Module 2 — Planning Your Water System
9
Planning Your Water System
This module helps you assess whether your water source has adequate capacity to meet
your needs. Water sources are covered in detail. You will also get an overview of the planning
considerations and benefits of a well-designed water system.
A water system may include:
Water sources
Pumps
Pressure system and additional storage if required
Distribution system including pipelines, automatic waterers, hydrants
and home plumbing
Water treatment equipment.
Why Plan?
Often little thought and foresight are given to planning a farm or home water system. On
the surface, a water system seems no more than an automatic pump and storage tank that
delivers water under pressure to the household. There are other important aspects, such as
how much water is available, the pressure requirements, water quality and provisions for
watering a garden and fire fighting. When planning your water system, consider all the uses
(
current and potential) of water in your home and business. Include such things as:
Livestock watering
Cleaning barn floors and equipment
Irrigation of gardens and greenhouses
Egg and milk production
Fire protection.
A water system that is well planned and designed costs more initially but saves money in
the end. Costly changes to correct errors are reduced and you have a convenient and reliable
water supply, provided you monitor and maintain the system (see Module 5 "Monitoring &
Maintenance of Your Water Well" and Module 6 "Shock Chlorination").
For more specific information on pumps,
pressure tanks, pipeline sizing, water
quality and treatment equipment, contact
a water specialist with Alberta Agriculture
and Rural Development. You could also
contact the Alberta Water Well Drilling
Association or your local licensed water well
contractors. See Module 11 "Contacts for
More Information".
You should determine water quality and
availability before you buy a new property
or build a new home. If there is an existing
well, you should have it yield tested to
establish its performance. You should also
have the water tested for quality.
For more information refer to
the Water Wells That Last video (Part I —
Planning and Construction).