As golf courses across the United States increasingly rely on recycled and lower-quality irrigation water, turf managers are facing growing challenges linked to salinity, sodium accumulation, calcium carbonates, and elevated pH. These conditions can place significant stress on turfgrass and soil systems, making it more difficult to maintain consistent playing quality over time.
Against this backdrop, Texas A&M University has launched a two-year independent research study to investigate whether AQUA4D water treatment technology can influence turfgrass performance and soil health when irrigation water quality is compromised.
Study scope and research design
The study will be led by Dr. Ben Wherley, Professor of Turfgrass Science, together with Research Associate Weston Floyd. Running from March 2026 through October 2027, the project will be conducted at two locations: Texas A&M’s Turfgrass Field Laboratory in College Station and an on-course research site in Austin, Texas. This dual approach allows researchers to evaluate AQUA4D-treated water under both controlled research conditions and real-world golf course management scenarios.
Throughout the study, researchers will monitor turfgrass growth, soil characteristics, and water chemistry, comparing plots irrigated with AQUA4D-treated water against untreated water sources known to be high in sodium and total dissolved salts.
“Suboptimal irrigation water has become common across Texas and much of the Southwest,” notes Dr. Wherley. “We see this as a great opportunity because to date, there have been few if any studies evaluating the effects of electronic water treatment on turfgrass growth. This study will help us better understand whether this type of water treatment could become a useful tool for improving turf performance and soil conditions under these constraints.”
Addressing water quality challenges in modern turf management
Water scarcity, regulatory pressures, and rising costs have pushed many golf facilities to depend on non-ideal water sources. As a result, understanding how alternative water treatment technologies interact with modern turfgrass maintenance practices has become increasingly important for superintendents across the region.
AQUA4D water treatment uses finely tuned resonance fields to temporarily influence the behavior of solubilized minerals in water, without removing those minerals or altering their chemical composition. This physical treatment approach differs from conventional irrigation water management strategies such as acid injection, gypsum application, or reverse osmosis.
“We’re looking forward to supporting independent data collection to track AQUA4D’s performance in turfgrass systems,” says Jeff Nunes, Agronomy Manager for AQUA4D USA. “In regions where recycled, saline, or high-sodium water is the norm, understanding how this technology interacts with common U.S. turfgrass maintenance practices will be invaluable for the golf industry.”
According to Thierry Koch, Sport Fields Expert at AQUA4D, Texas A&M’s depth of expertise in turfgrass agronomy makes the university an ideal research partner. “Their ability to rigorously evaluate the technology under contemporary management scenarios will help generate meaningful insights for the industry,” he says.
“We are excited to begin this exploratory work with Texas A&M,” adds Julie Rozek, U.S. Golf Development Catalyst for AQUA4D. “Our goal is to provide superintendents with practical, chemical-free tools that can help them deliver high-quality playing conditions even when irrigation water quality presents ongoing challenges.”
Availability and next steps
AQUA4D systems are currently available for early adoption in the U.S. golf market, with financing options offered through TCS Equipment Finance. More information is available at https://www.aqua4d.com/contact/.
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“Suboptimal irrigation water has become common across Texas and much of the Southwest. We see this as a great opportunity because to date, there have been few if any studies evaluating the effects of such water treatment on turfgrass growth. This study will help us better understand whether this type of water treatment could become a useful tool for improving turf performance and soil conditions under these constraints.”
– Dr. Ben Wherley, Professor of Turfgrass Science, Texas A&M
Video: Superintendent Miguel Moreno (La Serena Golf Club) explains the transformations and benefits he’s seen since installing AQUA4D