Using waste water to grow rose flowers

A new technology of growing flowers could be the solution to pollution that is threatening to wipe out Lake Naivasha.

Rogue flower farms, an alarming rate of encroachment into the lake’s riparian land as well as a lack of an environmental plan of action could be responsible for the increasing threats to the lake.

In the past few weeks, fish have been dying under mysterious circumstances in a suspected case of chemical poisoning by the neighbouring flower farms accused of discharging raw waste into the fresh water lake.

But hydroponics, a pioneer system that enables the grower to tap all waste water and channel it to a treatment system for re-use, ensures that flower farms do not go back to the lake for more water or channel their waste into the lake.

Adopted by Homegrown flower farms, the technology is the only one of its kind in the country and illustrates how investment in waste management by flower growers could contribute to environmental conservation.

Environmental benefits

“This system eliminates the need to spray the whole greenhouse. Instead, we isolate the affected areas,” explained Richard Fox, the sustainability director for Africa at Homegrown.

Mr Fox says that even though the system is quite expensive, the environmental benefits are immense. “We don’t release any waste outside our farm. We channel it into a treatment system and re-use it later,” he said during a visit to the firm’s Hamerkop Farm in Naivasha.

This call follows a public outcry over the pollution of the fresh water lake, leading to death of fish and a resultant fishing ban. Fingers have been pointed at the flower industry for discharging toxic chemicals into the lake.

It also coincides with a proposal by the Kenya Flower Council (KFC) that all flower farms in Naivasha change their waste management systems to prevent future incidents of pollution.

The council wants its members to have a wetland for treating waste for re-use, Ms Jane Ngige, the council’s chief executive officer, said.

With the wetland system, waste is treated naturally by passing it through various pools that facilitate sedimentation, filtration and aeration.

But on a visit of flower farms affiliated to her organisation this week, Ms Ngige said that even though the council cannot deny that some farms were releasing waste into the lake, it was wrong to say that the whole industry was culpable.

She said that her organisation has been championing responsible farm practices through a voluntary code of practice that guides growers on social and environmental implications of the industry.

“The council would like to state that it will not hesitate to kick out any of its members found to have contributed to the death of fish in Lake Naivasha,” she said.

With 60 per cent of the country’s flowers coming from Naivasha, Ms Ngige admits that the recent pollution is a big issue that needs to be resolved fast.

With the ultra-filtration machine installed, Homegrown is able to treat toxic waste for use in irrigating flowers without compromising on the health of its workers, according to Mr Jacob Wanyonyi, the firm’s general manager.

“We have a 66,000m³ holding tank for the treated water from the greenhouses where the roses are grown. We don’t need to go to the lake for more water because we waste nothing,” he says.

Ms Ngige says every player needs to make an effort in minimizing environmental damage resulting from the flower industry.

“We are concerned not only about the image of the flower industry, but also about the lives of the people who depend on the lake. This is our country and we must protect the environment,” she said.

“This incident is not unique to Kenya. It has happened elsewhere, but the good thing is that we’re looking for a solution to assure the market on the Kenyan flower industry,” she added.

In the wake of the fish deaths, investigations by Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, the National Environmental Management Authority as well as the flower farms were launched and the results could be out any time this week.

Exact cause

“We want to know the exact cause of this unfortunate incident. The reputation of the flower industry is at stake and the truth needs to be told,” Ms Ngige noted.

The industry made Sh32 billion in earnings last year, down from over Sh40 billion in the “magical year” of 2008. This year’s projection is at Sh35 billion based on efficient delivery of produce to the market through tele-sales and direct sales, Ms Ngige said.