Water Report Aims to Quantify Cannabis Irrigation Needs

By Water Technology|February 19, 2021

How much water should a cannabis operation use? Answering that question requires compiling research and data, and such information for a crop that is still classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal government is often hard to come by.

“If you do some research, there’s usually one statistic that is cited, and it’s from a hypothetical model that quotes a rate of 6 gallons per plant per day,” says Derek Smith, Executive Director of the Resource Innovation Institute (RII), a nonprofit that promotes energy efficiency for cannabis growers.

Smith said that often-cited figure is unequivocally high. And how does he know that? Because in April 2020, the RII formed the Water Working Group, made up of experts from multiple fields, to gain a better understanding of cannabis water use and how geographies and cultivation methods impact usage rates. The experts included cultivators, researchers, utility officials, and members of regulatory agencies.

The group, along with partners New Frontier Data and the Berkeley Cannabis Research Center, set out to create a Cannabis Water Report, a document that will establish a scientific understanding of how, and how much, water is used for cannabis cultivation.

RII officials said the report will provide cultivators with insights, clarity, and strategic recommendations for how to be more water-efficient, and ensure industry leaders, governments, and media are accurately informed about the range of water practices in the cannabis market.