CZ-Uncwtir Farming, Saturday, September 23, 1995 DESPITE RECENT RAINS, DROUGHT WARNING STILL IN EFFECT, WATER CONSERVATION URGED )Leon Ressler Extension Agent Agriculture/Environment Recent rains have brought wel come short-term relief from this summer’s drought, but the drought warning declared by the Susque hanna River Basin Commission on September 14 remains in effect. According to Paul Swartz, SRBC’s executive director, the purpose of the drought warning is to alert people that we are approaching critical water levels and to call for voluntary water con servation measures basinwide. The declaration follows action taken in August to impose drought management measures on six facilities located in portions of the basin reaching critical water flow levels. The SRBC notified those companies to be on standby for automatic water use restrictions if the river fell below the critical stage. The warning was declared since a number of indicators point to ser ious groundwater and m-stream flow deficits. Groundwater levels are below normal in most of the basin, especially in Bradford and ' umbcrland counties. Most wells are at levels reached only once every five or 10 years. W:iier flows are one-third the normal levels across the basin. At Ik- ei' of August, the flow in the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg > 3 ' )() cubic leci per second ids) instead of the normal 15,599 cfs RamlallonSept. 17, combined ■ "S water releases from upstream servoirs, raised the flow levels to a 000 cfs still less than half the nonrnl flow. Within three days the flows had relumed to near August lows. The flov. at Waverly, N.Y. in August was 275 cfs instead of the normal flow of 1,373 cfs. The Susquehanna River Basin Commission was formed in 1971 to regulate water use in the Sus uuchanna River Basin. Four com missioners oversee the operations ol the SRBC. One commissioner each is appointed by the states of Maryland, New York, and Pen nsylvania and a fourth commis sioner is appointed by the federal government. TV goal of the SRBC is to man- KEN CLUGSTON (717) 665-6775 CRAFT-BILT CONSTRUCTION INC. FARM-HOME BUILDING 1242 Breneman Road MANHEIM, PA 17545 PH: (717) 665-4372 BUILDING & REMODELING FOR— DAIRY RESIDENTIAL SWINE POLE BUILDINGS BEEF STORAGE age the water supply to insure all users have access to the water they need and to insure a minimum level of flow in the rivers and streams in the basin. The SRBC is especially concerned about con sumptive uses of water where water is consumed in an activity and no longer available to be returned to the water supply in the basin. Agricultural consumptive uses include irrigation and consump tion by livestock. Currently the consumptive use regulations are suspended for agriculture while the SRBC determines how to apply the regulations to agriculture in an equitable manner. The drought warning is a good reminder that water conservation should be a normal part of the man agement on our farms. Our water supply, while generally adequate in the Northeast, is subject to per iodic shortages such as the one we are now experiencing. At the same time, the demand for water in soci ety in general is continuing to grow. Therefore, it is important that each poultry producer develop a water conservation plan. The first step in your plan should be to check your watering equipment regularly. Make sure that your cup founts are not over flowing and that nipple founts are not dripping. Check to see that your pressure reducing valves are set properly and that line filters are clean and free of particles. A second area of potential water savings on the poultry farm is in the operation of misting systems for evaporative cooling during the hot periods of the summer. Water use can be reduced by reducing the time period the system is operated and by using low flow nozzles. One can also reduce the number of nozzles per building and restrict the use of the system to times when the temperature is above 85 degrees. One can also conserve high quality water by misting with water not suitable for drinking such as water with high nitrate levels. Using air for cooling is another option to evaluate when developing your water conserva tion plan. It is important to remember when adjusting your cooling sys tem that water consumption by poultry'goes up with temperature increase. Simply allowing your temperature in die house to rise will increase water consumption by the flock. Allowing the temperature to rise will only save water if the water saved in the misting system is gre ater than the increase in water con sumption by the flock. For exam ple, at 60 degrees, 100 layers will consume 5.2 gallons per day, at 70 degrees they consume 5.3 gallons, at 80 degrees they consume 6.7 gallons, at 90 degrees they con sume 10.9 gallons, and at 100 degrees they consume 15.4 gallons. Also remember that additional water is the key to the birds’ ability to maintain proper body tempera ture as external temperatures rise. Never attempt to conserve water by reducing drinking water availability. An important part of your water FOR WORK IN THE BACK FORTY Available at these servicing dealers Airville Hummels Warf Ronks WOODBINE MOWER & HUMMEL’S TEXACO A & B SALES SAW CO. »«■ 11 * IS & SERVICE 1268 WOOODBINE RD. 717-743-7459 370 Newport Road 717-862-3271 JanestOHin 2 MM.. South o( Rl. 23 uyneqtuwii Along jj 2 Mont(r(y Dallastown blue mountain " „ . tri-boro enterprises, inc. Schaefferstown CONCRETE, INC. tEJukSSu MARTIN HARDWARE 435 Locust St. & EQUIPMENT CO. 717-246-3095 Rt. 50111/2 Mlln South oi 1-800-632-9018 Schutloratown, PA East Earl 717-949-6617 GOODS LAWN & Sh3Jlle.SVjl|g GARDEN CENTER MOUNTAIN VIEW Route 23 717-354-4026 Ext. 34 MESSICK FARM EQUIPMENT. INC. Rhaama Exlt-Rl. 213 Eliza balhlown, PA 717-367-1319,717-653-8867 Ephrata WES STAUFFER ENGINES & EQUIPMENT 23 Ptaaaant Vall.y Rd. 717-738-4215 BOLLINGER’S LAWN & GARDEN EQUIP. Ephrata, Pa. 717-736-1131 717-656-2710 Harahay, PA 717-533-4060 Gap GAP POWER EQUIPMENT Cornar of Rt. 30 A Rt (97 717-442-6070 DISTRIBUTED BY KEYSTONE STIHL The issue of periodic constraints on our water supply is a fact of life in our society with a growing population. Therefore, continuing to update one’s water conservation plan is simply a part of good man agement on a poultry farm. THE STIHLO44 The Stihl 044 is a great all-around saw (or felling,' bucking and cutting limbs Get one today. • High cutting speed • Great lugging power Powerful, yet lightweight—only 13.13-lb powerhead • Professional heavy-duty air filter option XTUt^laumum* ST/HL: Number One Worldwide Lltite/Lebanon BOMBERGER’S LAWN & GARDEN Lltltz: 717-626-3301 Lebanon; 717-272-4165 LovsviHe/Carlisle GUTSHALL’S INC. LoyavlHa, PA-Carllala 717-789-4343 717-249-2313 Oxford ENFIELD EQUIPMENT HOO Umaatona Rd. 610432-6856 HERR’S REPAIR SHOP RD 2, Box 115 A 717-838-1549 WEAVER’S LAWN & GARDEN 740 W. Main 81. 717-630-5999 IVAN MARTIN’S SAW SERVICE Rt. I.BoxMS Reamstown EAGLE RENTAL CENTER Rt 272, RaaroaMwn IMflc Light 717-336-3045 water needs of 100.000 layers for one day. Obviously one could not resort to that option for very long. An important part of emergency preparedness is to explore new supply options. One could consult with a hydrogeologist to do frac ture trace mapping to locate high potential well sites before the need is at hand. SUPPLY, INC. (Formariy Shartlaavilla Farm Sarvica) P.O. Box 520 610-488-1025 LEINBACH FARM EQUIP. 1120 Rllnar Hwy. 717-532-5511 CHARLES S. SNYDER, INC. RD 3 717-386-5945 Whitehall WHITEHALL TURF EQUIPMENT 3001 Ebaiharty Rd. 610-432-0299 ENFIELD EQUIPMENT INC. 720 Whaalar School Rd. 301-679-5090
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