Water quality – its Basic!

Its December and in South Gippsland our creeks have slowed to little more than a trickle. Like many rural properties we have to rely on water stored in dams to get us through to Autumn. Our garden and nursery stock put extra demands on our supplies, and of course the cows are always thirsty!

Around the farm we use rainwater tanks for the house and dam water for the cows. We also need water to wash down the dairy. For that we keep back and recycle rinse water but use dam water as well. In the dairy we need better quality water for washing down milking machines and for feeding to calves. For this we use rain water supplemented with treated dam water.

Through Summer as water levels fall, dam water comes under many stresses. This shows up as changes in pH, oxygenation, build up of nutrients and salts, turbidity and organic matter levels.

Farm dam at low water level in Summer
One of our dams at low level during Summer of 2015. As water level drops basic water quality can change and is shown by factors like clearness, oxygenation, pH, salts and nutrients.

Where does water come from for your farm or rural property? Are you getting the right quality for the right use?

A water test can be a good first step to get your water supply right. It can tell which supplies can be used in different parts of the farm. A test can also pick up changes in water quality or even hazards in the water.

There are many options to treat water so that it can be used in more critical applications. At Apps Laboratories we provide the testing that gives a start in improving your water quality.

Our Basic water quality test is designed to test for around 9 critical water quality factors. We do the tests in our own lab – on our farm.

No you won’t be left with a report that makes no sense because we highlight all the key issues and talk about the possibilities for your water in a way that ‘normal folks’ understand because we know that’s what you expect.

Our Basic water quality test is good for tank water, dams, springs and bores.

To get your water tested is easy. Just go to our appslabs.com.au How to order page for instructions on collecting and posting samples.