Mountain High Water and/or it employees are proud members of the following Associations:

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (national)

National Golf Course Owners Association (national)

International Ozone Association (international)

Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association (Colorado/Wyoming)

Cactus & Pine Golf Course Superintendents Association (Arizona)

Rio Grande Golf Course Superintendents Association (New Mexico/Texas)

Golf Course Superintendents Association of Southern California

Southern Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association

 Please look for us all year at your Associations outings. Mountain High Water staff attends functions all over the United States, so please let us know if you would like us to speak at your next outing.

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Look for a Mountain High Water ad in your chapters monthly news letter. Mountain High Water has ads in the following publications:

Sand and Sea

(Golf Course Superintendents Association of Southern California’s Publication)

Cactus Clippings

(Cactus & Pine Golf Course Superintendents Association’s Publication)

The Reporter

(Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association’s Publication)

Rio Grande Newsletter

(Rio Grande Golf Course Superintendents Association’s Publication)

Phoenix Area Golf Course: Interpretation #1 of Ongoing

Testing to Monitor Ozone & Oxygen Diffusion 

Initial Tests Taken On September 8, 2009

Follow-up Tests Taken December 7, 2009

A. Standard Soil Tests

1. Sodium: Our September ‘09 tests indicated that the harmful element, sodium, was found at unacceptably high levels. The December ‘09 tests, following three months of ozone diffusion, showed a dramatic drop in sodium.Sodium is measured in two ways on a soil test: by actual amount (Ibs. per acre) and as a percentage of all the major elements in the soil that carry a positive charge (cations). The latter is also referred to as the ‘percent base saturation.’ 

For example, looking at #5T, in September the amount of sodium was 616 Ibs./acre. By December the amount had dropped to 378 Ibs./acre.(Ideal soil sodium levels are below 500 Ibs./acre.) When viewed as a percent of base saturation, the sodium on #5T dropped from 5.76% to 4.19%, a substantial drop over a three month period. (Acceptable sodium levels as a percent of base saturation are below 8%.) This sort of sodium reduction was consistent throughout all playing surfaces tested; please click here to see this report.  

2. Soluble Sulfur:The soil tests also reveal a dramatic reduction in soluble sulfur between September and December. Sulfur is a highly soluble element that leaches down through the soil profile readily if the soil is conducive to leaching (drainage). Sulfur is widely accepted in academic circles as a barometer for how good or bad the soil drainage is. This particular test result is the most positive indicator of improved drainage observed in any of the testing. 

Again, looking at #5T as an example, soluble sulfur in September was measured at 114 parts per million. By December this had dropped to 37 parts per million. Ideal sulfur levels are below 40 ppm, so this represents a dramatic improvement. 

Please click here to see this report with a graph that shows a significant decrease in sulfur levels on all surfaces tested. A decrease in soluble sulfur is an increase in percolation.This can be interpreted many different ways. Mainly it shows the ability to leach out harmful contaminates in irrigation water while allowing turf to up take nutrients easier. This increases root depth and mass by not only allowing oxygen, nitrogen, and nutrients to get  to the roots, but by ozone chelating elements like calcium so turf can uptake them more readily. 

B. Saturated Soil Analysis (also called “saturated paste extract tests”)  

1.      A Review of the ‘Saturated Paste Test’: The primary benefit of saturated paste tests is to measure the amount of salts in the soil which can be expressed as either “electrical conductivity” (E.C.), or “total dissolved salts” (TDS). 

This test also measures bicarbonate levels in the soil. Bicarbonates cause no harm to plant growth by themselves, but excessive bicarbonates do make it significantly more difficult to reduce unwanted sodium from the soil through standard management practices.

Finally, while soil sodium measurements are considered less credible on a saturated paste test than when measured in a standard soil test, there are, nonetheless, two meaningful measurements of the sodium hazard to be found on the paste test.

The first is the base saturation percentage of sodium. Ideally sodium, as a percent base saturation on a saturated paste test, should always be maintained below 35%. The other measurement of the sodium hazard is the sodium adsorption ratio or S.A.R. This sodium measurement should be maintained below 4.0.

2. Comparative Results Using Saturated Paste Testing: September ‘09 – December ‘09

 Levels of salts declined (improved) between September and December on all playing surfaces tested.

 The sodium hazard, when measured as S.A.R., also improved on all playing surfaces. The other sodium measurement, “sodium as a percent of base saturation” improved on #5F between September and December but remained the same on #5T and #5G. 

C. Tissue Tests  

It is still too early to draw to many conclusions from the plant tissue test, although there was a noticeable increase in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.This is a benefit of the chelation process that is created by ozonation. The following are the mean test results for the most essential nutrients.

Please click here to see this report with the average changes between September ‘09 and December ‘09 of:

 Nitrogen (Note, this elemnet increased)

Phosphorous (Note, this elemnet increased)

Potassium (Note, this elemnet increased)

Calcium

Magnesium

Sulfur

Iron

Manganese

Please click here to see this report with a chart that shows the difference between plant tissue in September (before MHW system) versus plant tissue in December (after MHW system). Notice that there was a significant increase in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. All of those nutrients were low in September and now they are at a good level. Calcium, magnesium, and sulfur stayed the same, at acceptable levels. 

D. Irrigation Water  

1.      Special Irrigation Water Testing: Dissolved Oxygen and Fecal Coliform.

 Two environmental tests were conducted on the water: “dissolved oxygen” and “fecal coliform,” each showing positive progress. Keep in mind that even the preliminary September tests showed both measurements were already well within acceptable levels. 

With dissolved oxygen, we have three test results: September (lake water); December (lake water); and December (irrigation water, with high ozone content). Both the September lake test results and the December lake test showed less dissolved oxygen in the water than the December irrigation test WITH ozone. As for fecal coliform, improvement also occurred. The highest reading was the September lake test, the December lake test showed a lower fecal coliform reading; and the December irrigation test with ozone was the lowest of the three.

 A reduction in fecal coliform is directly related to a reduction in algae. Also, an increase in dissolved oxygen is directly related to a reduction in algae, along with a healthier water environment. All water tests show progress in the right direction to eliminating lake algae.

 E. Summary

 1. Soluble sulfur, an excellent barometer of soil drainage, dropped precipitously between September and December, demonstrating that the soil had become more conducive to the downward movement (leaching) of water and soluble nutrients. The decline in total dissolved salts confirms this improvement in leaching/drainage.

 2. Unwanted sodium and salts, the two most serious soil chemical problems on irrigated Arizona soils, were reduced significantly between September and December.

 3. The irrigation water contained an increased amount of dissolved oxygen in December when compared to September.

 4.The irrigation water contained a reduced amount of fecal coliform in December when compared to September.

 5. Future testing:

1. Although there are many positive results in such a short time, further testing is still needed. Two further rounds of testing will be implemented. At the completion of those tests there will be a much clearer picture.

Do you have:

poor drainage?

standing water on your turf?

black layer algae?

sodium crust?

bicarbonate build-up in your soil?

Has your turf been destroyed by poor water quality?

Does your turf look less than perfect?

Mountain High Water will turn your turf into championship quality, using our ozone, oxygen, and CO₂ diffusion system.

Do you want to eliminate turf, water, and soil troubles while saving money?

Without any chemicals or additives, our system treats your water to produce the same effects as aeration, calcium and acids injection, algaecide, wetting agents, sulfur burning, and other classic water and turf practices.

The difference is Mountain High Water creates oxygen and ozone on-site, so there are no additional products needed.  Unlike the other turf treatments you might currently employ, with our system there is no risk of chemical harm to the turf or other expenses, inconveniences, and dangers that go along with storing and using chemicals.  And, our system works with all types of water, whether it is well, reclaimed, city, or brackish.

Installed at your pump station, our system creates the gases and then converts them into micro bubbles which are injected directly into your main line.  This process is used nightly in conjunction with your usual irrigation schedule.  You can actually see the improvement every morning, just like after a rain storm.

Mountain High Water offers full-service water and soil treatment with a single, simple, automated system. 

Are your lakes full of Algae?

Are you using your budget on algaecide, copper sulfate, or chlorine, monthly, with only temporary results?

Mountain High Water will turn your lake into crystal clear water, without using any chemicals.

Do your sprinkler heads have algae in them too?

Mountain High Water’s systems will eliminate sprinkler head algae. 

Do you want to know how we do it?

We use ozone & oxygen gas. Ozone is the tri-atomic form of oxygen. When the third molecule breaks loose, it starts eating the cell wall of bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores, and more. Without bacteria, algae and fungus cannot survive.

Ozone eliminates all bacteria in the irrigation water. So, clean, non-contaminated water is being used for irrigation.

Ozone is 50 times more powerful and over 3,000 times faster-acting than chlorine bleach.

Ozone gas offers the following advantages:

• Eliminates algae
• Eliminates black layer
• Eliminates Bryozoan
• Eliminates foul odors
• Kills fungus & bacteria

Ozone will chelate light metals such as calcium and iron, stopping bicarbonates from binding to them.  This makes these vital metals biologically available to your soil and turf.

We also diffuse pure oxygen, increasing the dissolved oxygen in your water by up to 400%, thereby creating an aerobic environment.

Oxygen injection offers the following advantages:

• Allows greater percolation
• Increases root depth
• Adds oxygen to soil
• Reduces aeration

When the turf is irrigated with highly oxygenated water it releases positively charged ions such as calcium in the soil. This will lower your soil’s Cation Exchange Capacity, creating increased percolation, eliminating sodium crust, and allowing salts to leech through.  High levels of dissolved oxygen in soil will also increase root growth and stop clay expansion.

With standard mechanical aeration, the removal of plugs allows oxygen to get into soil and helps to lower compaction.

Essentially, we are intensely aerating your turf using your irrigation water. Mechanical aeration only allows 10% of your soil to get more oxygen. Our system allows 100% of your turf & soil to get more oxygen daily.

The combination of light metals being chelated, increased percolation, and increased oxygen benefits the root zone immensely. It increases root density, depth, and health. When your roots absorb nutrients better, you can use less fertilizer.

According to industry experts, increasing the dissolved oxygen levels in water is beneficial to the root zone. The following advantages can be expected:

• Better root health, which will promote better absorption of nutrients
• Reduced incidence of diseases
• Better plant quality

We can also inject CO₂ to lower pH, with the following benefits:

• Safe to use
• Accuracy of regulation
• Low maintenance system
• Flexibility
• Safe for the environment

Do you want to know how it works?

• Carbon dioxide is a gas which produces carbonic acid, a weak acid, when dissolved in water.

CO₂+H₂O => H₂CO₃

• Carbonic acid is a mild acid present in water as H+ and HCO₃^-, which are highly reactive ions.

• The ions react immediately with alkalis such as caustic soda, sodium carbonate, and dissolved lime, turning them into neutral carbonates and bicarbonate salts.

H₂CO₃ + 2NaOH => Na₂CO₃ + 2H₂O

H₂CO₃ + Na₂CO₃   => 2NaHCO₃

Golf courses are increasingly required to use poor quality water for irrigation.  Whether using effluent, well, brackish, or city water, diffusing such gases as ozone (O₃), oxygen (O₂), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) will improve the quality of lakes and ponds, irrigation water, and soil.   Common golf course irrigation water issues such as high bacteria counts, high bicarbonates, lack of dissolved oxygen, and high pH levels can be eliminated with ozone, oxygen, and carbon dioxide diffusion. Ozone removes harmful contaminants and bacteria, and creates an aerobic environment that facilitates the decomposition of unwanted organic materials.  Oxygen creates an aerobic environment in the soil, which, among other things, will increase percolation and root growth. Carbon Dioxide controls pH levels. With the proper gas diffusion system, golf courses can substantially reduce the use of chemicals. This paper provides the science behind ozone, oxygen, and carbon dioxide as they relate to the effects on golf course irrigation water and soil.

 Ozone

Ozone is the tri-atomic form of oxygen.  Due to its structure, it is highly unstable, and thus is inclined toward returning to the stable molecule O_2.  The extra oxygen molecule then quickly binds with other components in order to stabilize, as illustrated below.  This property of ozone makes it a very powerful oxidant, with an oxidation potential of 2.07V, making it ideal for sterilization, enhancing fertilization, and removing odors. 

Golf course irrigation water frequently requires sterilization.  Often remaining in holding ponds for days before it is used on the course, it breeds bacteria, viruses, cysts, and fungi.  When this poor quality water is applied to turf it affects the health of the grass by importing unwanted algae and bacteria.  Typically, irrigation water would be sterilized with chemicals, and persistent algal or fungal growths on turf grass would be managed with the addition of algaecides or fungicides.  These solutions are not very environmentally friendly, can be harmful to the golfers, and require expensive and hazardous transport and storage.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ozone is more effective than chlorine in destroying viruses and bacteria.  When ozone is mass transferred into water with an inline diffusion system, removes pathogens and unwanted organic matter, killing algae, spores, and fungus by eliminating their food source, bacteria.  As ozone is generated onsite, the need for transport and storage is eliminated.  Additionally, no harmful residuals remain after ozonation, because ozone decomposes so rapidly. 

Chemical fertilizers added to golf courses are a considerable expense, and might not even be effective because in some areas the soil lacks metals or the soil conditions do not allow for easy metal uptake. Ozone makes fertilizer more efficient. For metals present in the irrigation water, such as iron, manganese, and calcium, ozone will also chelate the metals, making them more biologically available. Hence, you can apply less iron, calcium, and manganese but see better results due to the use of ozone injection. In addition, ozone causes heavy metals such as mercury or arsenic, which are undesirable in the turf, to react to their irreversible hydroxide forms, making them not biologically available.    

Ozone removes odors by oxidizing volatile organics and removing H₂S, without leaving behind a residual odor like chlorine.

In addition to its highly reactive properties being ideal for sterilization, fertilization and odor removal, ozonation also elevates the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration of the effluent. The increase in DO can eliminate the need for re-aeration.

 Oxygen

When ozone is added to any system, it is only incorporated by a few percent by gas volume.  Thus, the remaining oxygen is added as O_2.  Furthermore, in some ozone reaction mechanisms, oxygen is reformed after it has reacted with organic molecules in solution.  Oxygen benefits the turf by aerating the soil and increasing dissolved oxygen levels, producing numerous benefits.

Golf course aeration has undergone many changes over the past 100 years as superintendents strive to relieve compaction and provide their turf with oxygen, the most crucial element for turf survival. Oxygen has two means of introduction into the soil: atmospheric introduction through mechanical aerafication, and dissolved oxygen in irrigation water. Mechanical means of introducing oxygen have become quite advanced, but the next generation of aeration technology will focus on water quality and how it affects soil oxygen levels.

When mechanical aeration takes place, only 10% of the soil surface is exposed to oxygen. When oxygen is diffused into irrigation water, 100% of the soil surface being irrigated is exposed to oxygen.

The ability to dissolve oxygen into water to create a stable oxygenated state which can be used for golf course irrigation systems is very beneficial.  This is accomplished by the use of an oxygen generator that conveniently concentrates oxygen on site. In doing so, the system ensures that oxygen is readily available in the soil/turf profile and prevents soil oxygen levels from becoming depleted by actively growing turf roots or soil microbes.  The resulting elevated DO levels in irrigation water lead to higher DO levels within the soil pore water.  This additional oxygen in the root-zone environment is then available for use by turfgrass roots and soil microorganisms.

Soil microorganisms are an essential part of the soil system since they are the main force driving nutrient movement in soils.  Providing an aerobic environment for soil microbes to flourish is essential in any turf management system. Oxygen diffusion systems can accomplish this by increasing irrigation water DO levels to well above the approximately 5mg/L needed in order to maintain an aerobic environment. 

By increasing the amount of oxygen available in soil pore space, oxygen diffusion supports critical soil microbial activity. Elevated oxygen levels within the soil pore space aid microbes in the mineralization of organic matter to useful forms of nutrients required for plant growth. Maintaining an aerobic environment not only helps break down organic matter, but also reduces the potential for formation of H₂S and CH₄ that prevail in anaerobic conditions. 

Soil microbes also aid in the aggregation of root-adhering soil at the soil-root interface.  This is the physical environment where roots take up O₂, water, and nutrients.  Since soil productivity is dependent on aggregate formation, soil microbes have a direct influence on both soil fertility and productivity.  By facilitating root growth and aerobic microbial activity, oxygen diffusion helps maintain a balanced turf/soil system and has the potential to reduce fertilizer requirements in the long run.

Partially decomposed organic matter or thatch is a major problem on turf, especially greens. This organic matter competes with the turf for oxygen at the soil surface. On many greens, the stress is so great that the turf can’t survive. Oxygen will break down the organic/thatch layer. Two results follow this breakdown of the organic layer.  First, the turf and soil will receive large amounts of oxygen producing the results mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, then this effect also allows nitrogen in the thatch layer to be released into the soil and the turf is able to use it.

Contrarily, if oxygen is not used, nitrogen applied to the soil in fertilizer will be wasted. Plant roots need oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor of the respiratory chain to gain energy for adenosine triphosphate synthesis.  If oxygen deficiency exists, a biologically mediated process called denitrification will use nitrate or other oxidized forms of nitrogen as the terminal electron acceptors for respiration instead of oxygen. In fact, when turf is watered through irrigation or from rainfall, small sites within the soil profile can become oxygen limiting. As soil temperatures rise, nitrogen losses will increase as the turf’s elevated respiration triggers more denitrification and a decreased efficiency in fertilizer use. Horgan’s study proved that fertilizer losses can be significant even after light irrigation because not enough oxygen is available.

Carbon Dioxide

Along with oxygen and nutrients, pH plays a significant role in turf health.  High pH soils promote unfavorable bacterial growth, whereas excessively low pH promotes fungal growth. Ideal turf pH should remain within 6.5-7.5 range (depending on the golf course).  For turf to fend off disease and promote healthy growth, and to maintain a proper soil structure, a constant pH, suited to the region, should be employed. Upsets in the pH adversely affect all organisms, including grass.  For most golf courses, water is one of the largest contributing factors for pH. For some courses, chemicals, either an acid or a base depending on the required adjustment, are used to control pH.  Alternatively, if CO₂ gas is dissolved in to the irrigation water, pH control can be achieved.

For a number of years, sulfuric acid was used in water treatment facilities to control alkalinity. It’s a product that works, but it also has many potential problems. Sulfuric acid can be difficult to apply and control. It is potentially dangerous to store and handle. Safety showers must be installed and readily available to operating personnel who must wear special clothing for their protection.  Additionally, the extremely corrosive acid requires special material for equipment and piping. Maintenance of the system demands frequent component repairs and replacement.  Other acids that are used to decrease pH of golf course water, such as HCl, H₂SO₄, and CH₃COOH are also hazardous to handle due to their corrosive nature.

Carbon dioxide, alternatively, is safe to handle, easy to apply, efficient, and ecologically safe. Controlling pH is critical to a golf course’s process and effluent quality, and CO₂ is the cheapest, cleanest, and easiest alternative to chemical methods.  The cost of carbon dioxide is very inexpensive, particularly when applied with efficient systems. 

Carbon dioxide is safe to use because, in the absence of water, it is inert and non-corrosive. It does not require mechanical transfer or handling equipment. It becomes active only when dissolved in water. CO₂ leaks dissipate safely into the atmosphere, leaving no residue to be neutralized, and having no hazardous effects. Furthermore, carbon dioxide does not corrode metal equipment. No special alloy or plastic distribution piping is required for the CO₂ system.

Application and maintenance of carbon dioxide is easy; it is done using compressed gas cylinders.  For most requirements, carbon dioxide is supplied with a 265 liter dewar, delivered by truck and stored on-site. The CO₂ storage tank is supplied, installed, and maintained by the supplier of the gas. Typically CO₂ is stored in pressurized vessels up to 300 psi which do not require feed or transfer pumps to supply the process. Systems are generally engineered to be pressure driven. With a minimum number of moving parts, this system offers continuous trouble free operation. Moreover, trained technicians can be rapidly dispatched to service the bulk CO₂ tank in the unlikely event of a problem.  The systems also offer flexibility, with a turndown ratio in control of the CO₂ injection rate exceeding 10:1, the pH control system will efficiently and rapidly respond to any fluctuation of flow rate or incoming pH.  Depending on the use at a given facility, a 265 liter dewar will last the course anywhere from one week to an entire month.

Using carbon dioxide is beneficial to the environment as well because there is no secondary pollution introduced into the treated water by salts such as chlorides (from HCl) or sulfates (from H₂SO₄). The introduction of CO₂ will contribute to the chemical equilibrium of water by forming neutral carbonates and bicarbonates.

Here is the chemistry behind CO₂; how and why it works. Carbon dioxide is a gas which produces carbonic acid, a weak acid, when dissolved in water. Carbonic acid is a mild acid present in water as ions H+ and HCO₃, which are highly reactive. 

CO₂ + H₂O  —>  H₂CO₃

The ions react immediately with alkalis such as caustic soda, sodium carbonate and dissolved lime, turning them into neutral carbonates and bicarbonate salts.

 H₂CO₃ + 2NaOH —> Na₂CO₃ + 2H₂O

 H₂CO₃ + Na₂CO₃ —> 2NaHCO₃

CO₂ is better than strong acids for controlling pH because it forms a mild but highly reactive acid which minimizes risks of overt acidification and rapidly responds to any variations of the incoming pH or water flow rate. Over or under treatment with mineral acids will often result in a pH which rapidly deviates from the compliance range.

Conclusion

The benefits that a golf course can see after diffusing ozone, oxygen, and carbon dioxide into its irrigation water are staggering. Diffused ozone removes all algae in lakes and sprinkler heads, reduces bicarbonate levels to under 50 ppm, replaces algaecide and sulfur burning, and increases the effectiveness of fertilizer. Oxygen diffusion increases percolation, root growth, and dissolved oxygen levels.  Effectively diffusing oxygen into irrigation water will provide over 500% more oxygen in the soil than aeration by mechanical means. Carbon dioxide diffusion will control pH levels. Though CO₂ will drastically increase bicarbonates in the water, ozone will counterbalance this effect, thus, in a golf course irrigation application it is recommended to use ozone injection in conjunction with CO₂. Calcium and acid injection can be replaced by diffusing CO₂, oxygen, and ozone at the same time. Now that the technology to economically and efficiently diffuse these gases into irrigation water is available, golf courses can stop using chemicals, improve their turf, and save thousands of dollars a year.

• A Cost Calculator
• Information about our pH Services
• New Golf & Turf and Lakes & Ponds pages

Please check back with us as we continue to add to our new features.