Water Supply In Fish Farming: Sources and Management

a. water could be obtained from boreholes, streams or lakes. Gravity flow water is cheapest and best source. Borehole water is an option with little risk but requires pumping. b. unpolluted, uncontaminated water is required c. year-round availability is needed in abundance according to a water budget plan. d. should be under total control of fish farm manager e. water should not be sourced from the water table; ponds built in the water table are uncontrollable and often undrainable and have large build up of bottom mud. f. borehole waters can be excellent, but may costly to pump and may require conditioning to remove carbon dioxide and improve oxygen content and temperature levels. g. open waters from canals and streams may be polluted or be contaminated from runoff from farm lands or towns. h. waters used in aquaculture need to be tested for quality. i. water with alkalinities less than 30 ppm (CaCO3) will require liming to bring up pH levels close to neutrality (7.0) for best fish production j. all water entering fish ponds or tanks needs to be screened to eliminate entry of predators, fish eggs and larvae. Long, fine mesh “socks” are best used to filter entry waters and require a trough to support them. k. waters over flowing in the standpipe should also be passing through a screen having a large surface area, much greater than the area of the stand pipe.