Harnessing Wind and Solar Energy Provides Clean Water Source
Prepared by Nancy Tilt for the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association

Sheep producers, Marc and Helen Carere, farm 300 acres overlooking Sturgeon Lake, just north of Lindsay. They call their place Ballinahistle, in Gaelic meaning, "place by water". It literally is by water, and with a strong conservation conscience, the Careres see the water resources on their farm, as well as those adjacent to their land, as an important stewardship responsibility.

Being so close to an urban area, and in such a picturesque setting, a residential community has developed along the shores of Sturgeon Lake. With this community situated downslope from Ballinahistle and serviced by private wells, maintaining water quality, not only for their 600-ewe flock, but also for their neighbours, is of prime concern to Marc and Helen.

With that in mind, the Careres decided to improve the quality of a half-acre pond located in the middle of their farm, and a water source for their flock. "The pond had become shallower over the years, and water quality, especially during the summer months, was in need of improvement," noted Marc. A band of cattails around the pond created a muddy, damp ring. Helen had observed, "Sheep don't like wet feet and reluctantly pushed their way through the cattails to get water."

Clean drinking water, accessible from dry ground, was their objective. Marc and Helen decided to excavate and fence the pond, set up a trough system with a solar-powered water pump, and aerate the pond using wind power to ensure good water quality.

In late 2001 the Ontario Cattlemen's Association (OCA) and the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency (OSMA) offered financial assistance to selected member producers to establish 25 demonstration projects across Ontario. Funding came from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Initiative, through the Ontario Agricultural Adaptation Council and the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition.

The purpose of the demonstration projects is to promote Best Management Practices (BMPs) for protection of surface and groundwater resources, improvement of soil health and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Ontario Soil and Crop Association delivers the program on behalf of OCA and OSMA.

The Careres recognized the program as an opportunity to protect surface and groundwater resources, and to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by saving energy through the use of wind and solar power.

"There was no set answer for what we wanted to do," Marc commented. "We figured things out as we went along. We excavated the pond to a depth of 14 feet during the summer of 2002. With groundwater inflow and a tile drain emptying into the pond, the pond should completely fill this spring, in spite of last summer's drought."

A two-strand electric fence of high tensile galvanized wire surrounds the pond, providing a ten-foot buffer from the pond's edge. The fence is connected to a recently constructed farm fencing system and monitored from the barn.

The water troughs are two cut-out sewer pipes set end-to-end above ground in a wooden frame that offers 24 feet of watering space, or 140 gallons. The flow rate, as well as the reserve capacity of the trough, allows about 50 sheep to water at a time. "Although sheep are not pushy by nature, it's important that a good number be able to drink at one time so all have their chance," Helen noted. A float switch in the trough regulates the water level.

Kelln Solar, Saskatchewan, manufactures the solar-powered pump. It pumps about 5 gallons per minute-faster than the rate at which the sheep can drink. The pump floats on the surface of the pond and is self-priming. It's well-suited for early spring and late fall operation. The water drains back into the pond when the pump shuts down, avoiding a frozen water line. Sheep use the pond as a water source from May to December.

The solar panels are located on top of the bank within the fenced perimeter of the pond. Excess solar energy is stored in a 12 V deep cycle battery. The two 64-watt solar panels deliver 3500 to 4000 gallons per day on an average summer day. This easily meets the minimum daily water need of 1800 gallons per day for a 600-ewe flock. The amount of lift required from lower pond surface levels was also a factor in deciding on capacity.

To maintain water quality, the Carere's have set up a wind-powered aeration system from Koenders Windmill, Saskatchewan. With a 65-inch diameter rotor mounted on a 16-foot tower, the windmill serves to mix and oxygenate the water to reduce algae build-up in the pond and watering system. Marc notes, "It also serves as a back-up water pumping system, but delivers only 2-3 gallons per minute. So it's not steady or powerful enough to provide the flock's water needs on a sustained basis."

Marc and Helen have made stewardship an integral part of their farm operation. Fencing along drainage ditches and a low-level crossing controls livestock access to watercourses. Buffer strips and windbreaks throughout their farm provide shelter and shade for not only their flock, but also perching sites for hawks, owls and especially osprey that are welcome visitors to their property. Marc comments, "Our plans for development of a buffer around our watering pond are still under consideration." Tree planting, seeding, letting nature take its course, or perhaps a combination, are all options.

"It's very important to us that we operate our farm in a holistic way-that we consider the impact on our land, and neighbouring land, of how we run our operation," Marc emphasizes. "But we also have to do that within the context of making a living," adds Helen.

Good stewardship has its costs. The windmill at $1400 and the solar-powered pump system at $2350 represent about half of the project's cost. But as Marc puts it, "Farmers need flexibility in arriving at innovative solutions for their own operations. The funding available through this program is a welcome initiative for us to do something that also meets the broader goals of society."