Water provision is vital to livestock survival and should be assured in times of drought.

Assessment for water provision activities should consider the impact on the environment of the location and capacity of any potential water source. The siting of water sources can have a negative environmental impact; conversely, when water points are planned in conjunction with natural resource management strategies, the impact on the environment and on the natural resources available for livestock can be beneficial.

Because the cost of water trucking is very high, this should only ever be a short-term temporary measure and other options should be explored first, including the relocation of livestock to existing water sources. The need for human water supply should also form part of this analysis.

Women are the primary users of water in the home and often in agriculture. They should be central to decision-making on water provision.

Soil pollution
Water pollution
Desertification
Natural Resource Depletion
Soil erosion
Water depletion

Reduced pasture, fodder, and water due to drought can result in concentrations of livestock around declining water resources and localized overgrazing.

As water resources decline there is often conflict over access to those resources that remain and these resources often become contaminated, for example through contamination from cattle or human waste or faecal coliforms, or aquifer saline intrusion.

Cattle production systems usually have different levels of water footprint according to their water usage for various purposes.

Water footprints measure the amount of water consumed and polluted by an individual, entity, or product. A blue water footprint refers to the amount of water consumed from surface and groundwater along the value chain of a product that is evaporated after withdrawal.

Green water refers to rainwater consumption, while grey water footprint refers to the volume of fresh water needed to assimilate the load of pollutants emitted. The water footprint of live animals consists of direct consumption via drinking and service water and indirect consumption via feed. The most important component of livestock-related water footprints is water used for feed, calculated by production system based on feed conversion efficiencies (amount of feed needed to produce one unit of output) and by species. In all production systems, green water consumption is the dominant form of cattle water consumption.

As water resources decline there is often conflict over access to those resources that remain and these resources often become contaminated, for example through contamination from cattle or human waste or faecal coliforms, or aquifer saline intrusion.

· Assess existing livestock watering arrangements and impacts on the environment.

· In the identification of water sources, consider environmental and sustainability issues.

· Explore opportunities for water efficiencies such as covered tanks to reduce evaporation.

· Explore growing alternative crops for animal feed that require less water or that are drought tolerant.

· Ensure capture and re-use of greywater.

· Develop rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, such as gravel drains across slopes; and water tanks.

· Develop Community Water Safety Plans

Ideally, fresh, clean water should be provided at all times, but if this is not possible sufficient water must be offered at regular intervals throughout the day.

Owners can be encouraged to carry a water bucket with them, e.g. tied to their cart, so that whenever an opportunity arises (a water pump is available), water can be given to the animal.

As it is rarely feasible to meet the full water requirements of all animals in an emergency situation, it is recommended that cattle are provided with approximately 20 liters every two days and that sheep and goats get 5 liters every two days.

Assess existing livestock watering arrangements and impacts on the environment. Look for possible water contamination and disease spread between animals or to humans. Separating drinking water sources.

Explore opportunities for water efficiencies such as covered tanks to reduce evaporation. Explore new potential water sources, such as deep tubewells or rainwater harvesting. Consider environmental and sustainability issues. Explore growing alternative crops for animal feed that require less water or that are drought tolerant. Ensure capture and re-use of greywater. Develop rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, such as gravel drains across slopes; and water tanks. Develop Community Water Safety Plans to protect water sources, and install water monitors.

A local NGO working in Burkina Faso has reported how they have helped pastoralists and settled farmers settle their disputes over precious water resources through a variety of groundwater recharging initiatives, trickle irrigation, targetted use of compost for individual crops, and agreed land zoning.

# locations where water resources and demand have been assessed and balanced and appropriate catchment/storage/retention/greywater reuse activities developed

Prevention of environmental damage

Mitigation of environmental damage

Time and resources to assess existing water resources and rainfall patterns and develop appropriate water catchment and storage solutions.