Water allocation, usage tops hort sector concerns
Water allocation and storage has been a hot topic of discussion during HortNZ’s grower meetings held recently around the country.
Cracked, ill-fitting or missing covers pose a risk of bird and small animal faeces getting in, along with leaves and other debris that will eventually contaminate water. Sourcing water from the ground, dams, creeks or rivers poses other contamination risks, especially from animals.
Dealing with all this is the new GEA FIL Farm Chlor water treatment range of chlorine products – the only dry chlorine approved by MPI for use in dairy sheds, and a stable, and cost effective way to chlorinate water in reservoirs and water treatment plants.
The system is designed to be installed in the main water line, between the water pump and water tanks, so any water pumped onfarm passes through the chlorinator unit and is treated with a pre-set amount of chlorine before being stored or pumped elsewhere.
The company also offers specially formulated Chlorinator Rods (chlorine rods) for the system; together, the Farm Chlor system and rods treat water to approved drinking water standards, suitable for human consumption.
Designed by Farm Medix, the Farm Chlor system will reduce the level of bacteria in water. The system delivers (adjustably) one to five PPM (parts per million) of chlorine into the water. It handles water pressure to 150psi.
The system, used correctly, delivers chlorinated water, free of E coli, to a whole farm. Slime and bacteria growth is minimised in milking sheds and plant, and trough water is more potable.
DIY installation by farmers is OK.
Farm Medix director Natasha Maguire points out that MPI regulations require water used to clean milking surfaces to be scrupulously clean, likewise cows' drinking water, to protect the integrity of the dairy industry.
Clean water lifts milk production cheaply, the company observes. Lactating cows drink lots of water: to produce 1L of milk a cow must drink 3L of clean water.
"If the water tastes better and isn't contaminated, it's of huge benefit because cows will drink more and be less likely to have animal health issues," says Maguire.
