Module 2 — Planning Your Water System
11
Water Source Options
Wells
Water wells are generally the first choice of Albertans wherever there is an adequate
supply of good groundwater. In areas of marginal groundwater supply, livestock operations
often use a combination of wells and dugouts. The better quality water from the well usually
supplies the household and may supplement the livestock’s requirements.
For most household situations, wells with a production rate of less than 5 gallons per
minute (gpm) for a one hour (peak use) period do not supply enough water so it is usually
necessary to create additional water storage using a tank or cistern. Wells that produce at a
5-10
gpm rate usually do not require additional storage.
When a lot of demand is placed on the well at any given time it should be capable of
providing a minimum of 10 gpm for at least 2 continuous hours. If the flow rate of the well
falls short of this amount, a cistern is usually the best option for providing water storage,
to overcome the shortage of water. For livestock operations, a well should be capable of
providing all of the water requirements in an 8 to 12 hour period.
Dugouts
In areas where there is either poor groundwater supply or quality, dugouts may be used
exclusively, or in combination with a well, as a water source. If you need to rely solely on a
dugout for your water, size the dugout for a two to three year supply. Over this period, the
dugout will be filled from runoff or an irrigation canal. When you plan the dugout, be sure to:
Locate the dugout upstream of any livestock areas or other sources of contamination
Fence the dugout
Install a pumping system with a floating intake
Aerate.
If you have a well and dugout, it is recommended that you use the well water for
household use because it is typically of better quality. Dugouts can provide a good quality
water source for livestock and irrigation purposes. Check dugout water quality and be aware
of risks of algae, etc.
The publication "Quality Farm Dugouts"
provides information on design, maintenance
and management of a dugout. For more
information on using and treating dugout
water for household and livestock use, see
Module 12 "Other Resources" for a list
of publications.
A well that produces as little as 0.5 gpm
can meet average household needs for most
Alberta families if the water is pumped into
a cistern and stored for peak use times.