"Watering of Livestock is Prohibited"

#21 07/21/11, 10:25 AM

If the city wells are running dry and soon people will be without water, I can see the restriction but somebody needs to tell the people what's going on. What's with no official will go on camera and explain this. The mayor should shoulder this responsibility. The buck stops here. Sounds like you need a new mayor.

Most places force you to go on the city water and condem your wells. They say it's the only way to afford yo do city water. I always thought this was shortsighted.

Can the Governer declare a state of emergency and task the National Guard with bringing in tankers of water for the critters?

Fowler · #22 07/21/11, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

"Watering of Livestock is Prohibited"

oops!! Don't tell anyone!

"Watering of Livestock is Prohibited" - Homesteading Questions

I love this pic...and I do the same for mine too. I would do without before my animals did.

dragonfly65 · #23 07/21/11, 10:37 AM

Well, at least here, watering by hand doesn't mean without a hose it means you are standing there while the water is coming out of the hose in your hand - no sprinklers, automatic waterers, timers, etc.

Enforced water restrictions - one more reason I live outside the city limits.

I hand water everything here. With 3 goats, 2 sheep, 5 ducks and about a dozen chickens all I need, even in this weather, is a few buckets and a 60 gal "pond" and everyone has plenty of water. I fill the buckets with all fresh water every day (throw any water left in them on the little tree in the garden) and top off the "pond". I had a smaller pond I used for the ducks instead, but the dog looked so miserable, I had my son drag it into her yard for her - she loves it.

sisterpine · #24 07/21/11, 10:38 AM

Just read the article in the link. How frightening this must be for everyone in the area. There are places in Arizona where no water is available and the only well is a few thousand feet deep and it is the town well. Every one else is forced to have water hauled in by truck and they have been doing this since the houses were built so folks knew that they would be hauling when they moved in. I second the vote to have water hauled in from another part of texas where there is more water. Doesn't Texas have a coast line? could they desalinate that water and ship it to the drought areas?

**ladycat** · #25 07/21/11, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sisterpine

I second the vote to have water hauled in from another part of texas where there is more water. Doesn't Texas have a coast line? could they desalinate that water and ship it to the drought areas?

98% of Texas is in drought. http://agrilife.org/today/2011/07/12...op-weather-12/

Lots of links here: http://agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/

15 southern states are in various stages of drought.

Video: http://www2.nbc4i.com/weather/2011/j...8421-vi-30510/

Article: http://muddlingtowardmaturity.typepa...-us-farms.html

NOAA report: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/drought/2011/6

TRAILRIDER · #26 07/21/11, 11:51 AM

What is rediculous here is that it IS legal to water "vegetation" on certain days but no water for living creatures at all!

Belfrybat · #27 07/21/11, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladycat

The livestock owned by many of these people in the city limits are providing their living or a large part of their living....

I don't think ya'll are understanding how the farming towns here are spread out. There are towns in this area with dairy farms, grain and hay crops, hog farms, fruit orchards, you name it. These are things people make all or part of their living from.

I live in a ranching town of less than 1000 pop. Probably about half the city limits take in acerage -- maybe more. But, as I said in my post, if the larger ranchers are going under due to having to sell off stock earlier, then those in towns can do the same thing. Yes, they will lose some of their livelihood and that is terrible, but in an extended drought like this (our own SHTF), then if they can't adequately water the livestock with buckets, they need to get rid of them.

Fowler · #28 07/21/11, 12:14 PM

It's so dry here, the fish are knocking on the door, askin' for a drink of water.

JuliaAnn · #29 07/21/11, 12:27 PM

I just called the number on the notice, the only one there is a 'secretary'. The mayor works full time at a school and doesn't get off until after 4 p.m. and would likely not be at the city offices today. No one else was available to answer questions. Was told by the secretary that people must haul bulk water from Wichita Falls or 'hand water small amounts'. When asked what would be done to violators watering their livestock, she said they would be 'fined'.

Just FYI.

nobrabbit · #30 07/21/11, 12:35 PM

We are on county water that we water our livestock with. It's pretty cheap; around $15 a month or so. It's pump out of the KY river so until the river drys up I think we'll be okay.

GoldenCityMuse · #31 07/21/11, 01:00 PM

The small towns are stuck. They have to abide the EPA and state EPA regs on water quality, and they are dictated to about what they can do.

They ought to prohibit ALL lawn watering instead, and only allow hand watering of gardens.

Not that bad yet here, but when the Guadalupe R. starts drying up, it will be a huge problem.

When the towns wells run dry, everyone's going to be in a hurt.

Bearfootfarm · #32 07/21/11, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Was told by the secretary that people must haul bulk water from Wichita Falls or 'hand water small amounts'.

Ask her to define "hand water" and "small amounts"

**ladycat** · #33 07/21/11, 01:27 PM

I posted the story on facebook, I hope it goes viral.

Rusty'sDog · #34 07/21/11, 01:46 PM

If anybody ends up with dead livestock, they should dump them in front of City Hall.

As bad as the drought is in some areas, the towns should enact a 100% "drought surtax". Water would cease to be wasted, consumption would halve.

Ravenlost · #35 07/21/11, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRAILRIDER

What is rediculous here is that it IS legal to water "vegetation" on certain days but no water for living creatures at all!

Ain't that the truth!

Joshie · #36 07/21/11, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

That restriction is so illegal that it can safely be ignored. Abusing animals is usually a felony, and withholding water and/or food qualifies. A CYA letter to the mayor might read - "Dear Mayor, I feel reasonably certain you do not want me to follow your water restrictions and thus engage in a felony under state law by refusing to water my livestock. If you are in disagreement with this, please send a certified letter to me at this address so that my attorney may review it."

CLUELESS!!! TOTALLY CLUELESS. Probably suffering from heat stroke.

The letter might better be sent to the media.

Classof66 · #37 07/21/11, 11:01 PM

Are people allowed to water lawns or have swimming pools?

There are several good books about the dustbowl in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas in the 30's. Not unlike today at all.

Catalytic · #38 07/22/11, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waiting Falcon

There was a drought one summer in /around Joplin with water rationing. The trucked water to the livestock to try and save them. I watched cow stagger through the sale barn because of no water. The one (once fancy Simmental) herd had been without water for 2 weeks! People were really mad about that because the owner let them get in that condition.
The DVM said later that the cattle that went through that drought and lack of water were going to be showing health problems for the next year to 18 months.
We bought a calf and could never get her totally rehydrated or get her to eating enough, I think all her digestion juices , etc, were basically shot.
Drought is a sad time when the water goes, the weeds livestock would never or should never eat are consumed.
For those of you that live in an area where the wells are going dry, rethink your water use! Wash dishes in a pan and carry it out to the plants . Your bath water should go outside to the plants likewise. No more deep soaks, take very limited showers, water the garden , wash your hand over a pan and throw the water out, let the flowers go.
With the long high heat wave in Texas and the fires, the ground is being sapped of water.
Now is past time to be thinking of what the land owes you , it is what you owe the land.

Mother Earth News has a good article on reusing greywater in their latest issue.

Catalytic · #39 07/22/11, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OkieDavid

Ok, someone has to speak for the opposing viewpoint. The town has a severe water shortage. I would rather restrict potable water useage for humans. Animal/livestock owners can haul non-potable water from neighboring creeks/streams/ponds for their livestock. I'd rather the livestock drink non-potable water than to run the system dry and EVERYONE has to drink non-potable? Let the bashing begin, I have tough skin....

Where do you propose people get the equipment needed to haul the water? A single cow drinks 50+ gallons of water a day, I believe.

OkieDavid · #40 07/22/11, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catalytic

Where do you propose people get the equipment needed to haul the water? A single cow drinks 50+ gallons of water a day, I believe.

Farm supply centers are in business to provide those items, if you can't provide for your animals (or think it's just too time consuming or expensive) you need to do what every other rancher is doing and thin your herd or hire someone with the equipment.