Scott Wagner, in 2004, was looking for a solution to treat his problem well water at his large flower growing operation in Ham Lake, Minnesota. He accepted the initial cost outlay of $250,000 for a commercial reverse osmosis system. However, he couldn't swallow an estimated $30,000 in annual operating costs associated with the proposed system.
In his research he found a system integrating oxygenation and ionization into his irrigation system that involved a competitive up-front expenditure and more reasonable annual operating costs, while still meeting the challenge posed by carbonate calcium levels in excess of 20 grains (350ppm) and flow rates reaching as high as 60 GPM. According to Scott Wagner, "The ionization and oxygenation in our irrigation system has proven a cost effective solution to our 3 part iron and 2- full part manganese well water." Media and anodes on the six filter tanks were changed for the first time at four years at a cost of around $4,000. Employees have been so pleased with the quality of the water that many take 5 gallon jugs home for their personal use.
The Wagner system consists of electronic control units that talk to 6 Pentair 2850 1 1/2" water valves and has operated without issue for the past 5 years. It should be pointed out that the Minnesota grow season is only 5 months long, running from May until September and Pentair recommends rebuilding of the valves every 3 years when their equipment is operating in more temperate climates such as Minnesota.
Pahl's Nursery is on the opposite end of the Twin Cities and is another plant growing operation that uses ionized and oxygenated water on all of their plants and has done so since 2000. As their operation has expanded over the years Pahl's Nursery has invested in additional irrigation equipment with ionization and oxygenation technology. The President of Pahl's Nursery, Gary Pahl points to his second hex configuration (6 tanks, 60 GPM), stating that "the ionization and oxygenation system has operated flawlessly over the past 6 years without any maintenance issues or valve/filter updates". The purchase of their second hex system in 2003, to keep up with their expanding operation, was viewed as a sound financial decision but also as an environmentally responsible investment in premium water through ionization and oxygenation.
The research also makes the case for the ionization/oxygenation combination for plant growth. Seed germination studies have quantified faster and higher rates with ionized and oxygenated water. With the oxygenation and ionization levels measurable in the water, soil moisture levels have remained at elevated levels. The retail landscape community has recently added "Oxygenation" product lines, to go with the huge trend towards ecological methods, have recently been added by the retail landscape trade. Finally, ionization and oxygenation is a zero brine, zero chloride discharge technology which wastes no energy "double pumping" reverse osmosis water, discharges no brine or chloride to the groundwater, and saves 35-50% of the usually discharged water.
In his research he found a system integrating oxygenation and ionization into his irrigation system that involved a competitive up-front expenditure and more reasonable annual operating costs, while still meeting the challenge posed by carbonate calcium levels in excess of 20 grains (350ppm) and flow rates reaching as high as 60 GPM. According to Scott Wagner, "The ionization and oxygenation in our irrigation system has proven a cost effective solution to our 3 part iron and 2- full part manganese well water." Media and anodes on the six filter tanks were changed for the first time at four years at a cost of around $4,000. Employees have been so pleased with the quality of the water that many take 5 gallon jugs home for their personal use.
The Wagner system consists of electronic control units that talk to 6 Pentair 2850 1 1/2" water valves and has operated without issue for the past 5 years. It should be pointed out that the Minnesota grow season is only 5 months long, running from May until September and Pentair recommends rebuilding of the valves every 3 years when their equipment is operating in more temperate climates such as Minnesota.
Pahl's Nursery is on the opposite end of the Twin Cities and is another plant growing operation that uses ionized and oxygenated water on all of their plants and has done so since 2000. As their operation has expanded over the years Pahl's Nursery has invested in additional irrigation equipment with ionization and oxygenation technology. The President of Pahl's Nursery, Gary Pahl points to his second hex configuration (6 tanks, 60 GPM), stating that "the ionization and oxygenation system has operated flawlessly over the past 6 years without any maintenance issues or valve/filter updates". The purchase of their second hex system in 2003, to keep up with their expanding operation, was viewed as a sound financial decision but also as an environmentally responsible investment in premium water through ionization and oxygenation.
The research also makes the case for the ionization/oxygenation combination for plant growth. Seed germination studies have quantified faster and higher rates with ionized and oxygenated water. With the oxygenation and ionization levels measurable in the water, soil moisture levels have remained at elevated levels. The retail landscape community has recently added "Oxygenation" product lines, to go with the huge trend towards ecological methods, have recently been added by the retail landscape trade. Finally, ionization and oxygenation is a zero brine, zero chloride discharge technology which wastes no energy "double pumping" reverse osmosis water, discharges no brine or chloride to the groundwater, and saves 35-50% of the usually discharged water.
About the Author:
ECOsmarte is the World leader in Chemical Free Water Technology. ECOsmarte's systems with Ionization and Oxygenation have roots in NASA.
