Yes, but raw process water often has high acidity and biological oxygen demand (BOD) that can damage soil. RWS uses Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) to treat water to Title 22 standards, making it safe for vines, frost protection, and landscaping.

Disposal costs are rising due to surcharges on high-strength waste and the new compliance costs associated with the California Winery Order (WQ 2021-0002-DWQ). Instead of hauling water or relying on odor-prone ponds that may no longer meet state groundwater protection standards, an onsite treatment system allows you to treat and reuse water immediately. Most RWS clients see an ROI in under 3 years by eliminating hauling fees and avoiding the increased monitoring and permitting costs required for high-volume discharge Tiers.

Standard filters remove solids but leave dissolved organics. MBR Technology combines biological treatment (bacteria) with ultra-filtration to cleanse water at a molecular level. This is the gold standard for wineries aiming for Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).

Most wineries in California fall under the jurisdiction of the new General Order. If your facility discharges more than 10,000 gallons of process water per year to land (including ponds, leach fields, or vineyard application), you are required to enroll and comply with specific monitoring and reporting standards. If you are unsure of your current discharge volume or have concerns about how these regulations impact your operations, please reach out to us for a professional assessment.

Wineries in the Napa County program generally have an extension until January 20, 2027. However, if you fall out of compliance with the county program, you may be forced to enroll in the State program immediately.

The State Order groups wineries into Tiers (1–4) based on discharge volume. By installing an RWS treatment system, you can recycle your process water for reuse, drastically reducing the volume you “discharge” to land. This can often drop your facility into a lower Tier, saving thousands in annual fees.