Importance

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Abstract

The apparatus includes a housing (10) defining a housing cavity (18) and at least one connector (15) for connecting the housing to an irrigation conduit (26) so that the housing cavity (18) is exposed to irrigation water flowing through the irrigation conduit (26). A first electrode (13) is positioned within the housing cavity (18) and is made from a growth inhibiting metal. A second electrode (14) is electrically isolated from the first electrode (13) and includes a surface exposed within the housing cavity (18) in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the first electrode (13). A voltage source (30) is connected to the first electrode (13) and to the second electrode (14) for applying an electric potential across the first and second electrodes. When the housing cavity (18) is filled with irrigation water passing through the irrigation conduit (26), the voltage source (30) applied to the first and second electrodes (13, 14) causes an electric current to flow between the electrodes, releasing ions of the growth inhibiting metal into the irrigation water. The method of the invention includes exposing both the first electrode (13) made of a growth inhibiting metal and the second electrode (14) which may or may not be made of a growth inhibiting metal to irrigation water flowing through an irrigation conduit (26). Once the electrodes are exposed to the irrigation water, the method includes applying an electrical potential across the electrodes to induce a current flow between the electrodes (13, 14) and release ions of the growth inhibiting metal into the irrigation water.

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First Claim