Australian water technology supports global food industry

Award-winning soft fruit and vegetable growers for supermarket chains and retails outlets in the UK have increased the yield and health of their plants thanks to Australian water-treatment company DELTAwater solutions.

Barnsmuir Farm owner Tim Stockwell contacted DELTAwater due to problems caused by high salinity in the bore water they use on their soft fruit crops including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

After trialling their first custom-designed DELTAwater conditioner, they installed eight more.

Barnsmuir Farm grows their strawberries in a coir mix in their first season and irrigates them in a hydroponic system in polythene tunnels, some of which are heated by biomass energy to improve fruit quality and extend the summer season.

“In recent years we have struggled with the health and yield of new strawberry varieties in particular, and I came across DELTAwater solutions after extensive research in the UK where I couldn’t find a water treatment product that could specifically address the problem,” Tim said.

“We saw a noticeable difference in the yield and health of the strawberries after installing our first DELTA and went ahead and ordered eight more.

“Protecting the environment and sustainability are important to Barnsmuir and DELTAwater’s power and chemical free products also fit well into our farming practices.”

Barnsmuir Farm, soft fruit and vegetable growers.

Barnsmuir Farm, soft fruit and vegetable growers.

DELTAwater solutions has a growing number of international customers, with many unable to find a product locally to treat salinity, calcium-scale, iron, algae and corrosion. DELTAwater’s water testing service and custom-designed range of products means they can target specific problems.

Texas cotton growers have been using DELTAwater conditioners for 26 years including Express Irrigation Services in Wellington, who are using a DELTA conditioner to treat high salinity levels in well (bore) water. Express Irrigation Services discovered DELTAwater from neighbouring cotton irrigators after unsuccessfully trying several other water treatment products.

“We have a fantastic success rate in Texas treating their well water which has extremely high salinity levels. Our first unit was installed in Texas 25 years ago and we’ve got a well-established customer base over there. With Express Irrigation Services being able to see the success of the DELTA at other plantations, they were pleased to discover we could customise a unit specifically for their water.”

The DELTAwater conditioner is increasing germination and yields and improving soil health at the plantation.

The company also has a growing export market in China, who are using their water treatment conditioners to keep underground mines pipes, pumps and processors clear of calcium scale build-up. These units are custom designed to work underground.

• DELTAwater solutions, based in Newcastle, provides practical solutions for water problems for individuals and water-based industries in Australia and many other countries such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Vanuatu, Bali, Fiji, New Guinea, Tunisia, Canada, India, New Zealand and Italy.