Preventing water race pollution

Water races can easily be polluted by everyday farming activities. This can make the water dirty and unsafe for stock to drink.

It is important that stock such as cattle, deer and pigs are excluded from being able to enter the water race where they can defecate into the water or cause sediment disturbance within the race which affects the water quality.  The easy way to exclude them is to install drinking bays, like the one above on the right.  Installing a wooden or solid edge along a section of race with a hot wire above allows the animals to drink from the race but ensures they cannot physically enter the race.

It is recommended that the race water is not used for the mixing of chemical sprays.  Should a small amount of chemical enter the race, this can be hazardous for both livestock and aquatic life.

Please ensure that when fertilisers or sprays are being applied to the surrounding land that the product does not enter the waterway.