Greenhouse Sustainably Solves Clogging Issues While Increasing Water Efficiency

AQUA4D is globally renowned for improving water efficiency, but more and more growers in the company’s Swiss homeland are taking advantage of its numerous benefits for water, soils, and overall production. Most recently, in the Canton of Lucerne an organic grower has kept his greenhouse infrastructure clear of limescale, rust and algae deposits, while improving substrate water penetration. 

For leafy greens grower Kilian Boog, many things have developed positively on his 1.2 ha organic greenhouse farm since installing AQUA4D® technology. Most significantly, there’s the soil press pots whose water storage capacity has clearly improved, he says. “Before, the substrate dried out relatively quickly, which had a negative impact on the quality of the young plants,” he explains. And quality is of utmost importance at this organic grower in Luzern, with proudly local and sustainable approaches. Now thanks to the treated water of this Swiss cleantech, there is better water absorption capacity in the soil – and many more benefits besides.

What happens to the water?

Almost twenty years ago, AQUA4D developed the concept of using technology to subtly modify irrigation water. A look at the impressive list of references on the company’s homepage indicates that this water treatment system has now spread around the globe. Precisely what happens inside the green “Treatment Units” is a trade secret. But Pierre Leuenberger of Agri-Service GmbH, who distributes the technology in Switzerland, explains it this way: “Because the water clusters are reduced in size, they have better contact with the elements in the water, which, among other things, significantly improves the dissolution of minerals.” Fertilizer, for example, can dock better with the smaller molecules, he says. Thousands of successful cases in 43 countries attest to the positive effects achieved by growers, whether indoor or outdoor, large or small.

Cleaner and more efficient irrigation

Now, more and more Swiss growers are taking advantage of this homegrown technology. Kilian Boog, for example, noticed that in the first few months the filters in the irrigation system had to be cleaned much more frequently than usual because the treated water loosened the rust and lime deposits that had accumulated in the pipes over the years. Now they have peace of mind, he said, and the irrigation nozzles also much less clogged.

This means that alongside benefits to soil and plant health, the overall efficiency of water infrastructure is improved. Any clogging or limescale is prevented, and anti-corrosion effects mean the lifespan of systems, piping and drippers, is extended. Plus, this reduces the need for any labor-intensive cleaning or maintenance.

Simple installation and operation

The installation of the AQUA4D concept is relatively simple and “plug & play”, so to speak. Kilian Boog himself installed the technology between the existing pipes. One AQUA4D® unit treats up to 22 cubic meters of water per hour; if there were more, it would simply require additional units connected in series. A simple power connection is also required, but this energy-saving technology can also be easily operated with solar power. On the Central Switzerland vegetable farm, two units are installed, one after the pump with the water from the rainwater tank for irrigation and one at the connection of the tap water, which supplies the whole farm with fresh water. The control system is programmed by the company and installed on site. After that, the whole thing is maintenance-free – an important reason for Kilian Boog to make the purchase.

Pierre Leuenberger sees a lot of potential in the treatment of saline soils in greenhouses, a problem arising from years of irrigation. Here, he says, the system has also proved its worth in various settings, especially in very dry countries such as Chile or South Africa. In Switzerland, which generally suffers less from salinity, an added advantage is that water systems remain free of any deposits, which extends their life, says Leuenberger.

With all these benefits, AQUA4D is proving its considerable effectiveness in solving some of the biggest problems in agricultural production around the world.

A version of this article originally appeared in “Der Gemüsebau” magazine in June 2023, written by David Eppenberger.

Kilian Boog prides himself on regionality and sustainability.