www.marej.com M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — Maryland — July 2023 — 15A C annabis I ndustry : R eshaping R eal E state M arkets By Jacob Strauss, PE, EWMA More than just required: Wastewater and Stormwater Management for Cannabis Facilities
W cannabis in- dustry is no exception. Cultiva - tion facili- ties where cannabis is grown of- ten require imme n s e
ater is essential to any agricultural operation, and the
manufacturing process. Possible contaminants in- clude industrial solvents like
require frequent testing – usually with the help of en- vironmental consultants – to
regardless of operation type, there are water management techniques that not only make permit approvals easier and reduce negative effects on the environment, but help to save money on this significant ex - pense. These include using a closed loop system to recycle water, employing drip irriga- tion systems to limit water consumption, and installing monitors and sensors to help manage water usage. A licensed engineer can steer you in the right direction when designing and installing these systems. Cannabis operators can’t
afford to overlook water man- agement as part of their plans to enter this exciting new industry. Licensed engineers at environmental consulting firms can set up these plans properly from the get-go, sat- isfying regulatory needs while influencing the bottom line through cost savings and po- tential tax benefits. Don’t go it alone when it comes to water usage and management — con- tact a professional to be sure you’re checking all the boxes. Jacob Strauss is se- nior project engineer for EWMA. MAREJ
To succeed in cannabis, you don’t just need knowledge of the plant and a sound business plan; you also need the right permits and compliance plans.
Jacob Strauss
amounts of water to grow plants, while manufactur- ing operations that make products like edibles may produce a consistent flow of wastewater. To succeed in cannabis, you don’t just need knowledge of the plant and a sound business plan; you also need the right permits and compliance plans. It’s es - sential to secure wastewater and stormwater permits, and create a management plan that ensures you’re using this valuable resource in the most efficient way possible. Cultivation facilities use water for plant fertigation, cooling HVAC systems es - sential for climate control, fire suppression and sprinkler systems, and sanitary waste. Statistics from 2021 say that, on average, one cannabis plant needs six gallons of water per day, nearly double the roughly 3.3 gallons required for wine grapes. All that water use — plus where that water goes and what it contains — is a priority for local authorities, who require the proper water and sewer permits to let opera- tions get off the ground. Large cultivation facilities and hydroponics operations in New Jersey, for example, may require a Treatment Works Approval (TWA) permit in ad - dition to the standard waste- water permits. This permit is issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and ap - plies to facilities that expect to discharge 8,000 gallons of water per day or more. Cannabis product manu - facturers may also generate significant amounts of waste - water and require the same permits as cultivators. But stormwater management is just as important for this sector. Manufacturers may need a permit for industrial stormwater discharge that requires best management practices to limit water expo- sure to chemicals used in the
hydrocarbons or ethanol used to create some cannabis ex- tracts. The conditions of a wastewater permit also often
demonstrate that wastewater discharge is not contaminated. While cannabis operators need the necessary permits
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Solar Power on Roof Planned In approved Cannabis Zone
Immediate access to I-295 and within minutes of I-95 and the NJ Tpke. providing easy access to Philadelphia, Baltimore MD, Washington DC, and New York. Municipal approvals for Cannabis Cultivation/Manufacturing.
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