a depressional area, surface water could either enter the well directly or it could seep to groundwater along the outside of the casing if the well is poorly sealed. Point-source contamination through a single well may lead to the contamination of a water supply
Eligible Expenses:
Well Abandonment:

proper decommissioning of unused wells by a licensed well driller.

Well Protection:

earthwork at wellhead to divert runoff
fencing and/or establishing grass at wellhead
installation of a pitless adaptor
upgrading or maintenance to well head or well casing, fittings, seals, and connections to prevent seepage
flow control for artesian wells and backflow prevention
casing extensions to elevate well head

Ineligible Expenses:

Establishing new wells

Ver.1 04/26/13

Forms

Agriculture Stewardship Program - Application Form

(PDF)