Understand The Impact Of Corrective Actions

Scholastic and Technical Concepts Related to Water

The reason for any water treatment should be to:

• Improve the quality,
• Minimise the negative effect of the water quality factor on the soil, tree, and environment.
• Improve economic returns.

For every water treatment or corrective action, there is a side-effect, or implications, which is not always desirable. Before taking corrective actions, consider the consequences, which in many cases develop over time. Apart from the direct effects and the side-effects of treatment, the cost-efficiency must also be considered that needs to be considered, for instance, desalting irrigation water will have a positive effect on production, the soil and the environment but is simply too expensive.

Data Analysis

The process of assessing, analysing and evaluating data starts with a comparison of the laboratory results with the standard set of norms (DWAF). Thereafter, a series of questions and answers will add value until satisfactory decisions can be made.

The laboratory report indicates that the water contains 55mg per litre of suspended solids, which is, according to the above rating, a minor clogging hazard. This data must be assessed, analysed and evaluated to make a sound business decision. Is it necessary to filter water to remove the 55mg per litre suspended solids? If the concentration of suspended solids were 155mg per litre, it would have been clear that the water required to be filtered. To assess, analyse and evaluate the data additional information is required, for instance: • Was the sample taken correctly? • Are the 55mg suspended solids clay and/or silt particles, plastic cuttings, seeds or organic debris? If this can be established, it may be possible to address the specific source. • How many emitters were blocked in the past three months / six months/year? All the extra information is generated on the farm and, if properly recorded, add value to the current results and support a proper decision. Every time you answer one of these questions, you make the final decision easier and more valuable.

The procedure for assessing, analysing and evaluating data and taking decisions on corrective actions are based on actual measurements, but the value is added to the analytical data by using historic records. The process does not stand alone but forms part of a management system. Any breach in recordkeeping decreases the value of any current data.

The following table serves as a guide to identifying the causes of clogging together with some recommendations to correct the problem. (Hansen et al. 1992)

Aeration

Aeration means the addition of air or oxygen to water. The simplest method is to spray water into a dam through the air, where it will dissolve oxygen. Another method is to bubble air through water.