New installation allows purification of 100 m3 of water per hour

An OptiClear Diamond water treatment system is being installed at Dutch propagator Vreugdenhil. With it, 100 m3 of water can be purified and disinfected per hour.

The OptiClear Diamond system is being installed by Stolze and is a Water IQ system. It is the company’s largest installation ever in greenhouses, says Jeroen Krosse. "The system can deal with drainage water in accordance with the lustration law and regulations, so there is great attention for the system. We are already working on the BZG certification. But at Vreugdenhil it will mainly be used to treat drainage water."

With the OptiClear Diamond system, cultivation water is treated in two steps. In the first step the water is passed through a column of coated material. Thanks to the coating, undesired organic matter is purified from the water. Then the water passes through a second column, in which advanced oxidation takes place. This kills viruses, fungi, bacteria and residues of plant protection products so the water can be returned to the greenhouse.

Krosse: "And through selective water treatment we can also contribute to plant resistance. We are from a different sector, where we’ve seen what you can do for plants by positively influencing the composition of the bacteria on the root. That’s what we work with." By combining oxidation and purification in the OptiClear Diamond system, substances that are useful for root growth are retained. On the basis of water samples, that balance in the water is carefully monitored. "This shows us how plant resistance improves because of the drainage water treatment."

Enhanced plant resistance is an important subject because of the shrinking package of products that can be used. "Growers can use less and less because of the stringent market requirements, so especially plant breeders are seeking natural solutions to create more resilient plants."

This year Vreugdenhil is adding 2.5 hectares of greenhouse, bringing its acreage at the Noordlierweg to a total of more than 10 hectares. With the OptiClear Diamond system as much as 100 m3 of water can be treated per hour. The system will be installed this week and is expected to be put to use next week. In recent months WPK and P Van Geest had a similar system installed.