Irrigation

Water Quality

Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Colour in British Columbia: Technical Appendix

7. Irrigation

7.1 Effects

To our knowledge, no known effects of colour to irrigation have been documented.

7.2 Literature Criteria

There are no criteria specific to irrigation available from any other jurisdiction. Alberta has set general criteria intended to protect most water uses (Alberta Environmental Protection 1994). It is not known, however, whether the protection of irrigated crops will be accomplished by the criterion of no increases greater than 30 mg/L Pt above background.

7.3 Proposed Criteria

There is insufficient information to derive water quality criteria for apparent and true colour for this water use.

7.4 Rationale

The effects to plants of coloured water observed in aquatic systems are due to reductions in light quality and quantity. Such effects are highly unlikely for terrestrial plants exposed to coloured irrigation waters. If the water was to impart a toxic effect to crops, it would be due to other physical, biological and/or chemical parameters in the water. Existing criteria for these parameters should protect crops from being harmed.


	Water Quality Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Colour in British Columbia: Technical Appendix 7. Irrigation 7.1 Effects To our knowledge, no known effects of colour to irrigation have been documented. *7.2 Literature Criteria* There are no criteria specific to irrigation available from any other jurisdiction. Alberta has set general criteria intended to protect most water uses (Alberta Environmental Protection 1994). It is not known, however, whether the protection of irrigated crops will be accomplished by the criterion of no increases greater than 30 mg/L Pt above background. *7.3 Proposed Criteria* There is insufficient information to derive water quality criteria for apparent and true colour for this water use. *7.4 Rationale* The effects to plants of coloured water observed in aquatic systems are due to reductions in light quality and quantity. Such effects are highly unlikely for terrestrial plants exposed to coloured irrigation waters. If the water was to impart a toxic effect to crops, it would be due to other physical, biological and/or chemical parameters in the water. Existing criteria for these parameters should protect crops from being harmed.