Poultry production - Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why should poultry producers be concerned about drinking water hygiene?
A. On-farm control of pathogens such as Campylobacter is of utmost importance for food safety and consumer confidence in British-produced poultry. Eliminating pathogens from drinking water using Aqualution removes one potential source of infection and can also boost producers’ bottom line.

Q. Is Aqualution compatible with water-administered vaccines?
A. The Aqualution system must be turned off twelve hours before and after any live vaccine is administered through the water system.

Q. What about medications such as Vetremox?
A. Aqualution has no effect on medications, and can continue running while they are administered.

Q. And vitamins and minerals?
A. Aqualution is also fully compatible with vitamins and minerals.

Q. Is it safe to handle?
A. Yes, Aqualution shows no harmful effects except to simple organisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Q. Are there any health and safety implications at all?
A. There are no special health and safety requirements when handling Aqualution, or when running the system.

Q. What about impact on the environment?
A. As supplied to the birds, Aqualution can be classed as potable water and, unlike alternative water hygiene products, the system has a very low environmental profile. There are no harmful chemicals to handle and store, nor any problems regarding the disposal of Aqualution-treated water after use.

Q. What equipment is required?
A. The system consists of three main components: a water softening unit, the Aqualution generator and a dosing unit. All components are compact and robust and, when installed, can be housed in a space as modest as a small garden shed.

Q. Is one dosing unit enough, or do farmers need a unit for each shed?
A. Either system can work, although it’s much more cost-effective to use a single, centralised dosing unit.

Q. What does it cost?
A. The units are assembled according to individual farm requirements, so price depends on the specification.

Q. Is the system easy to manage?
A. Salt levels need to be monitored and topped up if required, but that’s all. The system has been developed to require minimal input on-farm, making water management incredibly easy.

Q. What about running costs?
A. Negligible. The whole system uses less than £40 in electricity each year. All maintenance costs are included in the price of the system and the cost of the salt can also be included in the package.

Q. What if it goes wrong?
A. The system is very reliable but, for added peace-of-mind, the unit allows remote monitoring of the system, with the raising of an alarm in the event of a fault. There is a dedicated helpline and 24 hour call-out, should farms encounter any problems.

Q. What about the bio-security issues of engineers visiting poultry units?
A. In nine out of ten instances, problems can be rectified remotely. Farm visits are therefore infrequent and only take place when absolutely necessary. When visiting farms, engineers follow all recommended bio-security procedures.

Q. How do farmers know if it’s working?
A. Regular microbiological Total Viable Count (TVC) testing is included to monitor the levels of micro-organisms in the drinking water. Also supplied is a testing kit for self-verification by the farmer.

Q. If productivity increases with Aqualution, what return can a poultry producer expect?
A. Birds given Aqualution can be significantly more profitable. This extra return comes about through a combination of lower mortality rates, more efficient food use and increased growth rates.

Q. Is it suitable for all types of poultry production?
A. Yes. Aqualution is suitable for chicken and turkey systems and can safely and effectively treat water for broiler producers, egg production and chick production.

Q. Is it compatible with water from boreholes?
A. Yes. Aqualution can be used with both mains water and borehole water. Even water containing iron, magnesium, calcium or sulphates can be conditioned for use with Aqualution.

Q. What about farmers using mains water?
A. Mains water is, by its nature, very clean, but it has no biocidal qualities. This means it must be treated in the same way as borehole water to ensure that it stays clean and pathogen-free through to the last drinker in the shed.

Q. Should farmers invest in a borehole?
A. Installing a borehole is a very good, cost-effective idea. It will reduce water bills to zero and Aqualution will ensure it’s clean at the point of drinking.

Q. Do water lines still need to be cleaned with an acid wash between crops?
A. No, as Aqualution prevents the contamination of water lines, there is no need to flush between crops. Aqualution also prevents the build up of limescale and bio-film, extending the life of drinking water systems. Whilst acid washes are not necessary for drinking water lines, all other routine house sanitation procedures should still be followed.