Water
Management
The Barn
The Barn and Other Farm Buildings
The water you use around farm buildings can directly affect the quality
and quantity of your water supply.
Nearly 34,500 Ontario farms water livestock. This accounts for 57%
of agricultural well water use. Keeping surface and groundwater clean
is beneficial to:
- family health
- livestock health
- neighbours, community, and all downstream water users
- aquatic environment and wildlife
- public perception of agriculture
- your bottom line: nutrients and pesticides are most cost-effective
when they remain on their target crop
You should expect the same regard for water protection from other
water users.
Here are some excerpts of the Best Management Practices presented
in this book:
Mixing and Loading Practices
Here are some tips and considerations:
locate
the area where you mix and load as far away as is practical from
any water source - the Ontario Environmental Farm Plan Worksheets
recommend a distance of 91 metres (300 ft) from any well or other
water source
- a mixing/loading area with a curbed concrete pad and runoff containment
will contain any spilled chemical or rinsate
- use a separate water tank as the water supply
- use an anti-backflow device and/or a 15-centimetre (6-in) air
gap above the sprayer tank when drawing water - it will prevent
water in the spray tank from draining back into the water source.
A chemical mixing/loading area should be designed to contain any
spillage.
Silage Storage
Storage Location
- store your silage away from any water source, at least 91 metres
(300 ft) from a well and at least 152 metres (500 ft) from surface
water
- impermeable surface soil (heavy clay) around the storage will
help to prevent seepage to ground water.

Silage acids will deteriorate the concrete in silos. Both concrete
pre-cast stave silos and cast-in-place silos will be affected by acids
in silage. Careful inspection, maintenance, and repair are necessary
to protect the silo's structural stability.
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Fuel Storage
Maintenance and Safety Precautions
Regular annual servicing should be done by a registered contractor.
Also,
- for security, the fuel nozzle should be locked when not in use
- fuel nozzle should automatically shut off either when it's released
or the tank is full (ULC-approved nozzles). There should be constant
supervision while pumping
- rainwater should be removed from diked areas
- above-ground and underground tanks require inventory control
- you must have an emergency plan readily available at the storage
site
- check all equipment regularly to ensure that it is in good working
order. Hoses, nozzle valves, and fittings should be properly tightened
- post warning signs, and have a fire extinguisher readily available.
A small fuel leak of one drop per second can mean a loss of 900
litres of fuel in a year. Your farm's water supply can be polluted
by just a few litres of gasoline in the ground water.
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Fertilizer Storage and Handling

Use a mixing/loading area with a curbed solid pad and runoff containment
to contain spilled fertilizer.
Storage
- store only small amounts of fertilizers for short periods, prior
to application
- make sure containers are clearly labelled and well-maintained
with no holes, tears, or punctures
- restrict access to the storage area
- protect stored dry fertilizer (bulk or bagged) from the weather.
Cover and store on a solid surface such as sealed concrete
- contain and store liquid fertilizer on a solid surface with a
separate, adequately-sized runoff containment area. This will prevent
water contamination if a spill occurs.
Farm Water Efficiency
Efficient water use means achieving the same
or better level of production with less water.
Make water efficiency efforts part of your overall farm plan. Make
sure any action you plan is feasible. Common sense remains one of
your best resources.
Here are some additional tips:
- monitor water needs, water use, and water waste throughout your
operation, and target areas where efficiency can be improved
- plan your water use to ensure adequate water supplies for your
own operation, while taking into account others using the same water
source
- ensure that your water use is not harming the quality or
quantity of water for downstream water users
- understand the legal requirements for water use and obtain any
permits required.
Manure Storage and Handling
Refer
to the Best Management Practices book, Livestock and Poultry
Waste Management (for update by 2003, becomes Manure Management)
for a guide to manure handling, storage, and application on
your farm.
Diverting clean water away from stored manure will reduce the
amount of contaminated water.
Milkhouse Waste Management
For
a guide to milkhouse waste management on your farm, refer to the
Best Management Practices book, Livestock and Poultry Waste Management.
Many dairy farmers have installed a treatment/disposal system
to prevent milkhouse washwater from directly polluting streams.
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Greenhouse Waste
You can reduce greenhouse waste through reducing, recycling, and
proper disposal to protect ground and surface water supplies.
Refer to the Best Management Practices book, Horticultural Crops,
for practical advice in greenhouse production.
Deadstock and Other Farm Waste Disposal
Proper disposal of dead animals is extremely
important to protect the health of both people and livestock. An
animal carcass can contain harmful bacteria and other disease organisms
that can contaminate you or others directly, or through leaching
to your water supply.
Deadstock must be disposed of within 48 hours
- either buried under 0.6 metres (2 ft) of earth or picked up by
a licensed Dead Animal Collector. This is a requirement under the
Dead Animal Disposal Act.
No hazardous substances should be disposed
of on the farm, and farm waste material should be reused or recycled
wherever appropriate.
Available in Published Version of Water Management
-
Pathways of Water
- The Water Cycle Around Your Barn
- Water Sources
- Water Use
- Wastewater
- Sources of Contaminants - Chart
- Pesticide Storage and Handling
- Safety Concerns
- Storage
- Emergency Plans
Related Links
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For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
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