LAND APPLICATION OF WINERY WASTEWATER
Larry L. Russell, Senior Engineer
John N. DeBoice, Supervising Engineer
James M. Montgomery Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Walnut Creek, California 94596
Walter W. Carey, Engineer
The Nestle Company
White Plains, New York 10601
INTRODUCTION
A wastewater treatment and disposal system has been constructed for the Beringer
Winery in St. Helena, California.   The treatment system consists of screening and neutralization prior to disposal of the wastewater to seven percolation beds.   The wastewater
flow is usually less than 50,000 gpd and the COD of the wastewater can be 10,000 mg/1
or more.
The land disposal system was chosen because it provided the highest level of treatment
for the least capital and operating costs.   The nuisance problems, such as odors and gnats
frequently associated with winery wastewater treatment, are completely controlled by
applying the wastewater to the soil at a rate sufficiently low to ensure that aerobic conditions are maintained in the soil.   Additionally, a very high level of treatment would be
required prior to discharge to a surface water, and the costs would be excessive.
A study of the effects of the disposal system on the ground water quality was conducted prior to initiating discharge.   The study consisted of a computer simulation of the
chemical and biological reactions that occur in the soil in conjunction with a dispersion
analysis.   The study showed that land disposal of the wastewater was feasible and that
the effects on the ground water quality would be minimal.
An ongoing monitoring program consists of analyzing samples taken from observation
wells located upstream and downstream of the percolation beds.   In this manner, the
quality of the ground water is monitored, and changes would be observed prior to any
significant impact on the ground water.
BACKGROUND
The construction of a large new winery at the Beringer Winery site required the design
of a new wastewater treatment and disposal system.   In a previous study at another Beringer Winery, the wastewater generation varied from 200-300 gal/ton of grapes crushed.
Using this information, the system was designed to treat and dispose of about 50,000 gpd
during the crushing season, which normally extends for 45 days in the fall.   The wastewater flow rate decreases to about 20,000-30,000 gpd during the noncrushing season.
Several alternative treatment systems were considered, such as aerated ponds, high-rate
biological oxidation and percolation beds.   A review of the literature conducted by Stokes
[ 1 ] indicated that the most reliable means of treatment was the use of percolation beds,
and that nuisances such as odors could be completely controlled by proper operation and
wastewater application.   A recent survey conducted for the Environmental Protection
Agency [2] indicated that approximately 80% of the wineries in the United States depend
on land treatment by either aerated ponds or percolation beds.   The remainder of the
wineries utilize municipal treatment systems.
After considering the alternatives, the use of percolation beds was evaluated in detail
because a high level of treatment could be obtained for low cost.   The soils in the area of
the winery are coarse alluvial materials underlain at about 25 ft by a clayey sand.   Percolation tests were conducted at the chosen location; the soil exhibited percolation rates of
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