Watering stock in rural areas present some challenges.
Generally the cattle producer excavates a dugout or has a well drilled to provide the necessary water. The dugout is a simple way to provide a source of water for the herd, but it can present a few problems when the cows go for a drink. A water well works great if it is within a reasonable distance form a source of electricity, if it is not, then what?
Dugouts can gradually run low, if not dry, unless of course if they are spring fed. When the water level drops, cows have to wade through the mud to get to it. Their sharp hooves are not designed for soft ground so sometimes cows get stuck, and the steady churning of the mud makes for poor water quality. These problems are not good.
Remote watering systems have been powered by solar systems for a number of years.
For a dugout situation, a floating pump system and water tank can address the bog and water quality problems. The water is delivered to a tank on hard ground, allowing the dugout to be fenced off; this improves water quality and eliminates the risk of cows stuck in the mud. In addition, if the pump and solar system is mounted on a wagon, it can be moved from pasture to pasture, eliminating the need for multiple systems.
The pumping systems are relatively simple. They consist of a floating pump, enough hose to get to the tank, a power system complete with solar panels, batteries and a controller unit.
The controller is the electronic part that runs the pump, starting and stopping it as necessary, and also keeps the batteries from over charging. The size of the system is determined by the number of cow calf units in the herd, the time of year and length of time in pasture.
Relatively speaking, water wells can be cheaper and easier to install than a dugout but then the need for power to pump the water has to be addressed.
If you have an old-fashioned pump jack, you can use a gas motor to run it but it needs daily attention.
The solar-powered submersible pumping system suits a water well situation; it’s almost maintenance free and is cost effective when compared to bringing in grid power.
The system is basically the same as the floating dugout pump, solar panels, batteries, control unit and pump.
The big difference is the pump. Because the lift height is considerably higher, the pump has to be more efficient, have a set diameter to allow insertion in the well casing and, of course, requires more power.
It does not matter what cattle watering system you are using, there is a solar pumping system to cover it; cost effective and more or less maintenance free.
The sun can do the work for the rancher to get his stock watered.
Lorne Oja is an energy consultant, power engineer and a partner in a company that installs solar panels, wind turbines and energy control products in Central Alberta. He built his first off-grid home in 2003 and is in the planning stage for his second. His column appears every second Friday in the Advocate. Contact him at: lorne@solartechnical.ca