Nursery wastewater can be described as irrigation water that is not utilised in the container or by the plant. Nursery wastewater comes from overhead sprinkler irrigation systems, from irrigation that does not reach the container and falls onto the open space between them, or falls on access paths and road ways. It also originates from bottom watering, capillary and dripper systems. Nursery wastewater can also come from irrigation leachate, i.e. water that moves through the container growing media and out the drainage holes during and after an irrigation event. Water used in nursery cleaning operations and plant detailing is another source of nursery wastewater that, while likely to be highly contaminated, still has the potential to be collected and recycled or reused.
