Performance goal: Adequate water storage is available on-farm in case of main supply failure.
Description: Base storage capacity on the volume of drinking water required for the number of birds plus the volume of water required for the cooling system at peak consumption periods.
Performance criteria: Sufficient water storage is provided.
Best practice: Sufficient water storage to provide 48 hours of water at maximum consumption rate.
Acceptable: Sufficient water storage to provide 24 hours of water at maximum consumption rate.
Minimum requirements
Enough stored water to supply peak demand for 24 hours, including the water demand for:
peak water consumption
cooling system water
cleaning water.
During new farm development:
assess the supply of water in the region that is available to chicken growers
ensure that there is a water source available that can supply a sufficient volume of water to the new chicken farm.
Storage pump/s:
The supply pump capacity should match the birds’ maximum water consumption and the maximum needs of the cooling systems.
Storage tank/s:
fully enclosed storage tanks to exclude all light
do not use translucent fibreglass tanks
Storage dam
Nutrient levels from rainfall, runoff, etc. going into the dam are minimised.
Evaporation is minimised.
Algae blooms and cyanobacteria are controlled.
Minimise animal access to stored water.
Best practice options
Enough stored water to supply peak demand for 48 hours, including all the following:
peak water consumption
cooling system water
cleaning water.
Storage tank/s:
Water is filtered before filling storage tanks to removed large sediments and organic matter, e.g. algae.
Storage tanks are housed in a separate insulated building, or they are shaded and insulated.
Storage dam:
Artificial aeration can help mix up the water and add oxygen.
Moveable intake height, i.e. to avoid scums on the top of the water column.
Algae bloom – algaecide treatment as per manufacturer’s recommendations.
During new farm, developments consider the current and possible future impacts on:
regional water allocation and competition
licencing and water costs
groundwater levels
salinity impacts
climate change and water scarcity.
Multiple sources of water – there should be a backup water supply, in case the primary source has capacity problems. These could include: a river, bore, off the roof, on-farm dam, or irrigation schemes.
