CAROLINE, Alta. – Fay Pengelly remembers swimming in the farm dugout as a youngster but would not dream of doing it now.
Dugouts on her family’s property near Caroline were built decades ago and some have eroded sides, algae growth, weeds and muddy water that is probably full of harmful bacteria.
It is time to rehabilitate, she said.
Alberta Agriculture water engineer Shawn Elgert offered advice to producers such as Pengelly during a recent farm tour in Clearwater County.
Dugouts fill with runoff from the surrounding land, so determining the size of a dugout depends on the potential amount of runoff from rain or snow that will be captured, along with evaporation loss.
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“We generally design a dugout by looking at runoff maps in the area,” he said.
The smaller the quantity of runoff expected in an area, the larger the contributing area must be to fill a dugout.
In dry regions of southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan, more than 2,000 acres of land are required to produce enough runoff to fill a dugout with a capacity of one million imperial gallons.
In wetter areas of southeastern Manitoba, less than 25 acres might be required to supply the same volume.
Elgert said dugouts should be built to hold at least a two year water supply. It is also important to consider evaporation losses.
Evaporation may account for seven times the annual use in southern regions of the Prairies and four times the annual use in central areas.
When building the dugout, Elgert recommends steeper slopes to minimize water surface area.
This keeps the water cooler for better quality with less weed and algae growth.
Most dugouts have been dug about 31/2 metres deep but greater depth is recommended to keep water cool. Depth is lost over time as sediments flow in each year.
“You should always dig a test hole before you start your dugout,” he said.
Some producers dig their dugout without realizing there is a vein of sand and all the water seeps away.
Water quality is a key consideration.
“There are a whole slough of biological organisms in your dugout when cattle are walking in it and watering directly,” he said.
Grass useful
One of the best ways to ensure good water quality is to plant grass around the dugout to filter out sediments and other undesirable material from the runoff.
Locate the dugout away from a feeding or bedding area to prevent runoff from that area from draining into the water supply. Remote systems where water is pumped from the dugout and delivered to the cattle are recommended. It is good to have a backup in case the pump fails.
Good quality water can improve weight gains and prevent organ damage. Nitrates found in manure can drain into the water and, if the levels are high enough, can kill young calves.
“Water quality can make up to 20 percent difference in production gains compared to whether cattle are drinking from a poor water source,” Elgert said.
Over time silt and other sediments accumulate in the bottom, affecting quality. He recommended cleaning out the dugout every seven years.
A dugout can be aerated to add oxygen and new ones may have liners to prevent harmful sediments from leaching into the ground water.
Chemicals like copper sulfate may be used to control blue green algae, which can poison cattle.
The water may also be tested for the presence of toxic bacteria, alkalinity, pH and turbidity. Household use is not a good idea unless a good treatment system is in place.
“There are a lot of people who still drink straight from their dugout. That is not recommended at all,” Elgert said.
Landowners should test the raw and processed water from dugouts to make sure the treatment system is working.
