This article first appeared in a supplement to the September issue of Poultry Business: Building for the Future
In an industry where every detail matters, water quality often stands as an overlooked cornerstone of successful poultry farming. At International Water Solutions (IWS), the company understands that clean, high-quality water is the foundation of bird health and farm productivity.
In today’s challenging economic environment, where prices have surged, IWS has maintained, and in some cases reduced, prices for its customers. It has achieved this by leveraging smart bulk purchasing and utilising its presence in less price-sensitive sectors.
On poultry farms, IWS solutions address the critical issue of harmful planktonic bacteria like E. Coli, Pseudomonas, and Enterococci, often stemming from contaminated sources of water be it borehole or stored mains, old pipes especially underground and fluctuating shed temperatures.
Since its entry into the poultry industry decades ago, IWS has combined extensive water treatment experience with a deep understanding of poultry farming.
This dual focus has driven the company to develop water treatment systems that actively improve productivity and bird welfare. For example, it worked on over 40 sites during a busy Christmas period, completing 90% of the installs by January’s end, exceeding the customer’s expectations. In another case, it manufactured over 20 advanced egg fogging units for a top integrator within two months, filling a gap left by a redundant equipment.
XZIOX: The heart of IWS’s water treatment
Central to IWS’s offering is XZIOX, a patented solution tailored specifically for the poultry industry. Unlike other biocides, XZIOX is pH neutral, non-corrosive, and approved by the UK’s DWI for human drinking water.
XZIOX is also environmentally friendly, selectively targeting harmful bacteria and keeping drinker lines free from biofilm. The results customers see include lower mortality rates, reduced antibiotic usage, better weight gain, and improved litter and Pododermatitis in broiler farms. Laying sites report higher production rates, better eggshell quality, and lower mortality.
IWS Partnerships
IWS views relationships with customers as true partnerships. Over the past decade, IWS has helped to shape the UK poultry industry’s approach to water treatment.
“Reliable and innovative, IWS consistently delivers high-quality chemical products tailored to meet customer requirements, qualities we look for in the Avara Foods supply chain,” says Adam Cook, procurement category lead, Avara Foods.
“Why do I like IWS? Good service, good product, we have been using them for years and I would highly recommend them,” says Patrick Hook, PD Hook.
“Lohmann GB have been working with IWS for over 10 years and have improved water quality with improved mortality and performance, the team at IWS are supportive, proactive, and initiative at finding farm solutions. They continue to be valued partners in driving water quality,” says John Hodgkinson, Lohmann GB.
“We all crack on about feed needing to be biosecure and wholesome, the same applies to the quality of water that we supply our birds,” says Andrew Ballantyne, turkey division, Hook2Sisters/PD Hook(Turkeys).
“By using the IWS product we are confident that the water is clean and effective at all times of the day. This has led to improvements in bird health, welfare and performance and at the same time reducing our reliance upon antibiotics. The back up service and support is excellent,” says Ballatyne.
IWS now offers knowledge-sharing programmes through workshops and training events aimed at enhancing farm managers’ understanding of water and bacteria.
As the company looks to the future, its mission remains the same: to ensure that every bird, on every farm it serves, has access to the clean, safe water it needs to thrive.