Do Water Contamination Reports Influence Water Use Practices on Feedlot Farms and Rural Households in Southern Alberta?

This article explores the extent to which water contamination reports influence water use practices of feedlot operators and their households in southern Alberta. An in–person survey was conducted with 33 feedlot farm families living in the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District. The analyses reveal that there are variations in operators’ knowledge of local water contamination reports and the ways in which these reports influence water use practices. For example, while 88% of participants were aware of reports that the South Saskatchewan River Basin has a very high level of pesticide residues, only 24% said that this has always influenced the way they use their water for domestic use. While this study provides insight into understanding the relationship between water contamination reports and water use practices of feedlot farm families, it also serves as a starting point for a more extensive socioeconomic and health survey focused on this population.