What is a biofilm
To find out why we are engaged in combating biofilm, we first answer the question 'What is a biofilm?', or biofouling as it also called. It is a slimy layer of micro-organisms and a persistent danger to the health of humans and animals. Biofilm can form in places where the micro-organisms in water have the opportunity to adhere to surfaces. Where is that? Almost everywhere where it is wet for a long time, where water is stored or flows through. You know that slippery layer in the shower drain? That's an example. Our solution is however only applicable for professional situations, like drinkwater systems for animals and process water systems.
The danger of biofilm
When we talk about the risk and significance of biofouling, we are talking about the damage that can occur if such a slimy layer forms in your water or process pipes. Those micro-organisms in the biofilm are, for example, bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts. In other words: they are potential pathogens that you ingest if you drink water from such a polluted water system. Or they cause loss of products when it comes to process water.
Why biofilm is so persistent
The micro-organisms not only attach themselves to the surface, but multiply and even work together. We call that microcolony formation. With proteins, they adhere to each other and form not one but even several layers. We compare it to a forest, because each species within the biofilm has its own task. Just like all plants, trees and animals in a forest. And that's why it's so persistent. So removing biofilm can be a challenge. Back to the question of what is a biofilm? A harmful collaboration of micro-organisms that you would rather not have in your water or production pipes or in your living environment at all. The good news: we have found a solution.
Why remove biofilm?
The dangers and disadvantages of biofilm become greater if you use pipes within your company in which biofilm can form. Even though the drinking water meets the standard, as a livestock farmer your animals still run the risk of disease due to the presence of biofilm in the pipes of the drinking water. In the arable farming, process and food industry, your products lose quality due to micro-organisms in raw materials. It is therefore logical and very sensible that you are looking for solutions to remove the biofilm.
Remove biofilm with chemicals
Until recently, the only way was to use disinfectants. So chemicals, such as chlorine, bleach or alcohol. There are many drawbacks to this way of removing biofilm:
- Toxic substances, so harmful to people and the environment;
- Chemicals are expensive;
- No optimal effect due to incorrect dosage;
- Temporary effect, biofilm returns.
Remove biofilm with Watter
The disadvantages of the traditional way of combating biofilm have motivated us to find something better. And we succeeded. Watter disinfects in a sustainable, biodegradable way. The Watter system is a device that produces an environmentally friendly disinfectant using electricity, salt and water. The electrolysis of the salt and water creates a disinfectant with more than 20 active ingredients.
The benefits of removing biofouling with Watter:
- It is biodegradable and therefore safer for people and the environment;
- No dosing errors so it works better than chemicals;
- You produce disinfectant yourself, so you earn back the device;
- Biofilm disappears and stays away.
Proven effective
Watter has been proven effective against biofilm on livestock farms as well as in industrial environments. And that has also been proven externally. It has been extensively tested by TNO, among others, for the control of bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses and the disinfection of surfaces, rooms, medical instruments and water systems. Are you ready to tackle your biofilm problem? Please contact us for more information.