Horman news 2010 - news 2009
Horman site signage
At the beginning of May, the Horman site was provided with a new signposting system. Visitors will be able to find their way easier to the site and to the offices of Horman Drainage Filter, the drainage and sewerage products collection warehouse of Pipelife Netherlands BV and to Transkoo Wegtransport. Although the postal & street address is listed as Strijenseweg 124a, the actual company access to the companies mentioned is on Trekdamseweg.
Visitors' attention is now drawn specially to the speed limit on the site of 5km, the presence of forklift trucks and the current smoking ban for the entire site. What is new is that the company name Horman is now more visible through the placement of an advertising banner on the side of the Kiltunnelweg.
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Composite level-controlled drainage
Good for water management and environment
Good drainage: a case of everyone
Good drainage is crucial to the agricultural sector. Many agricultural plots are fitted with pipe drainage; a system that works pretty well although unfortunately with a few drawbacks. With the rapid drainage of water during periods of precipitation peaks, downstream flooding can occur. In dry periods, too rigorous drainage of agricultural land can lead to yield loss and drying out of adjacent areas. A lower water table has a negative impact on water quality, because the leaching of nitrogen increases. The system of "composite level-controlled drainage" has the potential to combat a significant part of these objections.
Operating system ‘composite level-controlled drainage "
With the system of composite level-controlled drainage, the drains do not empty directly into the ditch, as with conventional drainage, but into a collection drain (see figures below). This in turn empties into a sump where the level is adjustable. Also, the drains in this system are often inserted deeper and more concentratedly than with conventional drainage. Usually a higher level is maintained than with conventional drainage. A major advantage of this system is that fewer ditches are needed. Also because of the higher water level, the water is better retained, and less irrigation is needed.
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Conversely, it is also easy to reduce that level so that the ground can be driven on earlier so that, for example, the spring work can be done. Besides the agricultural benefits of retaining more water there are also positive effects on water quality. With the higher level, the nitrogen leaching also reduces through the decomposition of nitrate. It probably also reduces the phosphate leaching.
Field research
To test the above-mentioned aspects field research is being conducted in different locations
in the south of the Netherlands where different types of drainage systems are being compared for their efficacy on the same plot (see box). In the study, the drainage through the drains and groundwater status is measured continuously, and periodically the quality of drain water is determined. In addition, monitoring of effects on yield is also being conducted and the quality of crops grown and whether the ability to use machinery on the plots is changing.
Practical Experiences
Besides the field trials, a number of commercial farms are also being followed where the system has already been laid. On some of these farms, groundwater measurements are being conducted and the effects on how the farm is run are being recorded. In this way, the practical experience is also incorporated in the study. Besides drainage of water, we are also looking at infiltration in dry periods.
Communication of results
The know-how and expertise that the project will create is perfectly usable to adequately inform stakeholders. Important target groups in this respect are the growers, drainage companies and interest groups (policy, water boards, agricultural and conservation organizations). These groups will be kept informed during the project period through the following communication activities: survey of the experiences of users, articles in professional journals, study groups, newsletters and a national meeting on composite drainage.
Coconut Wrapping Machine replacement
In April 2010, the coconut machine for the wrapping of flexible tubing was received. What is new is that this otherwise fully automated production line will now be able to wrap 125mm alongside the 50 to 100mm pipes. The machine is also equipped with a broader bale opener, buffer, semi-automatic wind-up reel and dust extraction. With a minor modification this machine can also be used for wrapping other sorts of fibres like PP and PES.
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Field symposium level-controlled drainage 25 May 2010 Veldhoven.
A well visited (> 60 participants ) symposium on the farm run by Martijn Tholen in Veldhoven. The theme is positively approached by the various policymakers (Provinces, Water Boards, Farmers’ Associations, Consultancies). From that perspective there also seems to be plenty money available for further research at present. There is also a push to achieve a certain degree of standardisation for the materials to be used, the design and installation.
The fact that this way of draining is so much in the spotlight is mostly caused by the advantages to be gained from several sides:
- Groundwater level becomes manageable
- Increase in water quantity, less aridity
- Higher crop yield, less irrigation
- Better use of manure
- The suspicion is that there is less leaching out of nitrogen and phosphate
- In areas where this applies: prevention of salt water seepage
Laying such a system is certainly not a standard solution and seems to be a challenge for professional drainage companies. Design and installations clearly demand more knowledge and experience and will to a large extent differ per region and per farm. Drainage will be more intensive, the insertion of sumps and connection to collection drains is labour intensive. The proper mapping out of the system is important to its installation and management. A drainage company can be distinctive in the way it provides advice, designing, supervision and after-care in this field. |
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Combined with other water management measures, (weirs, controlled intake) it appears that level-controlled drainage could make a positive contribution to both nature and farm management.
Site maintenance
The 5ha site belonging to Horman Drainagefilter, of which ¾ is either built or paved, is kept tidy thanks to several local service providers. It’s quite unusual but horses have always occupied the middle of the site: in the flax period as working horses, nowadays for recreation. The surrounding meadows are also kept tidy by 40 -50 grazing sheep as well as the horses.
Companies that also keep the site up to scratch are: De Geus Installatietechniek, Nico Vos Groenvoorziening, v/d Pligt hoveniersbedrijf, Netwerk veegdienst (also responsible for removal of industrial waste, cardboard and plastics), Gebr. Rollof aannemingsbedrijf, John v/d Sar durable mowing systems (sheep).
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Level-controlled Drainage Research in Colijnsplaat - Zeeland
For the next 2 years research will be taking place in Zeeland into the water quality effects of level-controlled deep drainage on clay ground that is subject to saltwater seepage. The reason for this research is the high concentration of nitrogen found in almost all inland waters in Zeeland. One of the most important sources of this is agriculture. In addition it is assumed that saltwater seepage also plays a role.
The question is whether level-controlled drainage also works in clay and whether the modelled reduction in emissions also occurs in practice. In addition there is a possibility that the deep installation of drainage could attract saltwater seepage with an increased nutrient concentration. This is why the Province of Zeeland has started a research project. If there is a positive outcome for the project then level-controlled drainage would be an attractive means of implementing the European Framework Directive on Water.
The trial was installed during the week of 26 April in the experimental farm De Rusthoeve in Colijnsplaat in a plot with a fairly homogenous profile (lutum content 9 and 15%). The transition to salty groundwater lies at about 2.25m under the surface. Four different systems with drainage were installed with different groundwater levels. The soil moisture profiles, the groundwater levels, the nutrient contents of ground, drain and ditch water and the flows of drain and ditch drainage will be measured for 2 years. |
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In addition the heavy metal and pesticides content of the drain and ditch water will be regularly measured. The crop yield and the growth of the crop will also be recorded in all blocks.
The study is being conducted at the behest of the Province of Zeeland by the consortium Grontmij, Alterra and PPO. The trial field has been installed by Barth Drainage ’s-Gravendeel. The drainage pipe was supplied by Pipelife Nederland B.V. and fitted with PP450 wrapping by Horman Drainagefilter. Horman also created the sumps needed for the management of the drainage.
Company emergency help + AED
As a matter of course Horman has had a company emergency response team for years, who annually practice first aid, fire fighting and evacuation procedures. In May 2010 the emergency response team followed an extra training in the use of an AED machine. An AED is a machine that can deliver an electric shock to the heart, in the case where there is a life-threatening heart rhythm disturbance. |
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The heart will try after the electric shock to re-establish its proper rhythm. Rapid reanimation (mouth-to-mouth and heart massage) and the use of an AED considerably increase the chances of survival. The training course was provided by the Reanimation Foundation Dordrecht [Stichting Reanimatie Dordrecht] at Horman’s premises in ’s-Gravendeel.
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