Why a Water Trough?
Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District offers a bunch of cost share programs, helping to pay for everything from winter cover crops, to trees, to stream fencing, but perhaps the most popular item is the frost free water trough. From a conservation standpoint, the automatic trough helps distribute grazing better, and keeps livestock from using a stream or pond to get their water.
Beyond those benefits, its just plain convenient. Eliminating the chore of hauling water every day or two is worth the installation cost for many farmers by itself. Most frost free troughs are hooked into to an existing water line, such as one running to an outdoor spicket or from the owners home. A pipeline is buried below the frost line running to the trough. The trough itself has a plastic "thermal tube" which runs 3 or 4 feet into the ground, which during normal useage draws up enough warm air to keep the trough from freezing in winter (yes it really works). A float valve keeps the trough filled, and a floating ball, about the size of a volleyball, seals the trough when the animal isn't drinking. This ball helps keep the trough from freezing, and also keeps junk and bugs from taking up residence inside the trough. Best of all, no electricity is required.
Ok, so lets get down to brass tacks, how much does it cost? Here at the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, we estimate the total cost for an installed, 2 ball water trough as being $2000.00. This includes, the trough, its cement pad, and the gravel around the pad to keep the area from turning into a quagmire. The pipeline from the water source goes for about $3.00 a foot installed. A number of contractors in the county offer sales and installation on livestock watering troughs, a list of those we've cooperated with in the past is available from the LSWCD office.
If you install a trough in a field where you also agree to fence out a stream, wetland or pond, Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District will pitch in 75% of the estimated installation costs, making an alternative water source like a frost free trough, a very intruiging alternative indeed.
So whether you're looking to help clean up a stream, spread out your grazing, or just reduce your water hauling workload, a frost free automatic water trough can be a good option. For more information on available cost share programs from the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, call 703-777-2075 ext. 107 or e-mail chris.vanvlack@va.nacdnet.net .