Sensor-controlled water management Van Den Borne Potatoes

Van Den Borne Potatoes in Reusel has a laundry for potatoes (and carrots) with a capacity of 150,000 kg per hour.
That is why we invest heavily in limiting water consumption (recirculation) and cleaning the water on site. The water that ends up in the ditch complies with the regulations. However, calamities can also occur, which are only noticed by the entrepreneur late. And that means that contaminated process water is discharged into the ditch and is only measured late by the water board, if the damage has already been done. To prevent this, as a company Van den Borne wants to monitor the quality of the flow of water leaving the company site.

Investment in sensor
In order to monitor the quality of the outflow that leaves the company site as a company, we want to invest in a sensor that records the measured values ​​in the ditch live and communicates the data directly with the company.

Investment in weir
We also want to invest in our own automated lock / weir; if the water is of poor quality, the weir will rise automatically and we can clean the water and solve the problem at the source.

Education goal internally
By monitoring the quality of the water live, there is even more awareness of sustainable water management. It also works proactively in the team; “We can see for ourselves how close we are to the standards and discuss internally how we can end up even lower in values.”

Communication
The communication to the outside will focus on the grower's own responsibility, "my yard, my data", which includes the technology and data validation of (residual) flows at the company. We want to show that we can be in control with an affordable drainage solution. We want to lead by example and inspire others.
The location of the sensor and weir is next to a green strip on Postelsedijk 15. Van Den Borne Potatoes receives approximately 1,000 pupils / students annually for a presentation and tour of precision agriculture and sustainability of the farm. The story as a grower to know what the emission is and how to communicate this openly, standing still at the sensor and weir becomes part of a guided tour.

Water board De Dommel
Water Board De Dommel is positive about the development that farmers themselves will monitor and communicate.