New Drainage Recycling System at Wildwood Demonstration Farm 

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) has unveiled a new solar-powered drainage recycling system at the Wildwood Demonstration Farm near St. Marys, Ontario, helping showcase innovative ways farmers can adapt to extreme weather conditions while improving water management on their land. 

The 18-acre field had a history of poor drainage including prolonged surface ponding, which delayed planting and reduced crop yields. The new drainage system was designed to help manage both overly wet and dry conditions by collecting tile runoff in a storage pond and recycling it back onto the field when crops need it most. 

Using a solar-powered pump and underground tile drainage system, water is pumped back onto the field underground, raising the water table to where crop roots can access it during dry periods. The system also helps keep valuable nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen on the field, benefitting downstream water quality. 

The project included several different drainage layouts which will help researchers better understand how water management systems can best improve crop performance and environmental outcomes under changing weather conditions. 

This project builds on previous drainage innovation work completed at the UTRCA's Thorndale Demonstration Farm and represents another step forward in developing practical solutions for more resilient agriculture in Southwestern Ontario. 

UTRCA has released a new video showcasing the Wildwood Demonstration Farm subirrigation system. 

This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada and The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness, with additional support from McCutcheon Farm Drainage and Bluewater Pipe.