Repairs on water systems can become a major job if the systems used are not well installed or maintained in the first place.  

Check the water in your troughs... will it make you sick?

When you buy your property ask if there is a map or plan showing where pipes are laid – and if there is not one, take the time to try and get one sorted.  It can save hours – not to mention water – in the event of a leak if you don’t have to actually look for the pipes all over your property. 

Don’t forget the leak may not even be in the place you see the water coming out of the ground. 

Make sure you service your pumps regularly – pumps that are old and have not been serviced have an annoying habit of breaking down at times when it’s hot and dry and water demand by the stock is high.

If you are thinking of  increasing your demand for water through higher stock numbers or new planting check your water system can cope first. If you can’t afford an upgrade it might pay to delay your expansion plans for a season.    

The water system cannot cope because stock numbers have been increased without the water system being upgraded to meet the extra demand.

If the water pipes are too small to cope with demand and  troughs are regularly emptied, stock will be waiting for them to fill to get a drink and this will eventually have an impact on stock condition and milk production.

Check your water pipes are not  laid on the surface where  they can get damaged by machinery and the water is heated by the sun making it unpalatable to stock.

Check any electric fencing or appliances that are near a trough – stray voltage on the surface of the trough can understandably make stock reluctant to drink. Stock also need enough space to get a decent drink – beware of troughs in a fence line so they are shared between two paddocks.

You don’t want to drink dirty water – and neither does your stock – clean your troughs!  Talk to your neighbours or your stock agent and find out how they keep their troughs clean. They don’t need to be sparkling pure but if the water makes you feel sick to look at – chances are it is going to make your stock sick if they drink it.