10% higher milk production thanks to cleaner drinking water for the Brookhuis family
The Brookhuis family has 140 dairy cows, two Lely milking robots, as well as associated dry cows and a large number of youngstock in Rutenbrock, Germany. By introducing drinking water disinfection, Marcel saw a significant increase in his milk production. However, the product he had previously used (hydrogen peroxide) was hazardous and left behind a transparent slimy film, which regularly caused blockages in the drinking water pipes. By switching to the Watter-system, he retained the benefits of cleaner water, whilst also enjoying cleaner pipes, time savings and a higher return.
From capacity problems to increased production
Eighteen years ago, Marcel already had his own well drilled because the local drinking water was insufficient: in summer, the pressure was too low and the water temperature too high. As the herd grew over the years, the on-farm water installation reached its limits. During peak periods, tap water still had to be blended in. Despite manual scrubbing, however, the storage tanks downstream of the well became increasingly contaminated.
To maintain water quality, Marcel followed a specialist's advice and began adding hydrogen peroxide. Within a few months, the storage tanks became cleaner, and manual scrubbing was a thing of the past. The pipes became cleaner as well, resulting in improved water flow and a substantial production increase of around 10% (to approximately 11,000 liters per cow).
Improved feed efficiency
Despite this substantial production increase, the cows did not eat more, they simply utilize their ration much more efficiently. Marcel explains: "In the past, the cows had to use a lot of energy from their feed defending against bacteria in the drinking water. Now that the water is truly clean, they no longer have to fight that battle, and that energy goes straight into milk production."
Why stop using hydrogen peroxide?
However, there were also disadvantages to using hydrogen peroxide:
- Transparent slime layer: An invisible slime layer (biofilm) built up in the pipes leading to the drinking troughs, which operate on the principle of communicating vessels. This layer regularly caused the low-pressure pipes to become blocked.
- Hazardous to use: Working with jerry cans posed serious risks.
Hydrogen peroxide is simply an extremely harsh chemical that immediately causes skin discoloration upon contact. When putting down such a jerrycan, a drop would regularly splash up, which also caused nasty irritation to the face.
Why switch to the Watter system?
Seeking a long-term solution, Marcel switched to Watter. The Watter system automatically produces a powerful disinfectant on-site using only water, salt, and electricity.
With the switch to the Watter system, all issues were tackled: the stubborn slime layer disappeared, the pipes were cleaner, and lugging jerrycans around was a thing of the past.
"The disinfectant produced by the Watter system is not aggressive at all, you can comfortably put your hand in it, and it still works better than hydrogen peroxide," Marcel explains.
If I don’t have any sick cows, because the water is so good, I not only save money but also a lot of time. Once a month you toss in 4 bags of salt and you don't have to worry about it. That makes it a very cheap form of insurance.
The return on investment in practice
Since starting with drinking water disinfection, Marcel saw milk production gradually increase. In 2025, the farm ultimately delivered 1,680,000 liters of milk.
If you attribute that 10% increase in liters entirely to the Watter system, the investment naturally pays for itself very quickly. Marcel, however, remains down-to-earth about it: "Whether that extra production can be attributed one hundred percent to the installation, I dare not say with certainty. What I do know is that just the ease of labor and the pleasure of working with healthy animals that produce without issues make the investment more than worth it."
Hydrogen peroxide vs. Watter system
On an annual basis, the Watter system is more cost-effective than the hydrogen peroxide Marcel used previously:
| Costs | Hydrogen peroxide (previously) | Watter system (now) |
| Daily costs | €20,- / day (all-in) | €14,50 / day (all-in: purchase, maintenance, salt and electricity) |
| Annual costs | €7300,- | €5293,- |
| Savings | - | €2007,- per year (-27.5%) |
The Watter system is therefore not just a choice for cleaner drinking water and ease of labor, but also an investment that delivers a real return.
The pipes are really clean, the water is pure and I no longer have to work with dangerous chemicals. It saves me a lot of time and hassle, so I’d definitely recommend the Watter system.
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