Water Management - The Barn and Other Farm Buildings

Table of Contents

1. Mixing and Loading Practices
2. Silage Storage
3. Fuel Storage
4. Fertilizer Storage and Handling
5. Farm Water Efficiency
6. Manure Storage and Handling
7. Milkhouse Waste Management
8. Greenhouse Waste
9. Deadstock and Other Farm Waste Disposal
10. Available in Published Version of Water Management

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.

Figure 1. 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.

Figure 2. 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.

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.

Figure 3. 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.

Fertilizer Storage and Handling

Figure 4. 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.

• 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