Top tips to protect your water supply
- Map out where all the pipes are on your farm.
- Label stop taps and valves and regularly check them.
- Check the pipes leading up to remote troughs.
- Fix dripping taps and faulty washers.
- Insulate exposed pipes, cisterns, tanks, taps and water meters.
- Isolate and, where possible, drain down pipework in unheated buildings during prolonged cold conditions.
- If supply is required to or through unheated buildings, ensure pipework is protected from draughts and is well lagged and check it does not freeze or burst. Consider trace heating.
- If possible, isolate any outside taps and drain any associated hoses.
- Have a selection of key spares to hand in case they are required (ball valves, Isolation valves, pipework and joints).
The NFU also has advice available on the water pages of its website.