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Weeds, moss, and algae cause issues for water companies, and many still use the labour-intensive and costly method of hand-weeding.
The large sums of time and money used while hand-weeding at water filtration beds could be put to much better use.
Investing in a more efficient weed control solution saves both these precious resources, resulting in more time for managing other parts of the water filtration process (due to the reduction of manual labour), and a decrease in cost.
If you're looking for a more cost-effective and efficient solution to treating weeds on water filtration beds, this article is for you.
We provide an answer to the challenges that come with managing weeds on water filtration beds by demonstrating the multiple benefits of using Foamstream as your weed control solution.
The importance of controlling weeds on water filtration beds
Out-of-control weed growth can disrupt the water filtration process, meaning that controlling weeds at water filtration beds is crucial to ensure that the plant can operate effectively and efficiently.
If weeds aren’t properly maintained on a water filter bed, moss and algae can grow nearby. This results in interference with, or damage to, the filter by affecting the mechanics of the rotating filter arms.
Some weed species can also contaminate the water if not effectively filtered out.
In short, when you leave weeds to grow at water filtration plants, it results in negative effects on the life-span of the bed, loss of productivity from staff, and increases in costs for water companies.
Michael Galligan, South West Water Operations Manager (West) for the company Waste Water, has previously noted that their difficulty in controlling unwanted vegetation at their water filtration bed “was affecting the Waste Water treatment process, as moss and weed growth can hinder filter performance and longevity”.
To ensure that your water filtration system operates as effectively as possible, treating the weeds at your plant is a must.
Keep reading to discover how the world’s best herbicide-free weed killer, Foamstream, can help control weeds at your water filtration plant, while also maintaining high cost and money-efficiency.
The challenges and complications of controlling weeds on water filtration beds
Controlling weeds on water filtration beds isn’t an easy task.
Moss is the predominant weed that grows in these areas, and the only mainstream method that’s used to eradicate the plant is to hand-weed.
Unfortunately, hand-weeding is a highly inefficient process. Not only is it time consuming, noting that it takes three to four days of manual labour, this time costs money. Time and money are precious resources, particularly for those in leadership positions, so wasting it on hand-weeding moss isn’t a practical solution.
Hand-weeding will also take multiple treatments per year, meaning that this time and money wasted will be a regular occurence.
It’s also typical in water filtration beds that the moss will grow on gravel. This renders most pesticide-based weed killers useless, because gravel is unable to absorb the solution that kills the plant, like soil would.
Plus, even if you could use glyphosate-based weed killers on gravel, there are complications regarding its use around water. Evidence surrounding the safety of glyphosate is inconclusive, but using the chemical around or near water would still require a permit from the Environment Agency.
In summary, controlling weeds at water filtration plants is a task full of complications and difficulties.
Foamstream can be used to help overcome all of these critical issues.
Foamstream: the most effective solution for water companies
Unlike traditional weed killers, Foamstream doesn’t require plants to be growing on soil in order for it to be effective. Foamstream can therefore target moss effectively, even despite growing on gravel.
Foamstream kills weeds by subjecting them to such a high heat that the stem and roots are so severely damaged that they wither and die. The insulating layer of foam that the Foamstream machinery produces ensures that the hot water is kept on the plant for long enough for this process to effectively take place.
Due to the fact that it’s chemical free, it’s also completely safe, and doesn’t require environmental permits. Foamstream contains no harmful chemicals, meaning that it’s safe to use around water as it won’t cause any contamination.
Plus, it’s both more effective and efficient than hand weeding. Unlike hand-weeding which takes three to four days of manual labour, using Foamstream at water filtration beds will only take one worker just over a day to successfully eliminate moss from gravel. It also only requires three treatments per year, as opposed to hand-weeding which will inevitably require more, saving you both time and money.
Offering effective weed control treatment that’s time- and cost-efficient, Foamstream is the only practical solution to controlling weeds on water filtration beds.
Foamstream in action
South West Water in Devon contacted Weedingtech to control weeds at their water filtration plant. The utility team had previously tried hand-weeding, which was both ineffective and time consuming.
We used Foamstream to treat moss and algae around walkways at the filtration plant, as well as on surfaces around the area.
Using Foamstream also reduced costs for South West Water.
Read the full case study here.
Contact us
Are you ready to start using a more effective weed control method to reduce time and cost spent at your plant? With Foamstream, you can.
Here at Weedingtech, we can get you set up with Foamstream in no time at all, allowing you to effectively control your weeds and keep your plant running smoothly.
Want to get started or request a demo?
