• Introduction
• Uses of Water in the Farm
• Sources of Water in the Farm
• Collection and Storage of Water
• Pumps and Pumping of Water
  • Types of Water Pumps
• Conveyance of Water
  • Piping
  • Use of Containers:
  • Use of Canals:
• Water Treatment
  • Importance of Treating Water
  • Methods of Treating Water

Introduction

• Water is a very important natural resource.
• It is necessary for both crops and livestock.

Uses of Water in the Farm

• Cleaning equipment.
• Irrigation in dry areas.
• Processing farm produce, for example, coffee.
• Drinking by livestock and man.
• Mixing agro-chemicals such as acaricide, fungicides and herbicides.
• Providing power in water mills to grind grain crops.
• Cooling engines.
• Construction work.

Sources of Water in the Farm

Three major sources of water in the farm:

• Surface water:
  Includes water from; 
  
  • Rivers,
  • Streams
  • Dams.
• Ground water:
  Includes water from;
  • Springs,
  • Wells
  • Boreholes.
• Rain water:
  This is water tapped in various ways such as;
  • Rooftops
  • Rock surface, when it is raining and stored in various ways.

Collection and Storage of Water

• Dams:
  • These are structures constructed across rivers and channels.
  • They collect and store water for use during the dry season.
• Weirs:
  • These are structures constructed across rivers to raise the water level for easy pumping.
  • Unlike in the dams water flows over the barrier created across the river.
• Water Tanks:
  • These are structures made of concrete, stone, metal sheets and plastics.
  • They store water from rain or that which has been pumped from other sources.
  • Tanks should be covered to prevent contamination from dust.

Pumps and Pumping of Water

• Pumping is the lifting of water from one point to another by use of mechanical force.
• Water is pumped from the various sources and then conveyed to where it is required for use or storage.

Types of Water Pumps

Used to lift water from its source.

• Centrifugal pumps
• Piston or reciprocating pumps
• Semi-rotary pumps and
• Hydram

Conveyance of Water

- This is the process of moving water from one point, usually the source or point of storage to where it will be used or stored.

Piping

- This is where water is moved through pipes.

- The common types of pipes include:

• Metal pipes
• Plastic pipes
• Hose pipes

Use of Containers:

-  In this case water is drawn and put in containers .

- drums, jerry cans, pots, gourds, tanks and buckets.

- Which are carried by animals, bicycles, human beings and vehicles.

Use of Canals:

- In this case water is conveyed from a high point to a lower one along a gradual slope to avoid soil erosion.

- Water conveyed through this way is mostly used for irrigation and livestock.

Water Treatment

- Raw water contains impurities which may be dissolved, floating or suspended in water.

- These impurities are grouped into three categories, namely:

• Physical impurities: these are dissolved impurities detected by colour, taste and smell.
• Chemical impurities: these are dissolved impurities detected by use of chemical analysis.
• Biological impurities: these are microorganisms in water such as bacteria, viruses and algae.

Importance of Treating Water

• To kill disease causing microorganisms such as cholera and typhoid bacteria that thrive in dirty water.
• To remove chemical impurities such as excess fluoride which may be harmful to human beings.
• To remove smells and bad taste.
• To remove sediments of solid particles such as soil, sand and sticks.

Methods of Treating Water

• Aeration: this is the removal of smell and odour from water by fine spraying or bubbling of air.
• Sedimentation: this is where water is put in large containers so that solid particles such as sand, metal and others can settle at the bottom.
• Filtration: this is passing water through fine granular materials to remove solid particles and biological substances.
• Coagulation: addition of chemicals which precipitate impurities and help in softening of hard water.
• Chlorination: Sterilization to destroy disease causing organisms.