Emergency Water

[redlevel]

Being dependent on well water, what to do in case of a prolonged electrical outage is always a concern. I don't have a pond or a stream on my property. I could pump water from a nearby creek into a tank on my pickup, but access is a problem.

I have a salt-water pool in my yard, and it suddenly occurred to me that it could possibly suffice in a pinch. The pool water is about 3000 ppm salt. I believe I once read that cattle can tolerate salt levels up to 5000 ppm.

Thoughts?

 

[callmefence]

Well in a prolonged electric shortage I'd start the generator.

 

[M.Magis]

Can't imagine the chlorine would be good for them unless you let it set and dissipate. But that would take quite a while.

 

[boondocks]

How many cattle you got? Worth digging a pond?
We have 2 natural springs, for which we are very grateful, although the volume does vary and the pressure to get it up an incline is sometimes not there

 

[Supa Dexta]

Water totes and a gas pump. A full cube is over 2000 lbs though, so be prepared for that. 1 seems to do about 25 pair a day. I have a wagon setup with 4 on it that I tow to fields without water when I rotate thru, Sometimes fill it a couple times a day, depending on animals I have there at the time.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Pawn shops are covered up with generators,Craig's list..etc

 

[kenny thomas]

Pawn shops are covered up with generators,Craig's list..etc

I bet the generators are scarce across the south. They are stealing them here in south TX.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Pawn shops are covered up with generators,Craig's list..etc

I bet the generators are scarce across the south. They are stealing them here in south TX.

Looking at their user name, probably, red level right next to the Florida line...

 

[Workinonit Farm]

Being dependent on well water, what to do in case of a prolonged electrical outage is always a concern. I don't have a pond or a stream on my property. I could pump water from a nearby creek into a tank on my pickup, but access is a problem.

I have a salt-water pool in my yard, and it suddenly occurred to me that it could possibly suffice in a pinch. The pool water is about 3000 ppm salt. I believe I once read that cattle can tolerate salt levels up to 5000 ppm.

Thoughts?

I don't know that I'd be inclined to offer salt water, for the cows to drink.

I would be more inclined to be sure I have a generator set-up, specifically for watering the cattle. If not possible, then pumping from another source and hauling it to them.

We have a creek that runs through the place, a small pond/puddle-pond on 'the hill' pasture, 3 small rain barrels, as well as an area with a hydrant/well-pumped water.

Just my :2cents:

 

[M.Magis]

The salt level is very low, but its still chorinated like other pools.

 

[dun]

Well in a prolonged electric shortage I'd start the generator.

Yup, that's my solution too

 

[TexasBred]

I have one pasture where the only source of water if from rural water system. Very heavily chlorinated. Never had any problems.

 

[dun]

Concerning chlorine, the folks in this area that are on private wells frequently have problems with livestock that haul to fairs. They won;t drink the stuff for the first day or 2 then when they do start they have the squirts when the get back home.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

I have one pasture where the only source of water if from rural water system. Very heavily chlorinated. Never had any problems.

Yes, but I imagine the level of chlorine is not what it would be if it were from a swimming pool.

The pools that I have been in, both public and private, have had more chlorine in the water than any public water source.
But, that could just be what it is like where I am. Maybe things are different where you are.

 

[Farm Fence Solutions]

Well in a prolonged electric shortage I'd start the generator.

Dang right. The icemaker quits when the power goes out, and we can't have that.

 

[TexasBred]

I have one pasture where the only source of water if from rural water system. Very heavily chlorinated. Never had any problems.

Yes, but I imagine the level of chlorine is not what it would be if it were from a swimming pool.

The pools that I have been in, both public and private, have had more chlorine in the water than any public water source.
But, that could just be what it is like where I am. Maybe things are different where you are.

Maybe not but sometimes it's so strong it will almost burn your eyes. Have to filter the water we drink in the house. Some folks actually put chlorine tablets in their water tanks to kill bacteria and hold down algae growth.

 

[dun]

I have one pasture where the only source of water if from rural water system. Very heavily chlorinated. Never had any problems.

Yes, but I imagine the level of chlorine is not what it would be if it were from a swimming pool.

The pools that I have been in, both public and private, have had more chlorine in the water than any public water source.
But, that could just be what it is like where I am. Maybe things are different where you are.

Maybe not but sometimes it's so strong it will almost burn your eyes. Have to filter the water we drink in the house. Some folks actually put chlorine tablets in their water tanks to kill bacteria and hold down algae growth.

There are several water supply systems in this area. The one north of town that we used to live the odor was so strong it would make you eyes water, east of town not so much. We have our own well so don;t care what they do in and around town

 

[Highpoint]

Chlorine kills good microbes among other things. Not good choice unless you can let dispell. You can test using pool water tester. Chlorine has also been shown to cause depression in humans if extended use but for short term in cattle at low rate probably not.

 

[jkwilson]

The chlorine wouldn't be a concern in the pool water other than the odor and taste causing cows to not drink it. The level is typically not much different than what you see in city water. You smell it more in a pool because it's coming into contact with more impurities (like human bodies) and the resulting byproducts have a more distinct chlorine smell. In a power outage, the chlorine level in the pool would start dropping pretty quickly anyway, and putting it in a dirty stock tank would quickly reduce what was left. I'd be more concerned with the stabilizer used in the pool water to protect the chlorine from sunlight. It is cyanuric acid. NPN feed products already contain some CYA, but I have no idea how the levels compare with what is in pool water (typically 70-80ppm) or how that might affect a cow.

If combined with melamine, CYA can potentially cause renal failure in some animals.

I claim no expertise on whether it is a risk or not, only that I'd want to know before letting them drink it.

 

[bball]

At the house, generator as stated previously. At some of the other pastures, I have some shallow wells we blew in.(think shallow 1 1/4" driven well, except pvc instead of galvanized pipe) hook a small gas pump up and water as long as you have gas for the pump.