Before ice settles over farm and ranch dugouts, a fall inspection can help producers protect water quality, check equipment, and prepare for reliable winter livestock watering.
Whether a dugout supplies water year-round or serves seasonal pastures, checking its condition now provides an opportunity to address maintenance needs before winter makes access more difficult.
Alberta Agriculture’s Quality Farm Dugouts manual identifies aeration equipment, water intake positioning, grass buffers and signs of contaminated runoff among as key items to monitor.
Check the aeration system
For dugouts equipped with aeration systems, particularly those supplying water through winter, checking that equipment before freeze-up is an important part of maintaining water quality.
As plants and algae decompose, they consume dissolved oxygen. Ice cover limits oxygen replenishment from the atmosphere, allowing conditions to develop that can leave water black and foul-smelling.
Before freeze-up, check the compressor, inspect the air line for damage and confirm the check valve is functioning. Inspect the diffuser and clean or replace it as needed.
Provincial guidance recommends continuous, year-round aeration, with the diffuser positioned on or near the bottom to circulate oxygen throughout the dugout. A properly selected diffuser distributes air more efficiently than an open-ended hose.
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