Where is your stock water going?

The agricultural industry continues to feel the effects of climate change; with rising temperatures every summer and a reduction in average rainfall, droughts are becoming more frequent and severe. Due to less water availability, many farmers are looking to improve efficiency in irrigation, however stock water systems are often overlooked.

A DairyNZ study estimated that 26% of stock water is lost through leakage. Leaks can happen in any number of ways; overfilling, bad pipes or deterioration of materials. While there is the obvious issue of wasting a scarce resource, having a leak takes drinking water away from stock. Instead, water leaks back into the soil creating muddy patches and endangering animal welfare with dehydration and compromised hoof health.

Even a hole in a tank or trough, the size of a small nail, could lose approximately 14,000L in one day. Dairy or lactating cattle consume up to 70L of water daily, so with a leak the size of a small nail, enough water to hydrate 200 cows would be wasted everyday.

Knowing quickly when you have a leak can not only save time and water, but can also help to  reduce the chances of trough damage from stressed animals.

Waterwatch helps farmers monitor their water tanks remotely, with no line of sight required, so you can take a fishing day and still have peace of mind that your stock have a reliable source of water.

The Waterwatch tank monitor provides alerts and water level insights to a mobile app, notifying you of any issues quickly, potentially saving you 14,000L a day.