All Resources

Small earth fill dams

Description

Earth fill dams are a good alternative to dugouts where larger volumes of water must be stored at a reasonable cost and suitable site conditions exist. Proper design and construction is essential... More ≫

Description

Earth fill dams are a good alternative to dugouts where larger volumes of water must be stored at a reasonable cost and suitable site conditions exist. Proper design and construction is essential for dams; otherwise they will fail from washouts or seepage losses. If water quantity is your main priority, then a dam could be the best option. If better water quality is the important factor, a dugout is probably a better option. Take the time to properly plan, construct, inspect and maintain your dam, and it will be a valuable water resource for your farm for many years to come.

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Farm water supply requirements

Description

All farms in Alberta require a safe and dependable supply of good water. To accomplish this goal requires some planning. Start by estimating the average daily water requirements and annual water... More ≫

Description

All farms in Alberta require a safe and dependable supply of good water. To accomplish this goal requires some planning. Start by estimating the average daily water requirements and annual water requirements.

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Automatic livestock waterers

Description

A reliable, constant supply of good quality water is an essential part of any livestock enterprise. Automatic waterers are standard equipment on most farms because of their convenience and... More ≫

Description

A reliable, constant supply of good quality water is an essential part of any livestock enterprise. Automatic waterers are standard equipment on most farms because of their convenience and efficiency. They consist of an insulated base and a heated bowl that automatically fills with water from a pressurized line. A float-operated valve controls the level of the water in the bowl. A thermostat, set at 4 to 6° C, regulates the water temperature in the bowl.

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Aeration of dugouts or ponds with compressed air

Description

Dugout aeration improves water quality by maintaining dissolved oxygen levels. Of all the methods used for improving dugout water quality while it is in the dugout, aeration is the most effective... More ≫

Description

Dugout aeration improves water quality by maintaining dissolved oxygen levels. Of all the methods used for improving dugout water quality while it is in the dugout, aeration is the most effective and practical technique.

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Hydrated lime treatment improves dugout water quality

Description

Although the dugout liming treatment has proven to be successful, it is only one management tool available for improving water quality. Aeration, sedimentation controls and other methods of algae... More ≫

Description

Although the dugout liming treatment has proven to be successful, it is only one management tool available for improving water quality. Aeration, sedimentation controls and other methods of algae and weed control should also be used. Liming has worked successfully on most dugouts; however, a small percentage of dugouts have not shown improvement after treatment by a qualified liming company. Dugouts with a high level of organic color (yellow to brown) fit into this category. It is recommended that another coagulant such as aluminum sulphate be considered instead of the hydrated lime. It is much more effective on dugouts with a high level of dissolved color

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Float suspended water intake for dugouts

Description

Research shows that water in the top four or five feet of a dugout is of higher quality than water at the bottom and edges. The reason for this difference in quality is that the algae and plants... More ≫

Description

Research shows that water in the top four or five feet of a dugout is of higher quality than water at the bottom and edges. The reason for this difference in quality is that the algae and plants that grow in dugouts eventually die and decay at the bottom and edges, resulting in black, smelly water conditions. Research also shows that although the addition of aeration to a dugout will improve dugout water quality, a float suspended water intake allows users to pull the best quality of water from the dugout. Float suspended water intake systems have been successfully used in dugouts for the last 20 years. They have replaced the gravel type infiltration trenches that would fail from both sediment plugging and deteriorating water quality problems.

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Seepage control in dugouts

Description

Seepage from dugouts often results in serious water losses. In many parts of the province, dugouts provide the only available water source, owing to poor quality or unavailable groundwater. In... More ≫

Description

Seepage from dugouts often results in serious water losses. In many parts of the province, dugouts provide the only available water source, owing to poor quality or unavailable groundwater. In these areas, it is important to reduce seepage losses. The amount of seepage loss in a dugout depends on the soil in which the dugout is constructed. A careful consideration of these properties is recommended when selecting dugout locations. The physical methods of sealing dugouts have relatively longer service life than chemical methods. The chemical methods need to be repeated once every few years.

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