Wind-powered pumping system - Windmills use a propeller to convert energy in the wind to power a pump. They can also be used to aerate dugouts and ponds. High variability in wind speeds increases the need for storage capacity. The number of windmills needed is calculated based on each windmill’s pumping capacity and the herd size.

Solar-powered pumping system - Solar panels containing photovoltaic cells convert sunshine into electrical energy to power water pumps. This kind of watering system is reliable and can provide large volumes of water, which is suitable for cows because they tend to come all at once to a water source.

Underground pipeline - Pipelines are buried to a shallow depth to supply water to the livestock away from the surface source. The water supply can come from either a pump or a gravity flow reservoir placed at an appropriated level to get decent flow. A pipeline system is particularly advantageous for producers who split their herds into multiple paddocks, but is less desirable for remote locations, and pipes must be drained in the autumn to avoid freezing. The length of underground pipe is assumed at 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) in this decision-making tool.

Storage - A water storage tank is normally an essential element in an economically viable water pump system. A tank can be used to store enough water during peak energy production to meet water needs in the event of cloudy weather or maintenance issues with the power system. It also provides the necessary water to livestock between pumping cycles.

Wind-powered pumping system - Windmills use a propeller to convert energy in the wind to power a pump. They can also be used to aerate dugouts and ponds. High variability in wind speeds increases the need for storage capacity. The number of windmills needed is calculated based on each windmill’s pumping capacity and the herd size.

Solar-powered pumping system - Solar panels containing photovoltaic cells convert sunshine into electrical energy to power water pumps. This kind of watering system is reliable and can provide large volumes of water, which is suitable for cows because they tend to come all at once to a water source.

Solar-powered Aeration System - The system uses a solar-powered compressor and diffusion system; cattle can continue to have direct access or the water can be pumped into a trough. Dugout aeration maintains dissolved oxygen levels, allowing plants and algae to decay under aerobic conditions. As such, aeration prevents the black, smelly water that develops when there is no dissolved oxygen in the dugout water.

Underground pipeline - Pipelines are buried to a shallow depth to supply water to the livestock away from the surface source. The water supply can come from either a pump or a gravity flow reservoir placed at an appropriated level to get decent flow. A pipeline system is particularly advantageous for producers who split their herds into multiple paddocks, but is less desirable for remote locations, and pipes must be drained in the autumn to avoid freezing. The length of underground pipe is assumed at 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) in this decision-making tool.

Storage - A water storage tank is normally an essential element in an economically viable water pump system. A tank can be used to store enough water during peak energy production to meet water needs in the event of cloudy weather or maintenance issues with the power system. It also provides the necessary water to livestock between pumping cycles.