Avian Flu and Pond (Dugout) Water for Gardening?

I am musing about the big dugout we use as a water source for gardens on a family property. This supports gardens for several people (family and family friends). I also supports wild geese and ducks throughout the season, providing critical habitat and nesting spaces.

I am mulling over what reasonable and rational precautions we will take regarding the raw dugout water, considering that if avian flu has not reached it yet it probably will this spring. It is said to survive for days in water and in soil. The risk is relatively small, but worth thoughtful consideration.

Given the ongoing drought, we have little option but to use the dugout water. The water well on site could not handle the entire load.

Dugout water would be used for fresh-eating root vegetables (particularly carrots) for maybe half of the growing season, and then we would switch to clean well water. Anything like lettuce or low fruit like strawberries that is eaten raw would receive only clean well water only (which is our practice anyway) through dedicated hoses.

The biggest potential risk, to my mind, is in the handling of the dugout water. Filling and emptying barrels creates a splash potential (face) and contact with hands. Sprinklers create aerosols. I think the safest way would be gentle surface flooding or planting in trenches that can be flooded with low flow water.  Preferably this would be done with dedicated "raw water" hoses that would require little or no handling while in operation.

What are your thoughts about reasonable precautions?

By dugout water this seems the sam as pond water to me.

I do not know anything about avian flu.

The wildlife in my area prefer to drink pond water over water in the water tank.

My theory is that pond water has minerals from the soil and that is why the wildlife prefer the pond water.

I feel your theory about not using it on vegetables that are eaten raw.

Just a quick question before considering an answer:  Are you saying this dugout is large enough to support nesting geese and ducks?.....Like a quite large large stock pond?  Thanks....

Edited to add:   Not at this point a recommendation, but additional information to aid in decision making.  I was surprised to see citric acid once again emerge in the larger forum discussion.  Starting from here --  https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/antimicrobial-products-registered-disinfection-use-against-avian-influenza -- I tunneled into the list of registered anti-microbials, some of which have claims of efficacy against Avian influenza.  The rather large database found here -- https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/epas-registered-antimicrobial-products-effective-against-avian-influenza -- is heavily populated by the usual suspects, -- bleach, hydrogen peroxide, quaternary ammonium, etc.  But then it lists several registered products that are mostly 99% citric acid.  It is *possible* that having  some solutions of citric acid around not only to wipe away splash points on surfaces, but also as a pre-rinse of any veggies would greatly reduce some of the worries here.  Finally, although there would be additional costs involved and may provide information that you will have to make a judgement call with once received, this service at the University of Saskatchewan (can't recall just now if this is your province) might be able to do a sensitive test for presence of avian influenza, [ https://pdsinc.ca/services/molecular-diagnostics ] although you probably would have to work out a sampling procedure over the phone with them.  They appear to be more geared towards animal/livestock testing but clearly have influenza A in their testing.  If i'm wrong about the province, most of the major Uni's will have testing facilities like this. Hope this is of some help....

John Weiland wrote:Are you saying this dugout is large enough to support nesting geese and ducks?.....Like a quite large large stock pond?  ..

Yes, that's right. A "dugout" is what we call a man-made water catchment basin up here. We tend to think of a pond as something much smaller. I guess it's a regional thing.