The Homestead
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Pond/swamp water source
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Pond/swamp water source
We are in the process of developing a new homestead. On the new property, at the top of the red clay hill is a swampy area that appears to have several small ponds. I have no idea how deep these ponds are. I do know that the deer are drinking water there. I would like to use this as a water source for the livestock but I feel like it would need to be filtered. Other than a barrel with gravel and sand, can someone recommend a water filtration system for this type of application?
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15 Replies
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At the family farm the few cows the in-laws have drink indiscriminately marginally serviced stock tanks at the house end of the pasture or the pond at the base of the hill on the other end; the latter is shared with deer, foxes, raccoons, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. It seems to not affect them. When it dried to pudding this year, they just switched to the stock tanks.
(Consider this an “I, too, would like to know” more than as an answer).
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I was thinking the same way, based on my observations and experience. Livestock and pets can drink the same as the wild animals, from ponds, streams and ditches. Most livestock ponds I’ve seen are just big holes dug in the dirt to collect or hold water, and not lined or filtered. When they’re lined it’s to keep water from soaking away into the ground rather than for keeping it clean. Maybe it’s different in other parts of the country.
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Things you want to consider is is this run off from your neighbors farm where they have sprayed herbicides or pesticides. Crop dusters are not a good thing either… Just something to think about.
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Defiantly not runoff as it is the high point of the land, but there are other types of pollution to consider for sure.
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How small is small ponds? To me it sounds like they are spring fed and if so could be done up as a proper spring with possibly the best water you’ve ever had! Or the worst. lol Likely somewhere in between.
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It has been suggested to me that there is a spring, but I cannot verify that at this time. The swampy area is approximately 50ft wide and approximately 1000ft long. Most of it is very overgrown but I can tell there is at least two areas where the water is ponding. I need to put some goats up in there to do the dirty work. I don’t know if I can get my drone in there due to the trees. It is probably a basin in the top of the clay hill that collects rainwater.
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Me being me would go find the wettest spot and dig down until I had a nice little pool say three feet across and deep and I’d keep pumping the water out until I trace back where it’s coming from. The water should clear up as you pump it out or syphon it out if it’s a spring.
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I have been trying to upload a pic for days now. So this morning seems like everything finally came together to allow me to upload a small vid of a very small portion of what I call our swamp. It is a whole lot larger than what you will see here. It covers the whole top of the hill, about 1000 ft long.
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If they’re no running water into it or out of it… How does it weather dry season?
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Last summer, during the drought there was still a lot of water in places. I’m not sure that really means anything. I do plan on making a rain catchment systems once we have some roofs in place. I just really need to get some goats there and was hoping to use that water for now.
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Use what you have. Locals here treat their cattle for parasites they claim the cattle get from drinking from stagnant ponds.
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A lot of NW Florida scrub oak/pine tree areas are sandy on the surface with clay sub-soil that holds these pockets of water. The wildlife used them, and as they dry up they change their water source to more permanent sources. I would doubt there is a spring (but it is possible). I’m in Washington county, just a bit east of your area, grew up here in the “sand hills” of the panhandle. and would suggest you continue to look for a water source instead of depending on the one pictured. Just my 2 cents, wish I had better news for you!
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Thank you for the input, but this is not our 5 acre property in the panhandle of Florida. it is our 20 acre parcel in Conecuh county Alabama. Were the really delicious sausage comes from. Lol.
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Sorry! I watched the video, it looks just like the property around here – and your profile showed Santa Rosa county – my assumption was not correct. Good luck finding water. I’m looking into catching rainwater when I get the new barn roof into place too…
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No worries, it is all good input. Makes a body think about things.
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