Clean Green Effluent

Testimonial – Clarke Holmes

Business IT South — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 22:15:40 +0000

Effluent System Transforms Operation
Farm Manager Clarke Holmes is reaping the benefits of a Clean Green Effluent Company system, which he believes has completely transformed operations on his parents’ 116-hectare, 265-cow property in Otautau. The family turned to the Clean Green Effluent Company after hearing about its reputation for low-maintenance systems through a family friend in the South Island.
“We examined their system and were immediately impressed. With it being automatic it was simple to operate. It emptied the effluent every day with no need to worry about ponding or run off etc. The technology behind it all worked faultlessly, although looking over the system, Lindsay has designed it with the farmer in mind — it’s very simple. It truly alleviates stress and simplifies a task that was once considered burdensome,” explains Clarke.
According to the Clean Green Effluent Company, the system begins with a unique, patented concrete-lined weeping wall that removes 35 % more solids and nutrients from effluent than any other tested weeping wall. The system is over 1,000 times cleaner than a solids press. The filtered liquid can be reused for cleaning external yards, and the automated green-washing system can reduce freshwater usage by 60% virtually eliminating wash time.
The removal of solids lowers the NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) in the liquid effluent to a level that allows the fully automated, low-rate, low-depth application system to safely apply effluent to land on a daily basis, with a maximum application depth of 0.75 mm. This eliminates the risk of nitrate leaching or ponding. As the solids dry in the weeping wall, the liquids separate and are directed back to the pasture. The entire system remains odour-free and aerobic, and since the NPK levels in the liquid are low, the nutrients can be immediately absorbed by pasture growth. Nitrate leaching is significantly reduced, and the ponds only need minor maintenance on a fortnightly basis.
“It’s much quicker and easier to move the pods compared to a travelling irrigator. What used to take four trips, and a lot of back-and-forth now only takes two trips with the new Clean Green system. “It’s also significantly reduced the time spent at the cowshed for hosing, using the recycled green water from the system. It has easily halved the time, and the water usage has dropped substantially. The simplicity of this system is remarkable. The pasture growth and quality are exceptional, and the accessibility of the races is greatly benefiting our land. Paddocks that were previously inaccessible for travelling irrigator now have four pods, which are improving pasture quality and, most importantly, providing our cows with high-quality grass. It’s beneficial for the cows and, ultimately, it’s beneficial for everything. We are currently experiencing a dry spell, much like the rest of the country, but the area we are now able top cover with pods has given us more availability of grass. Areas of dead pasture have quickly turned green again, ready for the autumn rain.”
Clarke appreciates the system’s simplicity, noting that anyone can monitor it with just a quick glance.
“There are two tanks with floats that indicate the tank levels. One tank should always be empty and the other full. If I see one float raised and the other lowered, I know the system is running perfectly. It’s that easy — no more last-minute surprises with a full pond.”

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Testimonial – Sharon and Willie Muir

Business IT South — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 22:13:18 +0000

A Clean Green Effluent Company system at Sharon and Willie Muir’s 125-hectare dairy farm in Tīmurua is demonstrating how innovative technology can deliver both environmental benefits and operational simplicity for New Zealand’s dairy sector.
The Muirs, who milk 315 cows, have successfully implemented the fully patented Clean Green Effluent Company solution that eliminates the need for large storage ponds through advanced weeping wall technology and automated low-rate application.
“I’ve known Lindsay for 20 years and knew I could trust him to put in a very good system,” explains Willie. “I even put it in without going to look at one as I knew with Lindsay it would be a great system.”
The decision to install the Clean Green system was driven by practical considerations and a desire to reduce maintenance.
“We had a mechanical separator we’d had problems with in the past and it just wasn’t performing,” says Willie. “We wanted to get away from cleaning out stone traps and I knew a weeping wall would simplify our system and reduce labour and maintenance costs.”
The Clean Green Effluent System represents a significant advancement in dairy effluent management, featuring a unique patented concrete-lined weeping wall that removes 35% more solids and nutrients from effluent than any other tested weeping wall system. The system is over 1,000 times cleaner than a solids press.
The technology’s core innovation lies in its ability to separate liquids from solids within the patented timber weeping walls, capturing the bulk of NPK nutrients in organic humus while allowing controlled application of liquid effluent at extremely low rates — as little as 0.25mm per 24 hours.
“When I run my system, the water is a really light colour now compared with my previous system, so I can tell the Clean Green Effluent Company weeping wall separation system is doing a great job,” explains Willie.
The system achieves significant freshwater savings, with industry standards typically requiring 50–70 litres per cow per day for shed and yard washing, while farms operating Clean Green Effluent Company systems report average usage of just 15–20 litres per cow per day.
For Willie and Sharon, the automated nature of the system has also eliminated daily stress and operational complexity.
“It discharges the effluent daily, eliminating concerns about ponding or runoff. The technology has performed flawlessly, and on inspection it’s clear that Lindsay has designed the system with farmers in mind as it’s so straightforward and easy to use.”
The system’s monitoring requirements demonstrate its user-friendly design. The system uses two tanks with float indicators to show levels — “One tank should always be empty and the other full.”
“When I see one float up and the other down, I know everything is running exactly as it should. It’s that simple — no more last-minute stress or unexpected full ponds for us.”
The Muirs have already observed tangible improvements in pasture quality.
“I believe the cows are grazing the paddocks better because the grass quality is better,” says Willie. “The system’s low-rate, low-depth application ensures all nutrients remain in the root base, with nutrient leaching significantly reduced compared to traditional systems. I also anticipate long-term soil health improvements from putting a better-quality effluent product on.”

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Testimonial – Ben Scott

Business IT South — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 21:56:13 +0000

Otorohanga dairy farmer Ben Scott has embraced cutting-edge effluent management technology from the Clean Green Effluent Company that has dramatically reduced labour requirements and eliminated the need for traditional storage ponds.
Ben, who farms in partnership with his father Ken on their 110-hectare property milking 300 cows, installed the Clean Green Effluent Company system after constructing a new 30-aside herringbone shed. The decision to move away from conventional effluent systems came after researching various options and recognising the significant advantages of the innovative approach.
“We got a few quotes from a few different companies, and every other system included a large pond,” explains Ben. “The benefit of the Clean Green Effluent Company system is you don’t need a pond, just a weeping wall and a few tanks.”
At the heart of the technology lies a patented concrete-lined weeping wall that removes 35 percent more solids and nutrients than any other weeping walls tested, achieving results over 1,000 times cleaner than a solids press. This superior filtration enables the system’s remarkable efficiency.
“With the Clean Green Effluent Company system, you only irrigate 1/4 mm per application which means you can irrigate every day, so the pond size is reduced to just a few tanks,” says Ben. “It’s such a unique system. People are always like ‘where’s your big pond?’ But with this system you simply don’t need one.”
The automated system requires minimal supervision — a significant advantage for busy farming operations. The filtered liquid effluent is applied to pasture at a maximum depth of 0.75 mm daily, eliminating risks of nitrate leaching or ponding and maintaining aerobic conditions throughout.
Monitoring the system’s operation couldn’t be simpler. Two tanks with float indicators provide instant visual confirmation of proper functioning.
“I just need to glance over at it as I drive past it and only have to shift the pods every couple of weeks to a new paddock before cows go grazing in it.”
The contrast with traditional systems is stark. On the Scott’s other farm, a conventional pond and irrigating cannon requires constant attention and manual shifting, creating ongoing labour demands.
Installation advantages with the Clean Green Effluent Company system are immediately apparent, with the compact footprint requiring minimal earthworks compared to traditional large pond systems. The entire installation of digging and pond lining was completed in just two days.
Additional benefits include substantial water savings through the system’s greenwater recycling capabilities. The filtered liquid is suitable for cleaning external yards, reducing freshwater usage by 60 percent and eliminating wash time through automated cleaning cycles.
“We use the greenwater on the jetter system and the backing gate, so it’s certainly saved a lot of water,” says Ben.
The system’s low nutrient loading in the liquid effluent reduces risks of elevated post-milking BOD levels, potentially lowering risk of cow metabolic issues and allowing immediate pasture utilisation of applied nutrients.
The ongoing support from the Clean Green Effluent Company has impressed Ben, with company owner Lindsay Lewis providing comprehensive backup and readily available assistance.
“Lindsay is a really good guy to deal with,” says Ben. “If I put a new effluent system in on our other farm, I’d definitely install a Clean Green Effluent Company system.”

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NZ Dairy – Spring 2025

Business IT South — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 21:15:38 +0000

Waterford Press , NZ Dairy -Spring 2025

Innovative effluent distribution system

Lindsay Lewis grew up on a third generation dairy farm with a Jersey stud in Southland and being an electrician/ lift engineer by trade he knew that technology could be used as a solution to all sorts of problems.

In the early 2000s, with increasing numbers of dairy cows around the country, the issue of managing effluent was becoming a major challenge. Lindsay realised there was a smarter way — and began designing systems for dairy farmers who wanted to change their approach.

“I was aware that dairy farmers were getting a bad name because of the way they dealt with effluent but there was no technology to change what they’d been doing. I designed a control system that allowed us to put effluent out in minute amounts on a daily basis instead of having to store it then put it out, in what I call industrial scale amounts, on the limited number of days when the ground is in the right condition,” explains Lindsay.

The size of the dairy effluent problem owes more to the amount of water required to wash everything down in and around the milking sheds than to the 2.5 kgs of pure effluent dropped by your average cow daily, which is the crux of Lindsay’s Clean Green Effluent system. It’s designed around using greenwater in the external yards, while still using the requisite fresh water in the milking shed which is deemed a food processing environment.

The success of the Clean Green Effluent distribution system depends on the weeping wall that Lindsay designed knowing he needed the water to be clean enough for easy, daily use, he explains. “It’s totally different to everyone else’s and what’s coming out is very, very clean. We had to get it down to two parts per million, which meant it was clean enough that Fonterra used our system as the case-study to allow greenwash to be used legally in New Zealand from 2008. The weeping wall takes out the solids and a huge percentage of the nitrogen, potassium and phosphates which means what remains has very little solids and very little nutrients in it. But the key to it is that we get rid of it every day which means it’s still aerobic and the pasture can absorb it, so there’s no nitrate leaching.”

Typically a washdown of the yards and the shed is using 50 to 70 litres of freshwater per cow. By using cleaned, filtered and seriously diluted recycled effluent to wash down the yards that reduces to the 20 litres per cow typically used inside the shed. Farmers using the automated system, which progressively washes the yards behind the cows as they enter the shed, tell Lindsay the yard is cleaner than it used to be because they’re not worrying about how much water they use, and they’re not having to hang off the end of the hose themselves once milking’s done.

The net result of this automated system is no need for effluent storage ponds, no travelling irrigator, no smell, no emissions, and no need to wait for soil to dry out before the effluent can be distributed, thanks to its application rate, says Lindsay. “Instead of putting out an application of 25 millimetres depth, we’re putting out .24 of a millimetre depth of diluted liquid effluent which is less than evo transpiration (or plant’s sweat), so it’s less than what the sun’s taking away. According to the farmers they grow 35% more grass than with any other system.

Also according to what Clean Green Effluent Company’s clients have told him it’s cheaper than any other system they looked at, and any farmer with more than one farm who’s installed it goes on to install it on the rest. It’s a win-win all round including for the environment.

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Dairying By Design NZ Magazine

Business IT South — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:34:48 +0000

Media Release , September 2025

“SWEET VALIDATION”

Building fully automated effluent systems for a fraction of the storage they used to need came down to some logic no one else entertained.

For 18 years, The Clean Green Effluent Company’s Lindsay Lewis told industry leaders and regional councils that they didn’t need big effluent storage ponds. Many laughed him out of the room.

It’s been a long, hard, and sometimes lonely road, but independent trials by leading researchers validated his work — and the Invercargill-based business is now in high demand throughout Australasia.

One of its first installations for a 1,500-cow Southland herd was based around a patented weeping wall and two 33,000-litre water tanks. It is still operating effectively with full council consent 18 years later.

In another example, a Palmerston North client’s regional council recommended 7.6 million litres for effluent storage. The Clean Green System achieved full compliance using a weeping wall and three water tanks (380,000 litres) — just 5% of that original storage estimate.

How is it possible?

“We are the only company that I know of putting out aerobic effluent,” Lindsay said.
“If you store it in a pond, it dies, and a plant can’t eat it until it becomes aerobic again.
We move it out quickly when it’s still alive — that’s key.”

Another important distinction is the parallel timber weeping wall, which separates the liquids from the retained solids. The daily distribution system allows for controlled applications at low rate, low depth (0.25mm) — eliminating nitrate leaching, ponding, and overland runoff.

“The difference between what we do and what everyone else does is that we put out fewer kilograms of nitrogen per day — using fixed pod sprinklers — than the plants can handle,” Lindsay said.
“The plant can absorb 2–2.5kg a day. If you put out 1.2kg of nitrogen a day, you don’t have to shift your pods at all, if you don’t want to. You also don’t have to worry about soil saturation because the plants are processing the nutrients as it goes through.

“But if you apply 20mls in a 20- minutes pass with a conventional irrigator, and then you get rain, there’s no way the soil can retain or absorb it.

“Instead of having a big stone trap, we have a weeping wall. Twice-a-day the water and effluent generated during milking is processed within two or three hours after milking.”

The bulk of the NPK [Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium] is captured in the organic humus at the weeping wall.

Farmers Get It

Lindsay said understanding the concept was initially easier for farmers than for officials.

“Because it makes sense to farmers. The reality is we can build an entire automated system for less than the cost of the ‘mega ponds’ alone.
That includes the pumps, the control gear, the weeping wall, green-washing the yards, irrigation pipes, and pods.”

Then there’s the environmental conversation.

Traditional open pond storage facilities have a large footprint and a significant surface-to-volume ratio, which is negatively impacted by rainwater. The Clean Green System uses sealed tanks for its effluent storage, and its concrete-lined weeping wall reduces rainwater storage requirements.

“Because we process the effluent quickly and it remains aerobic, there is also virtually no offensive smell produced from the storage or the dispersal system,” Lindsay said.

Two Hectares per 100 Cows

In many regions, industry best-practice allows an annual maximum of 150kg/ha of nitrogen application from effluent.

“Our system can be fully compliant while distributing all the effluent liquid in an area of two hectares per 100 cows.”

Ngaere Farms’ Jonathan Perry, at Stratford, said the Clean Green system was simple, made sense to him, and the price was right.

They designed sprinklers — fixing them to their fence posts — to distribute the effluent every day across several paddocks at safe rates.

“We only needed four storage tanks for 750 cows,” Jonathan said. “That’s unheard of.”

No Smell, Leaching, or Emissions

Lindsay says the results are why he does it.

“It’s nice to be acknowledged after almost 20 years, and we remain the only environmentally friendly company doing what we’re doing.”

Dairying By Design – Facebook

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Venture Southland Press Release

Business IT South — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:04:51 +0000

Media Release Friday, 15 October 2010

“SOUTHLAND FARM TECHNOLOGY FIRM WINS NATIONAL CLEAN TECH CHALLENGE”

Southland Clean Tech Challenge winner to take his idea to the world

A special grant from Chevron will see local businessman Lindsay Lewis, owner of Clean Green Ltd – New Zealand’s most promising clean technology idea, travel to San Francisco in November.

Mr Lewis will represent New Zealand in the Chevron-sponsored Global Clean Tech Open Ideas Competition as part of the Global entrepreneurship Week, and compete to win $140,000 of prizes after winning the national competition, which was announced today (15 October 2010). His idea for a fully automated low application dairy effluent system which reduces dairy farmer water use by up to 60% was chosen as New Zealand’s best Clean Tech project.

The Southland Clean Tech Challenge, hosted by Venture Southland, is part of a global search for the most promising clean technology ideas. Ten regional competitions were held attracting a record number of entries, from which the national representative was chosen.

New Zealand inventors were challenged to submit their clean technology concepts for new products, accessories, communications campaigns and building designs. The criteria dictated designs were to be affordable and support great living with less reliance on resources.

“Last year, a New Zealand invention made the world finals, but we couldn’t afford to send the creator to the event. This year, thanks to a special grant from Chevron, we will be able to help the winner develop a professional presentation as well as providing flights and accommodation,” said competition organiser Rob Acton.

“But more than that, with the Chevron grant, we will also be able to produce a video of the most promising regional winners, which will be used to market them to investors and to promote clean technology innovation. We have some great entries with the potential to improve climate change outcomes for the whole world, and we can now get out and promote them, thanks to Chevron,” he said.

When told he had won the National Competition, along with $7000 of International travel and concept development scholarship Mr Lewis said “I’m still in shock. I believe I have designed the only environmentally friendly effluent system in the country and possibly the world. It’s nice to know that the Clean Tech judges can see the impact the Clean Green system will have on improving our dairy industry and environment.

The only way in which we can stop environmental pollution is through technology and improved agriculture practices; I hope regional councils and the industry continue to open their minds to new ways to attack an old problem.”

The Global Clean Tech Open Ideas Competition Final will be held in San Francisco on 17 November 2010.

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Innovation Recognised With Golden Standard Award

Business IT South — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:03:57 +0000

By Teresa Hattan, mediart.net.nz – 21 June 2009

The Innovation centre at the 2009 Fieldays attracted 68 entries in the six categories, all vying for the ultimate Innovation award, The Golden Standard.

The awards were presented yesterday at a breakfast function on site at Fieldays.

The Innovation Centre at Fieldays is powered by the University of Waikato.

Guest speaker, Chancellor of the University of Waikato Jim Bolger, spoke on the value of innovation and the need for an open mind when faced with the ‘big’ innovations of the century, and said “Innovation is without value if it is still in the back shed.”

Fieldays is proud to acknowledge the sponsorship of these awards from the University of Waikato, Straight Furrow and James and Wells Intellectual Property, and is excited by the number and variety of entries this year.

Fieldays Innovations organiser Lianne Dunbar said “Innovation entries this year have been outstanding in both volume and quality.”

The Environmental Golden Standard Award was won by Lindsay Lewis, for his Clean Green Effluent System. This low application, fully automated environmental effluent system, distributes the effluent evenly over a paddock thus reducing the environmental impact.

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Environment Southland 2009 Rural Award

Business IT South — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:03:17 +0000

Highly Commended – Clean, Green Effluent Company

Lindsay Lewis of the Clean, Green Effluent Company has made it his mission to design and refine better ways for dealing with farm dairy effluent.

His system is based on the proven elements of K-line pods and storage ponds with a weeping wall, but with improved valves and other features that deliver effluent at very low application rates – as little as half a millimetre in 24 hours.

The ponds are lined with concrete with the weeping wall placed down the middle, making it easier to clean and more effective in the way it functions.

Trials with Lindsay’s system suggest that farmers can continue spraying effluent onto paddocks even during rainfall, avoiding the need for large storage ponds.

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Dairy Farmer Set To Discuss His Award Winning Effluent System

Business IT South — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:02:28 +0000

DairyMan Magazine – September 2010

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Clean, Green Effluent Winner

Business IT South — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:01:31 +0000

NZ Dairy Exporter Magazine – 1st of August 2009

An effluent system which has a large positive impact on the environment without costing farmers more money won the Fieldays special 2009 category environmental award.

The Clean Green Effluent System was designed by Southlander Lindsay Lewis. It’s a low application, fully-automated environmental effluent system which distributes effluent evenly over a paddock, reducing the environmental impact.

Direct injection

Lewis said the modulated system can be adapted to any effluent system in stages to reduce initial costs. It is being installed in conjunction with direct injection into a centre pivot. Due to the reduced water usage, daily effluent being distributed to the fields is greatly reduced, meaning the dilution rate at the centre pivot can be as low as 0.5 percent.

“The extra-low application rate ensures a greater percentage of effluent stays in the plant root base,” he said.

“Tests carried out on the system by AgResearch, Mosgiel, showed a huge reduction in all the nasties.”

The AgResearch tests showed filtration of potential effluent contaminants when the effluent was applied to a mole pipe-drained site using a low 0.6mm/day approach.

Compared with a single application of 9mm/day of effluent, loads in mole-pipe drainage induced by daily application were reduced by 75 percent for dissolved reactive phosphorus (P). The figure was 92 percent for total P, 94 percent for ammonium-nitrogen (N), 75 percent for total solids and 99 percent for E. coli.

AgResearch’s Ross Monaghan said the test results clearly showed the difference between the system’s very low application rate and that of a standard system. It was a particularly good approach to applying effluent to heavy, mole-pipe drained soils or soils on sloping terrain.

For more information, phone 0800 400 365.

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