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Projects

Broere Hortitech and Acacia Water both have many years of experience with optimizing water and irrigation systems. Following projects provide an impression of our experience and possible uses of Dynamic Water Systems. 

Texel 

Collection : Rooftop rainwater harvesting and tile drainage
Storage: Rainwater reservoir
Use: Subirrigation and surface drip irrigation

At Texel, rainwater is retained with use of the tile drainage and rooftop rainwater harvesting. Water is stored in a rainwater reservoir. Crops are irrigated in two manners; the first is subirrigation. The groundwater is set on a constant level to provide optimal soil moisture conditions. A main drain is constructed perpendicular on the drains in the field. The main drain gathers the runoff and leads it to a ‘collection well’ – where the groundwater level can be controlled. The second irrigation method is surface drip irrigation.

Hornhuizen 

Collection, Storage and Use: level controlled tile drainage 

With the use of level controlled tile drainage more freshwater is available at a potato farm in Hornhuizen. By lowering the tile drainage and connection with a collection well it is possible to thicken the freshwater lenses in the plot. More freshwater is captured for times of drought, and it is a methodology to prevent salinization. The source is precipitation water, originating from the plot itself. The system provides controlled discharge and retention of the water. Eventually the groundwater level can be controlled in such a way, there is enough soil moisture available for an optimal crop growth.

Breezand 

Collection : Tile drainage
Storage: Subsurface storage – single variant
Use: Subirrigation and surface drip irrigation
 

A small scale subsurface storage system with surface drip irrigation is constructed in Breezand. Rainwater is harvested from the tile drainage in the plot, then it’s stored underground – at 10 to 30 m depth - with the single variant. In times of drought the water is abstracted from the underground source. Together with fertilizer it is brought to the crop with surface drip irrigation. The groundwater level in the plot can be regulated with a drainage-infiltration system. At times of precipitation the water is discharged and stored. In times of drought, the water is abstracted from the source and with use of subirrigation it is possible to manage the water level in the plot.  

Herbaijum 

Collection, Storage and Use: Level controlled tile drainage 

In Herbaijum, a system with level controlled tile drainage is constructed. With use of the existing drains, a level controlled variant is realized. By connecting the drains to a collection well, the freshwater lenses are able to thicken. It is also possible to manually raise and lower the groundwater level.  

Borgsweer 

Collection: Tile drainage
Storage: Subsurface storage – multiple variant  
Use: Subirrigation and Subsurface drip irrigation

A small scale subsurface storage system with subsurface drip irrigation is constructed in Borgsweer. Rainwater is harvested from the tile drainage in the plot, then it’s stored underground – at 10 to 20 m depth - with the multiple variant. Due the use of multiple filters, the water flows through the soil and is hereby filtered from crop diseases like Brown rot and Erwinia. In times of drought the water is abstracted from the underground source and used with subsurface drip irrigation. The groundwater level in the plot can be regulated with a drainage-infiltration system. At times of precipitation the water is discharged and stored. In times of drought, the water is abstracted from the source and with use of subirrigation it is possible to manage the water level in the plot. 

Tholen 

Use: Surface drip irrigation

At a potato farmer in Tholen, the potatoes are irrigated with use of surface drip irrigation. The drip lines are connected to a distribution line which provides the irrigation water. After the growing season rolling of the lines is an easy performance and the lines can be used in the next season.

Bangladesh 

Collection: Rooftop rainwater harvesting and pond water
Storage: Subsurface storage
Use: Hand pumps for drinking water

There is a lot water in the delta of Bangladesh, but for half of the year a lot of it is undrinkable. When it’s not raining the rivers in the coastal region become full of sea water, and the groundwater is also heavily saline. Besides, arsenic pollution is a big problem. With a relatively simple subsurface storage system, water is stored underground during the rainy season. In times of drought the water is pumped up and used as drinking water. The application in Bangladesh shows that subsurface storage is also possible with minimum investments.  There are already 20 operational systems in Bangladesh, and many more are under construction.