Emergency Water Supply Options During Drought

Consecutive dry years on the Prairies have created shortages of both water and pasture across large parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The shortages of feed in several areas saw many farmers move their livestock to graze on cropland with no water supplies, or to pastures where water supplies were depleting.

The following are some of the temporary options that have been used and recommended by livestock producers to supply water to livestock during drought periods:

Water Hauling

Often a costly and time-consuming alternative, hauling may still be the most practical option during a temporary water shortage. Hauling water five kilometres with a 1,250 gallon polytank in the back of a truck costs about $35 per load. The cost to water 50 cow-calf pairs for one month is approximately $600. Water is typically hauled from neighboring wells, deeper dugouts and nearby tank loading facilities.

Emergency Pumping Equipment

Emergency water pumping equipment, including irrigation type pumps and pipe for transferring water from remote water sources to depleted dugouts and reservoirs, can be rented from both private and government agencies across the Prairies.

Inactive Water Wells

Wells on abandoned farm sites that have not been pumped for a number of years can be reactivated by installing pumping equipment. Portable generators can be used as an emergency power source for the well pumps.

Portable Pipelines

Portable pipelines may be used to supply water to pastures and cropland that are located within a few kilometres of the water source. A one kilometre (approximately 3,000 feet) pipeline of one-inch pipe can deliver over 22 litres (five Imperial gallons) per minute, which equates to approximately 5,455 litres (1,200 gallons) in four hours. One kilometre of pipeline with a trough system costs less than $2,000 to set up. The pipe can be cut into100 meter segments and fitted with cam-lock couplers to make the system portable to transport to other sites.

Small Seepage Dugouts

Seepage dugouts may be a temporary fix on fields where there are permanent wet areas. If the wet area is the result of a high water table, it may be possible to have a backhoe excavate a small dugout (approx. 30 feet x 30 feet and 10 feet deep) that will slowly fill by seepage. Prevent livestock from trampling the dugout and contaminating the water by fencing off the dugout and pumping water into a nearby water trough. The water should be tested prior to construction as water quality may be too saline for livestock consumption.

Existing Surface Water Supplies

Where water quality permits, wetlands that are almost dry and have only three or four feet of water may provide a short-term water source. The wetland should be fenced and equipped with a pumping system. Cattle watering directly in the water source can turn these water sources into mud holes almost instantly. It is also easy to lose a valuable animal that becomes mired in the mud. Remote watering can help to preserve water quality and prevent loss of livestock.

While producers may be forced to turn to temporary solutions during prolonged periods of drought, these options are not intended to replace the development of long-term drought proof water supplies in areas where permanent water supplies are required.