Agricultural Water Quality

Water quality is a key environmental issue facing the agricultural sector and is also important for every agricultural use, from such activities as irrigation to livestock watering to safe household water on farms. Agricultural water sources may be poor quality as a result of natural causes, contamination or both, and often require improvement before it is acceptable for a given use. Agricultural water quality is usually improved using a series of steps. This is called a multiple barrier approach. The first barrier is watershed management or protection. Other barriers are water source management or enhancement, water treatment designed to deal with the problems, and regular water quality testing or monitoring.

AAFC-PFRA's approach to agricultural water issues focuses on protection, enhancement and treatment of rural water supplies in order to protect the environment and improve agricultural productivity.

The publication Ensuring the Safety of Small Rural Water Systems provides an overview of water quality issues facing the agri-food and rural sector, and summarizes AAFC-related projects investigating rural water management solutions.

Water Quality Protection

All water - both surface and groundwater - is subject to contamination. Improper agricultural practices can result in biological, chemical or physical contamination of a water supply. This potential contamination is of concern on the Prairies. Contamination may result from disease-causing micro-organisms or pathogens found animal manure, pesticides used in crop production, hazardous products such as fuel or oil, pharmaceuticals used in animal production, sediment from soil erosion, etc. Improperly applied fertilizers, unmanaged runoff of animal waste and direct livestock watering are a few possible water contamination sources. AAFC-PFRA promotes beneficial management practices (BMPs) which improve surface and groundwater quality.

Water Quality Enhancement

Enhancement of water sources can solve water quality problems by assisting nature in purifying water resources and extending the life of existing wells and dugouts (farm ponds). This option is becoming more popular as the costs of developing new water sources increase. An example of source enhancement is dugout aeration which is not only effective but is also inexpensive to implement.

Many types of preventive maintenance practices are possible for wells. Periodic shock chlorination can be used to protect water quality from deterioration. For more information about treatment of water well problems, visit the Sustainable Water Well Initiative (SWWI) pages.

Water Treatment

Developing innovative new water treatment strategies and demonstrating technologies to rural clients is critical for improving rural water quality. AAFC-PFRA investigates, researches and promotes innovative small-scale water treatment processes to improve water quality for rural users.

Appropriate water treatment depends both on the original water quality and the intended water use. The water quality requirements for the agri-food sector (livestock watering, irrigation, horticulture, chemical mixing, food and non-food processing, domestic), as well as the properties and characteristics of the source water, determine the type, and degree, of water treatment necessary.

Quality Water for Agricultural Productivity

Water quality can impact agricultural productivity. Agricultural producers are realizing that improved water quality can increase productivity and reduce costs of maintenance of water distribution systems. Results of applied research have found that there is a benefit from using quality water suited to the agricultural demand. For example, it has been shown that cattle drinking water of poor quality gain less weight or may have poor health, so an adequate supply of good quality water is crucial to the livestock industry.

For more information:

• visit our best management practices page;
• contact our water quality unit staff or your local AAFC-PFRA office;
• read Prairie Water News, available from PFRA, or on the Internet at www.quantumlynx.com/water