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Water Conservation on the Farm
Principles
Principles of Water Saving
The basic principles of saving water are: to review your existing practices and to identify opportunities for improvement.
Reviewing current practice
Carry out a review which looks at how water is used, where it is used, what for and where it is disposed of.
Avoidance
Can you use less water? Try to see where you can avoid using water in the first place. The use of alternative techniques may eliminate water use altogether.
Water Reduction
Can you reduce the amount of water you pay for? Consider which current practices can be changed to reduce the quantity of water being used.
Water Re-use
Can the water be used more than once?
Proposed Actions
Good ideas can provide significant benefits. Where appropriate, take action.
Quick tips
Fix Leaks
A leaking pipe joint, trough or dripping tap can contribute to the loss of 10 gallons per unit per day. To detect leaks look out for: unusually damp ground, more lush than expected vegetation (for a recent leak) and reduced vegetation (for a long term leak).
Pay attention while filling tanks
A water tank that is accidentally left to run over while filling with a hose can be responsible for the loss of 5 gallons per minute.
Recycle water
Divert uncontaminated wash water or clean cooling water to a storage tank. Then reuse this water through a pump to wash down the parlour.
Install floats
Installing ballcocks or floats on Leveled water tanks that will shut off supply when water tank is full will provide all the water you or your animals need but won't waste any.
Manually clean floors and alleys
Before washing down, to reduce the amount of water needed.
Use a bucket or a sink
To rinse small equipment, rather than with running water.
Catch the rain
Collect water from your gutters and down pipes but always make sure to securely cover large containers for safety. Use this water for hosing down sheds and yards by submersing a pump into the water butt or container.
Regularly read your meter
Getting in the habit of reading your meter will alert you to any changes in the amount of water you use and could indicate a problem such as a leaking pipe or a faulty ballcock in a trough.
Reading your meter, black numbers on a white background are cubic meters. White numbers on a red background are units of 10 litres. The meter shown is 881.4194 m3 or 881,419.4 litres. The dials to the bottom right are 10 litres per revolution for the small dial and 1 litre per revolution for the large dial.
