Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/155925
Can Catalytic Water Conditioners Benefit Vineyards? One device promises to reduce water usage and soil salinity BY TIM TEICHGRAEBER inimizing water use, preventing hard water scale buildup in equipment, and decreasing chloride buildup in soil are all significant wine industry issues that can become entangled, particularly where the use of reclaimed water for irrigation is concerned. Any technology that promises to both decrease water usage and leach salts through the root zone is worth investigation. THE PITCH A few months ago, I received a call from an interesting fellow, Manny Matz. AT A GLANCE + There are several types of water conditioners on the mar- ket, some employing magnets or active electrical charges. + The EcoFlow model promises water savings and decreased soil salinity. + This type of unit is alleged to be effective with an input of up to 16-inch-wide pipe, with no flow loss. + Conditioned water may increase soil percolation, help min- erals pass through the soil, and decrease soil salinity in the root zone. 48 V I N E YARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT | Sept - Oct 2013 Matz has worked in the water treatment business for decades, and is a partner in a company called EcoFlow, which sells catalytic water conditioners manufactured by Morrill Industries, based in Escalon, Calif. These devices are designed not only to decrease the scaling effects of hard water on equipment, but also to improve soil drainage and decrease chloride buildup in soils. Matz had read an article I wrote for another industry publication some years ago about how wineries were coping with hard water and salinity issues – a matter of serious concern for parts of the country that are dependent on mineral-laden water. It occurred to him that these catalytic water conditioners – currently being used to reduce scale and mineral buildup in commercial facilities, and more recently in agricultural settings to increase soil conductivity and decrease soil chlorides – might be of interest to the wine industry, because they can conserve water and decrease soil salinity. Although the product has never been tested in a vineyard setting, Matz told me, it has undergone testing by California State University, Fresno's Center for Irrigation Technolw w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m