AquaVerify

Agricultural water control for safer irrigation, export readiness and traceability

AquaVerify helps farms, cooperatives, greenhouses, growers and agricultural laboratories turn water sampling into operational decisions: georeferenced points, microbiological analysis, results, deviations, reports and evidence by plot, crop and season.

Agricultural water control for safer irrigation, export readiness and traceability

Challenges

  • Variable sources: Wells, reservoirs, canals, surface water, desalinated water or reclaimed water can show microbiological variation across seasons or even between irrigation events.
  • Sensitive crops: Vegetables, berries, leafy greens, fresh fruit and ready-to-eat crops require special attention when water may contact the edible part.
  • Greenhouse and hydroponics: Closed or recirculated systems need control by point, trend and action to prevent a deviation from spreading across the circuit.
  • Audits and exports: Buyers ask for more than results: they need traceability, criteria, actions, history and proof of water-risk control.

Workflow

  • Water source: Well, reservoir, canal, network, reclaimed water, desalinated water or internal loop.
  • Sampling point: Location, water use, plot, crop, season and responsible person.
  • Analytical plan: Indicators, frequency, matrix, alert criterion and applicable method.
  • Execution: Field sampling, kit, partner laboratory or internal laboratory.
  • Result: Reading, review, CoA, trend, criterion comparison and alert.
  • Decision: Release, hold, treat, repeat, investigate source or document action.

Teams

  • Agronomic engineering: Defines risk by crop, plot, irrigation system and growth stage.
  • Irrigation manager: Coordinates points, frequency, samples, treatments and operational decisions.
  • Quality and export: Prepares evidence for customers, buyer audits and destination markets.
  • Sustainability and water: Consolidates sources, reuse, efficiency, indicators and continuous improvement.
  • Laboratory and consulting: Connects results, reports, CoA, observations and technical support.

Risk matrix

  • Open-field irrigation: Source variability, runoff, upstream contamination and changes after rainfall or drought. Point map by plot, seasonal history, deviation alerts and documentary support for irrigation decisions.
  • Greenhouse and hydroponics: Recirculation, biofilm, accumulation of microbiological load and rapid propagation in closed circuits. Circuit-level control, point trends, treatment records, results and linked corrective actions.
  • Reclaimed water for irrigation: Need for risk plan, permits, quality requirements and coordination between producer, operator and end user. Chain of custody, evidence by water lot, reports, deviation follow-up and audit documentation.
  • Reservoirs, canals and ponds: External inputs, wildlife, sediments, algae, seasonal variation and points with different exposure. Georeferencing, recurrent sampling, zone comparison and traceability of the likely origin of deviations.
  • Packhouse and produce washing: Risk of transfer to produce, fit-for-purpose water and postharvest record requirements. Connection between water point, lot, shift, result, CoA and evidence available for customer or audit body.
  • Cooperatives and grower groups: Multiple farms, providers, different criteria and the need for one common view for buyers. Standardized points, roles, reports and dashboard to compare risk, operational compliance and actions.

AquaVerify modules

  • Water point plan: Sources, reservoirs, wells, canals, networks, circuits, plots, crops, seasons and owners. Operational inventory with location, criticality, frequency, history and status by point.
  • Microbiological analysis: Integration of laboratory results and kits for bacterial indicators and somatic coliphages when required by the analytical plan. Comparable results, technical review and traceability from sample to report.
  • ENUMERA® Soma 100 mL: Enumeration of somatic coliphages in 100 mL when a complementary viral indicator is required. Quantitative data for control plans, reuse, fecal-contamination investigation or advanced verification.
  • PLAQUE Soma and INDICA Soma: Somatic coliphage analysis options by plate or presence/absence depending on matrix, volume and control objective. Flexibility for laboratory work, validation, operational screening or recurrent programmes.
  • AquaVerify App: Sample registration, location, user, date, photos, observations, lot or season and chain of custody. Less context loss and more consistency between field, laboratory and report.
  • AquaVerify Cloud and CoA: Management of results, reports, deviations, actions and documentation by point or farm. Centralized evidence for customers, audit bodies, internal audits and seasonal review.

Use cases

  • Fruit and vegetable irrigation: Microbiological follow-up by source and plot for fresh crops, leafy greens, berries, citrus, stone fruit and high-value production.
  • Hydroponics and greenhouses: Control of circuits, recirculation, tanks, drainage, misting, treatments and trends that affect protected production.
  • Reclaimed water and reuse: Records for permits, water lots, results, deviations and evidence associated with the risk-management plan.
  • Packhouse and postharvest: Linking washing or cooling water to lot, shift, report, criterion and customer documentation.
  • Cooperatives and grower groups: Unified criteria, points, providers, laboratories and reports across multiple farms and customer audits.
  • Deviation investigation: Comparison of sources, zones, dates, conditions and results to prioritize repeat sampling, treatment or source investigation.

Roadmap

  • Water inventory: Map of sources, points, water uses, crops, plots and owners.
  • Risk-based plan: Frequency, indicators, criteria, methods and responsibilities by crop and use.
  • Traceable execution: Sampling, results, CoA, deviations and actions connected in one workflow.
  • Comparison and trend: Reading by season, source, plot, crop, provider and laboratory.
  • Continuous optimization: Adjustment of points, treatments, frequency and decisions to reduce uncertainty.

References

  • Regulation (EU) 2020/741: Minimum requirements for the safe reuse of water for agricultural irrigation in the European Union.
  • Royal Decree 1085/2024: Spanish water-reuse framework covering risk management and agricultural, urban, industrial and other uses.
  • ISO 5667-1:2023: Guidance for the design of water sampling programmes and sampling techniques.
  • ISO 10705-2: Detection and enumeration method for somatic coliphages in water.
  • Codex CXG 100-2023 and CXC 53-2003: Guidance on safe water use and reuse in food production and fresh fruit and vegetables.
  • GLOBALG.A.P. IFA: Primary production standard for fruit and vegetables covering traceability, food safety and water management.

FAQ

Does AquaVerify replace an agricultural or food audit or validation?

No. AquaVerify provides traceability, coordination, results and evidence. Audit or plan validation remains with the competent body, audit body, customer or technical owner.

Can it be used for reclaimed water in irrigation?

Yes. It can help organize points, water lots, results, reports, deviations and actions linked to the risk-management plan and applicable requirements.

Can it work with external laboratories?

Yes. The platform can connect samples, chain of custody, results, CoA, observations, deviations and documentation with either an internal laboratory or a partner laboratory.

What types of agricultural water can it manage?

Wells, reservoirs, canals, surface water, networks, desalinated water, reclaimed water, hydroponic circuits, fertigation and postharvest washing water.

Where do somatic coliphages fit?

They can be used as a complementary viral or fecal indicator when the analytical plan, matrix and technical criterion justify it, especially in advanced or reuse programmes.

Can it organize data by plot, crop and season?

Yes. Points can be related to plots, crops, seasons, lots, growers, shifts, customers, criteria and documents.

Does it help prepare customer audits?

Yes. It centralizes reports, CoA, point history, corrective actions, sampling evidence and documentation for fast and consistent responses.

How does a project start?

The first step is to review water sources, uses, crops, critical points, sample volumes, laboratories, customer requirements and the decisions that currently depend on those results.