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Algae and biofilm ultrasonic technology solutions for agriculture industry - Agriculture
Protecting our food supply from the harmful effects of algae. Agricultural irrigation ponds are infested by algae that can contaminate the water and clog up irrigation lines, negatively impacting farming operations. WaterIQ Technologies ultrasound technology is a reliable solution that is effective at killing algae and a natural addition to today’s digitized agricultural operation.
It’s no exaggeration to say water is the lifeblood of agriculture. For today’s farmers, the challenge is not just having adequate water for their crops. Increasingly, they have to battle with the algae that is forming in their holding ponds used for irrigation.
With warming temperatures from climate change and excessive nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus common in agricultural operations, the spread of algae presents a huge problem. Algae blooms can release cyanotoxins in the water supply and can contaminate crops and present health risks for consumers. Consumers and retailers have high expectations on food quality and keeping contaminants out of the food chain.
Farmers are faced with the problems of having ample water to irrigate their crops and fighting algae that is increasingly contaminating the water and clogging pipes.
Taking responsibility for irrigation pond algae treatment doesn’t mean that the farmer can charge higher prices to cover their costs, especially when they are competing in markets where not all suppliers face similar problems with algae.
Today’s farms are highly digitized and analyzed, with data is being captured and reported on crop production and productivity down to the acre. Existing algae control solutions like chemicals and aerators don’t report on their operation or efficacy.
The problem goes beyond removing harmful algae and associated toxins from the irrigation pond itself. Algae can also clog and damage infrastructure such as pipes and filters that cycle water.
Typically, farmers rely on filtration, the application of algaecides, and the placement of an aeration device on their irrigation ponds. While chemicals can be effective and fast in killing algae, they can have harmful effects on the environment and require frequent applications. The chemicals also need to be handled and stored safely. While aeration devices help to reduce the food supply for algae, they can be expensive, and while helpful in contributing to water health, they don’t directly kill algae. Farmers need a more reliable and extremely cost-effective means to address algae, one that makes his customers confident that toxins are removed from the food supply.
You can learn more about the impact of algae by reading our Primer on Algae and Biofilm.
WaterIQ Technologies™ ultrasound technology is a reliable algae control solution that requires very little manual intervention, that is very safe to use, and is proven to be effective in killing algae. Its built-in monitoring uses sensors to test water health and report intelligently and proactively to personnel who can remotely monitor changes and respond. Our Cloud-based software can display multiple irrigation ponds where systems are installed through one screen.
- Ultrasound has been proven to be very effective in controlling algae. Ultrasonic sound waves damage green and blue-green algae, causing them to sink and die. WaterIQ Technologies can test your water to determine the species of the algae and confirm that ultrasound will be effective.
- WaterIQ Technologies ultrasound systems are reliable and need little manual intervention. They include robust onboard water testing and system reporting capabilities that upload data to the Cloud so you can monitor both the system and water sensor readings.
- WaterIQ Technologies systems can be quickly installed and operational. Our algae and ultrasound experts are prepared to help with both installation and operation of the units, to let you focus on your agricultural operations.
- Quick Ultrasound Overview – Learn how ultrasound technology works and the benefits to treating algae and biofilm without chemicals.
- Algae and Biofilm Challenges – Take a more detailed dive into the problems that algae and biofilm pose in your water, so you can make more informed decisions about how to control them using ultrasound technology from WaterIQ Technologies.
