Fiveways Fruit Farm is growing soft and tree fruits, asparagus, long season strawberries, long season raspberries, blueberries, apples, pears, cherries and plums. Christmas Trees are also available. All the products are sold directly from the farm at farmers markets, local stores and to retailers from London. Farm is a member of the Asparagus Growers Association.

Client`s challenge

Fiveways has moved from growing in the soil to solely substrate production. Water quality for irrigation is very important with this system and although water as a resource is available southern England, most of it is saline and requires thorough purification to be used further for growing the plants. The farm has been using RO equipment since 2013 for better water quality. This expensive process proved to be the right decision as it produced higher yields and better quality plants and fruits.

Key problems

Removing impurities from water, which is used to feed plants, is in many aspects an important investment for a farm.

Growth slowdown

Water contaminants may coat the leaf surface as a result of constant evaporation. The coating slows down the growth and decreases the market value of the products.

Lack of nutrition

Soilless substrates, which are used instead of soil, lack its buffering capability. Improper water quality may result in excessively high salts and transient pH in the substrate with malnutrition to the plants as the consequence. There is also a threat that bicarbonates, or other contaminants which form deposits, will choke low volume nozzle orifices. This threat comes from iron as well, which is a very common element that occurs in water.

Project data

• Capacity: 9 m³h (78,840 m³/year)
• Process: RO
• RO recovery: 75%
• Salt rejection: 98% – 99,5%

Features

• Low footprint
• Easy maintenance
• Maintenance services by an in-house team
• Stainless steel 316 high pressure piping, regulation valves
• 5 micron pre-filtration
• Energy saving GE AK-series brackish water high rejection membranes
• Multi-stage centrifugal stainless steel 316 pump
• Fully equipped electric board with pump protection and soft starter
• Grundfos DDE antiscalant dosing pumps
• 100 liter PE antiscalant tank

In 2015 a need for new equipment for a second plant brought Julian Mead, the plant owner, to look for a new supplier for water purification equipment. After visiting the modern Aquaphor plant in Estonia, Julian made the decision to invest in an Aquaphor RO system.

'This was a substantial financial commitment for us with a company in a foreign country with whom we had never had dealings before. I visited the modern factory in Estonia and was very impressed. The equipment supplied is good quality and has performed well this season. Queries were dealt with promptly by my contact in Estonia, Pavel, the equipment was installed on time by a knowledgeable engineer and in addition they sorted out the problems with our first plant. I am pleased to be able to recommend this company to prospective customers.'

— Julian Mead, Fiveways Fruit Farm owner