New Glasshouse 2018/19
RippleAquaplast Ltd were approached late in 2017 to discuss and propose a complete irrigation solution for a new one hectare glasshouse. The glasshouse was to be constructed on a green field site adjacent to an existing nursery area.
The requirements were as follows:-
- A new pumping system to be located in the existing pump house area
- A new water storage tank
- Pumping and filtration system for the reservoir to fill the above tank
- The ability to dose fertiliser through spray lines and hose watering systems
- Recovery of the drainage water from the existing nursery into a reservoir on the new site
- A new overhead sprinkler system with solenoid valve controller
- Environmental control for four zones including propagation and production areas
- A low level irrigation system (e.g. capillary/sand beds/sub-irrigation)
- A festoon hose system per bay
- Provision of hand watering points
What we did
The following solutions were proposed and implemented:-
- A Lowara variable speed drive (Hydrovar) pumping and header system
- A 24 x 10’ Galvanised water storage tank with EDPM liner and anti-algae cover
- A Lowara submersible pump with water transfer pipe, float switch controlled panel and automatic self-flushing screen filter
- A Tefen fertiliser dosing unit with an on/off selector
- An existing drain was utilised to recover the drain water into the reservoir
- Each glasshouse bay has two spray lines with a sprinkler configuration designed to water half the bay very accurately with limited over spray into adjacent bays
- The vents, screens, heating and sprinkler irrigation are controlled via a bespoke Gavish system
- Capillary sand beds were selected as the low level option with the header system from the new pump having outlets for the float tanks
- Hand watering points were allowed for at appropriate points along the central pathway
The system was installed in late 2018 with a view to being fully operational in early 2019.