News » 23.07.2026 - Better water, better cultivation: "I would say just give it a try once"
"More weight, and a flatter bed." Last December, a chrysanthemum grower in the Netherlands recorded his best crop results in years. He attributes the improvement to an investment in a water treatment system from Aqua4D, and he is not the only one to do so, according to importer Raymond Lescrauwaet. "More than 90% of all on-farm trial rentals eventually turn into a purchase."
After a trial rental period to test the system, this chrysanthemum grower also decided to buy it. A fellow grower had already achieved good results with the system, and he wanted the same outcome. The grower, who prefers to remain anonymous, is one of a growing number of Dutch ornamental growers adopting the technology.
Raymond Lescrauwaet, of the eponymous company based in Nederhorst den Berg, the Netherlands, is the importer of Aqua4D. He acknowledges that the system, which relies on innovative water treatment technologies, can be difficult for many growers to fully understand. "Growers sometimes see it as hocus pocus." The system has been sold worldwide for more than 20 years, and that track record, combined with strong results, tends to convince growers to give it a try.
From rental to purchase
"We normally work with an application-approval process," Raymond says. "If we assess that the Aqua4D system won't deliver the added value a grower is looking for, we simply step away." More than 90% of all on-farm trial rentals ultimately result in a purchase, he notes. "We only want satisfied customers. We've even bought back Aqua4D systems from growers who unexpectedly stopped growing."
The preparation phase before installation is fairly thorough, involving a straightforward questionnaire, a review of water analysis reports, and various on-site measurements, the importer explains. "But the installation itself is relatively simple, and once it's running, it lasts for many years without any maintenance or significant energy use." Lescrauwaet has now been the Aqua4D importer for the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany for 14 years. "In all those years, I have never seen a worn-out unit. Our rental fleet even includes systems that are older than that."
Measuring is part of the process. Right: mains pollution measurement to prevent extreme values that could have an influence on the operation of the Aqua4D water improvement system.
Benefits for other systems
As more systems are installed across the horticulture sector, Raymond has observed that Aqua4D use appears to reinforce other technologies, such as nanobubble systems. "There's a theoretical basis for that, partly because it lowers the surface tension of the water, making the irrigation water more fluid, so to speak. Aqua4D also improves the uptake of dissolved nutrients and reduces the negative effects of higher EC levels."
A trial is currently underway in cucumber production at HortiTech, combining Aqua4D with UltraO2 oxygen injection and PathoLed UV-C treatment. Another chrysanthemum grower is currently running a combined trial of Aqua4D and a nanobubble system.
Breakthrough still pending
Despite earlier positive results with Aqua4D among several Dutch ornamental growers, as well as at Beekenkamp and football club AZ (for its pitches), the importer is somewhat surprised that the technology has not yet gained wider traction in the Netherlands. He suspects this is due to limited awareness and the perceived complexity of the technology. "People want to understand exactly how it works, when really it's about the results. I'd say just give it a try, since more than 4,500 Aqua4D systems are already running worldwide."
Getting started is straightforward: growers can, for example, treat one irrigation zone and compare it with an untreated reference zone, as the chrysanthemum grower in this example did. "That way, you can quickly see the differences, especially during the summer on very hot days."
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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