The most essential element for life is water. It is only when it becomes scarce that we realise its importance in our everyday lives. During these dry months, livestock demand for water will be at its maximum level, so we need to make sure our systems are able to cope and meet this demand. Both group schemes and private wells are coming under pressure.
Irish Water has told the Irish Farmers Journal that water availability in many water supply schemes is diminishing. As a result, it is likely that water pressures will be reduced if reservoirs continue to decline.
Many of their schemes are already experiencing supply-demand deficits and the number is continuing to increase. However, it has assured farmers that in the event their own supplies are inadequate, they will be facilitated to collect water, free of charge, from another scheme not under as much pressure. Any issues should be reported to the Irish Water call centre on 1850 278 278.
Private water wells are also drying up in places and pumps are under increased pressure to deal with the extra demand. Whatever your water source is, there are a number of steps you can take to help ensure an adequate supply for livestock and sprayers. Below we have outlined some tips.
1. Check for leaks and be
conservative
When you are out checking livestock, always check that the water trough is full and keep an eye out for leaks. Over time, huge volumes of water can be lost via a small leak, so they are worth sorting out. Leaks will be apparent where there is unusually damp ground and unexpected lush vegetation, which should be very easy to identify at present.
Check metres regularly. If the night usage is unusually high or the counter is still running when everything is turned off, you may have a leak. Water troughs should also be checked for overflowing or poorly-adjusted ballcocks.
Any unnecessary washing of sheds should be avoided until water restrictions are eased. On dairy farms, wash the essentials to maintain hygiene in the parlour. Collecting yards should be dry scraped and only areas that are prone to becoming very slippery should be washed.
Where irrigation is required for vegetable and arable crops, this work should be carried out at night to reduce evaporation losses.
2. If you have a shallow well that is at risk of drying up consider setting up a water storage tank. Long term a new deeper well should be bored.
2. Take the pressure off your water supply
Having a reservoir in place is a big help in reducing pressure on water sources when demand is strongest. This is particularly apparent in the case of private water wells.
Hugh Briody from the well-drilling specialist company Tom Briody & Son, Kells, Co Meath, said they have been inundated with calls regarding issues with water wells. He said the main problem is due to wells being too shallow.
“A lot of wells on farms are 30 to 40 years old and are 80ft to 150ft deep. This was adequate for 30 to 40 cows and a dwelling house back then, but with herd sizes now a multiple of these figures, these wells can’t cope,” explained Hugh.
Discoloured water coming out of your tap is one of the main telltale signs that a well is struggling. If you can hear the submersible pump working in the well, it is also a sign that water levels are running low, according to Hugh.
“These shallow wells just can’t keep up. Take a 100-cow dairy herd, they might require up to 5,000l in the hour after the morning milking alone between drinking water and washdown. Some wells might be only able to produce 3,000l/hour,” he said.
The best temporary solution where wells are coming under pressure is to set up a storage tank with a booster pump to supply paddocks. Hugh says this will take some pressure off the well because a reserve will be in place. This is useful for mains supplies too.
Long term, farmers should consider boring a new well that is deep enough to have an adequate reserve of water available underground to withstand the pressure from droughts such as this.
A new 6in-diameter well over 200ft deep costs over €5,000. Hugh says there is no point trying to deepen an existing well and it is better to have this well available in reserve when required.
3a The pressure vessel kit for a submersible pump should be checked for air leaks.
3. Maintain well pumps and components
A combination of increased usage and wells drying up is having an impact on well pumps and their components.
Karen Gorey from Glenngorey Pumps said there are a number of steps farmers can take to help the longevity of pumps during the stressful time. Before you carry out any servicing, make sure the electrical supply to all parts are switched off first.
• Check if the pump is cutting in and out regularly or too quickly. This could be a sign there is a leak in the water supply or a leak in the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel should be sized appropriately for the volume of water required daily.• Check the pressure switch, the contacts in the switch can become worn or corroded over time, which prevents them from performing their function of turning the pump off when adequate pressure is built up. • If the pump overload in the control box is tripping out regularly, it could be a sign that the capacitor is weakening and needs changing. A new capacitor costs approximately €15. It may also be a sign there is a shortcircuit somewhere. • The electric cable supplying the pump should be held securely and not at risk of fraying over time. Submersible pumps should be suspended using a 6mm to 10mm nylon rope. • Where the water in a well is at risk of running low in times of peak demand, probes can be installed and connected to the control box. They will first give a warning if water supply is running low and if it drops below a very low level, they will cause the pump to switch off. An alternative and cheaper option is a loss of prime pressure switch. This means the pump will not be running constantly and at risk of burning out.• Where there is a lot of iron or manganese in a well, pump heads should be cleaned every six months to a year. Some farmers have two pump heads and alternate them so they can carry out this cleaning procedure with a well pump company. Cleaning the head regularly helps avoid damaging the pump. 
4. If there is no other option watercourse s can be used to supply drinking water for livestock using a tanker. Be mindful of fish habitats if going down this route.
4. Use watercourses if all else fails
If all else fails and there is no other option, farmers can organise to remove tank loads of water from rivers and lakes for livestock. This is a labour-intensive job and should be avoided if at all possible. Farmers must also be mindful of fish habitats if they are abstracting water in this manner.
Avoid areas where there is a known endangered fish habitat. Inland Fisheries Ireland is appealing to landowners to abstract water in a sustainable way to ensure adequate levels are available to protect the aquatic habitat. Make sure tankers are cleaned out fully before carrying out this work and do not clean tankers on or near a river bank. Above all else, be careful.
The most essential element for life is water. It is only when it becomes scarce that we realise its importance in our everyday lives. During these dry months, livestock demand for water will be at its maximum level, so we need to make sure our systems are able to cope and meet this demand. Both group schemes and private wells are coming under pressure.
Irish Water has told the Irish Farmers Journal that water availability in many water supply schemes is diminishing. As a result, it is likely that water pressures will be reduced if reservoirs continue to decline.
Many of their schemes are already experiencing supply-demand deficits and the number is continuing to increase. However, it has assured farmers that in the event their own supplies are inadequate, they will be facilitated to collect water, free of charge, from another scheme not under as much pressure. Any issues should be reported to the Irish Water call centre on 1850 278 278.
Private water wells are also drying up in places and pumps are under increased pressure to deal with the extra demand. Whatever your water source is, there are a number of steps you can take to help ensure an adequate supply for livestock and sprayers. Below we have outlined some tips.
1. Check for leaks and be
conservative
When you are out checking livestock, always check that the water trough is full and keep an eye out for leaks. Over time, huge volumes of water can be lost via a small leak, so they are worth sorting out. Leaks will be apparent where there is unusually damp ground and unexpected lush vegetation, which should be very easy to identify at present.
Check metres regularly. If the night usage is unusually high or the counter is still running when everything is turned off, you may have a leak. Water troughs should also be checked for overflowing or poorly-adjusted ballcocks.
Any unnecessary washing of sheds should be avoided until water restrictions are eased. On dairy farms, wash the essentials to maintain hygiene in the parlour. Collecting yards should be dry scraped and only areas that are prone to becoming very slippery should be washed.
Where irrigation is required for vegetable and arable crops, this work should be carried out at night to reduce evaporation losses.
2. If you have a shallow well that is at risk of drying up consider setting up a water storage tank. Long term a new deeper well should be bored.
2. Take the pressure off your water supply
Having a reservoir in place is a big help in reducing pressure on water sources when demand is strongest. This is particularly apparent in the case of private water wells.
Hugh Briody from the well-drilling specialist company Tom Briody & Son, Kells, Co Meath, said they have been inundated with calls regarding issues with water wells. He said the main problem is due to wells being too shallow.
“A lot of wells on farms are 30 to 40 years old and are 80ft to 150ft deep. This was adequate for 30 to 40 cows and a dwelling house back then, but with herd sizes now a multiple of these figures, these wells can’t cope,” explained Hugh.
Discoloured water coming out of your tap is one of the main telltale signs that a well is struggling. If you can hear the submersible pump working in the well, it is also a sign that water levels are running low, according to Hugh.
“These shallow wells just can’t keep up. Take a 100-cow dairy herd, they might require up to 5,000l in the hour after the morning milking alone between drinking water and washdown. Some wells might be only able to produce 3,000l/hour,” he said.
The best temporary solution where wells are coming under pressure is to set up a storage tank with a booster pump to supply paddocks. Hugh says this will take some pressure off the well because a reserve will be in place. This is useful for mains supplies too.
Long term, farmers should consider boring a new well that is deep enough to have an adequate reserve of water available underground to withstand the pressure from droughts such as this.
A new 6in-diameter well over 200ft deep costs over €5,000. Hugh says there is no point trying to deepen an existing well and it is better to have this well available in reserve when required.
3a The pressure vessel kit for a submersible pump should be checked for air leaks.
3. Maintain well pumps and components
A combination of increased usage and wells drying up is having an impact on well pumps and their components.
Karen Gorey from Glenngorey Pumps said there are a number of steps farmers can take to help the longevity of pumps during the stressful time. Before you carry out any servicing, make sure the electrical supply to all parts are switched off first.
• Check if the pump is cutting in and out regularly or too quickly. This could be a sign there is a leak in the water supply or a leak in the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel should be sized appropriately for the volume of water required daily.• Check the pressure switch, the contacts in the switch can become worn or corroded over time, which prevents them from performing their function of turning the pump off when adequate pressure is built up. • If the pump overload in the control box is tripping out regularly, it could be a sign that the capacitor is weakening and needs changing. A new capacitor costs approximately €15. It may also be a sign there is a shortcircuit somewhere. • The electric cable supplying the pump should be held securely and not at risk of fraying over time. Submersible pumps should be suspended using a 6mm to 10mm nylon rope. • Where the water in a well is at risk of running low in times of peak demand, probes can be installed and connected to the control box. They will first give a warning if water supply is running low and if it drops below a very low level, they will cause the pump to switch off. An alternative and cheaper option is a loss of prime pressure switch. This means the pump will not be running constantly and at risk of burning out.• Where there is a lot of iron or manganese in a well, pump heads should be cleaned every six months to a year. Some farmers have two pump heads and alternate them so they can carry out this cleaning procedure with a well pump company. Cleaning the head regularly helps avoid damaging the pump.
4. If there is no other option watercourse s can be used to supply drinking water for livestock using a tanker. Be mindful of fish habitats if going down this route.
4. Use watercourses if all else fails
If all else fails and there is no other option, farmers can organise to remove tank loads of water from rivers and lakes for livestock. This is a labour-intensive job and should be avoided if at all possible. Farmers must also be mindful of fish habitats if they are abstracting water in this manner.
Avoid areas where there is a known endangered fish habitat. Inland Fisheries Ireland is appealing to landowners to abstract water in a sustainable way to ensure adequate levels are available to protect the aquatic habitat. Make sure tankers are cleaned out fully before carrying out this work and do not clean tankers on or near a river bank. Above all else, be careful.
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