If there’s one thing every rancher watches more closely than the weather, it’s water.

Healthy cattle need a constant supply of clean, fresh water every single day. Without it, they can’t stay healthy, maintain body condition, or raise healthy calves. During a dry year like this one in British Columbia, water doesn’t just become important—it becomes the task that shapes almost every day on the ranch.

This summer, many of our daily decisions revolve around checking water sources, monitoring levels, hauling water, and making sure every pasture has enough to keep our cattle comfortable.

It isn’t always glamorous work, but it’s some of the most important work we do.

Every Water Source Is Different

One thing many people don’t realize is that there isn’t one single way to water cattle.

Every pasture is different, every landscape is different, and every water source presents its own challenges. Over the years, we’ve developed several different systems depending on what the land offers.

Gravity-Fed Dugout Systems

One of our favourite systems is also one of the simplest.

Where possible, we use a dugout that sits higher than the pasture. Water flows by gravity through a buried pipeline into a livestock trough.

Inside the trough is a float valve, much like the one inside a household toilet tank. As cattle drink and the water level drops, the float opens and allows more water to flow into the trough.

Because gravity does the work, there’s no electricity, fuel, or pumps required. These systems are reliable, efficient, and require very little maintenance.

Spring-Fed Water

We are fortunate to have one natural spring that usually runs year-round.

The spring continuously feeds a livestock trough before the excess water flows into a nearby dugout. It’s a simple system that provides fresh water while helping keep the dugout full.

Unfortunately, during drought years, even reliable springs can slow down, so we keep a close eye on how much water they’re producing.

Wells That Supply Fresh Water

Some of our pastures have access to groundwater through wells.

These systems provide a dependable source of clean drinking water for our cattle, especially during dry summers when surface water becomes less reliable.

Having multiple types of water sources across our ranch helps spread the risk when one source begins to dry up.

Hauling Water During Drought

This year, several natural water sources have dried up completely.

That means hauling water has become part of our regular routine.

We fill portable tanks and haul water to some of our pastures, where cattle drink from 180-gallon troughs. It takes planning, time, and many trips with the truck, but it’s essential to keep livestock supplied with fresh water.

Water hauling isn’t something we want to do long-term, but in drought years it’s often the best solution.

Looking Ahead: A Solar-Powered Water Buggy

One project we’re especially excited about is a solar-powered water buggy from Clearfab Manufacturing that we’re currently applying for funding to purchase.

The water buggy is essentially a mobile watering system that can be pulled behind the truck and moved with the cattle as they rotate between pastures.

Using a solar-powered pump, it can draw water from a nearby creek, dugout, or other approved water source and fill an onboard trough. Because it’s mobile, we can position fresh water wherever it’s needed without permanently installing infrastructure.

We’re also hoping to pair the buggy with several large water storage tanks this year. For one pasture where every natural water source has dried up, we’ll haul water into the storage tanks, and the buggy will allow us to provide fresh water to the cattle.

As droughts become more common, flexible water systems like these are becoming increasingly important.

Technology Helps Us Stay Ahead

Checking dozens of water sources every day isn’t always practical, especially when cattle are spread across large pastures.

That’s why we’ve installed a Gallagher satellite liquid monitoring system on one of our water sources.

The monitor communicates through satellite and measures the water depth in a trough or dugout. If the water level begins to drop too low, we receive a notification on our phone.

That early warning gives us time to respond before cattle run out of water.

Technology like this doesn’t replace checking cattle, but it gives us another tool to help manage water more efficiently—especially during years when every litre matters.

Water Licences Matter Too

Another part of livestock watering that often goes unnoticed is water licensing.

In British Columbia, water sources used for livestock require the appropriate water licences. These licences help ensure that water is used responsibly while balancing the needs of agriculture, wildlife, fish habitat, and other water users.

Managing water isn’t only about finding enough of it—it’s also about protecting these resources for future generations.

Every Drop Counts

When people think about raising cattle, they often picture green pastures, fences, and herds grazing across the hills.

What they don’t always see are the hours spent checking troughs, repairing pipelines, hauling water, monitoring springs, or planning new watering systems.

During a dry summer, water becomes one of the biggest priorities on the ranch.

Whether it’s gravity-fed systems, wells, natural springs, hauled water, satellite monitoring, or investing in new technology like a solar-powered water buggy, every water system plays a role in keeping our cattle healthy.

Because at the end of the day, caring for livestock starts with something very simple:

Making sure the water keeps flowing.