According to Haberern, the purpose of this facility is congruent with the ongoing goals of Rodale Institute. We want to education people all over the world about the importance of protection and improving our soil. Soil not only provides a growing medium, it also influences the water we drink and even the air we breathe. Iron in groundwater is often dissolved and remains dissolved as long as the water is held at groundwater temperature, pH, and pressure. It is this ferric form of iron that can physically clog emitters.
Chlorination is an effective treatment for both types of clogging.
These waters almost always contain algae and bacteria which can live inside of and clog filters and irrigation laterals. Chlorine is used under these conditions to kill these organisms. In treating water containing iron, chlorine will oxidize the iron dissolved in water, causing the iron to precipitate so that it can be filtered and removed from the system. It will also kill the iron bacteria and any other algae or bacteria present in the system. In either case, chlorine treatment should take place upstream of filters in order to remove the precipitated iron and microorganisms from the system.