What water-quality data do suppliers need before they can quote?
Suppliers need a recent laboratory analysis of the actual source, not a regional assumption. At minimum: EC and total dissolved solids, pH, the main cations and anions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO4, HCO3, CO3), nitrate, boron, iron and manganese, suspended solids or turbidity, and a microbiological indication where surface water is used. This determines filtration class, treatment need, emitter selection, fertigation recipe constraints and material compatibility. Interpretation against FAO water-quality thresholds should be done by a qualified designer or agronomist.
What actually drives the answer
Iron and manganese above threshold values drive oxidation and clogging behaviour that filtration alone may not resolve.
Bicarbonate and pH shape the acid dosing strategy and therefore recurring OPEX, not just equipment choice.
Sodium and chloride constrain crop and substrate choice and may trigger a leaching requirement or a treatment step such as reverse osmosis.
Surface water usually requires a different filtration philosophy from borehole water even at identical EC.
Variables that change the answer
- Source type (borehole, surface, municipal, harvested, reclaimed)
- Seasonal variation of the source
- Crop sensitivity
- Emitter type
- Substrate versus soil
Evidence a supplier needs before quoting
- Laboratory analysis certificate
- Sampling date and point
- Seasonal variability information if known
What this answer does not settle
- A single analysis represents one date and one sampling point; sources vary seasonally.
- This list is a data checklist, not a treatment recommendation.
Responsibility
- Professional review:
- Irrigation designer, water treatment specialist or agronomist
- Delivered by:
- Water treatment supplier and irrigation designer
- Feeds RFQ section:
- Water quality and treatment
Sources
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29 — Water quality for agricultureFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 1985 (rev. 1) · Primary source · accessed 2026-08-21
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop evapotranspiration (guidelines for computing crop water requirements)Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · 1998 · Primary source · accessed 2026-08-21
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