Water Quality
Water available throughout the rural areas can contain many contaminants. These can be divided into four basic groups
- Physical
- Chemical
- Biological
- Bacteriological
Some contaminents can be harmful to health of humans and livestock, others can damage the pump and pipeline, still others can cause damage where the water is used. It is always a good practice to have water analysed to determine what the contaminants are and determine how their effect can be minimised.
Physical contaminants are usually silts and other insoluble matter.
The most common chemical contaminants are salts. The following chart lists the tolerance levels for common water users.
|
Salinity Tolerance for Drinking water
|
|
|
MilliSiemens |
DeciSiemens |
Grains |
Milligrams per Litre (or Parts per Million) |
|
mS/m |
dS/m |
gpg |
Mg/L or ppm |
|
Humans |
250 |
2.5 |
100 |
1500 |
|
Dairy Cattle |
550 |
5.5 |
230 |
3300 |
|
Weaners |
1100 |
11 |
460 |
6600 |
|
Beef Cattle |
1550 |
15.5 |
650 |
9300 |
|
Adult Sheep |
2200 |
22 |
920 |
13200 |
|
Lambs |
1100 |
11 |
460 |
6600 |
|
Horses |
1080 |
10.8 |
450 |
6500 |
|
Pigs |
750 |
7.5 |
310 |
4500 |
|
Poultry |
500 |
5 |
210 |
3000 |
|
Ocean |
5800 |
58 |
2440 |
35000 |
Useful Formula
Power (Water Watts) = Litres per sec x Metres Head x Relative Density x Gravity
Pump efficiency = Water Watts x 100
Input Power (Watts)
Axioms of a Water Managent
- Allow for a minimum of three days storage in tanks
- Fence stock away from all water sources
- Plant trees around dams to minimise water loss
- Check troughs and tanks regularly