Water & Effluent
Water and effluent are among the most serious hazards on a dairy farm. Drowning is the gravest risk — particularly for young children — but water and effluent systems also cause injuries and can release harmful gases.
Each year, young children drown on Australian farms; most are under five, and many are visitors (Royal Life Saving publishes current figures). Adults also drown, especially when working with machinery near dams, ponds and channels, or maintaining infrastructure in or above water.
Risks beyond drowning
Water use and effluent infrastructure can also cause:
- slips, trips and falls, especially on the edges of yards, ponds and channels
- entanglement and manual-handling injuries around pumps and agitators
- falls from height on travelling irrigators
- injury from pressure washers and flexible hydrants when cleaning
- water contact with exposed power in the dairy, or overhead power near irrigators
- contact with harmful gases produced by effluent
Because effluent can produce harmful gases, some effluent pits are confined spaces — see the Confined Spaces topic for the duties that apply before entry.
Maintained guidance: Royal Life Saving's child-safe play areas advice, Safe Work Australia's guide to high-pressure water jetting, Agriculture Victoria's making effluent systems safe, and Dairy Australia's Effluent System Management Resources.
Common questions
Are effluent pits a confined space risk?
They can be. Effluent systems can produce harmful gases, so some effluent pits are confined spaces. See the Confined Spaces topic for the duties that apply before entry.
What makes water and effluent so dangerous on farms?
Drowning is the most serious risk, especially for young children. Water and effluent also bring slips and falls, entanglement with pumps and agitators, pressure-washer injuries, contact with exposed power, and harmful effluent gases.
Who is most at risk of drowning on a farm?
Young children are at particular risk — most who drown are under five, and many are visitors. Adults are also at risk when working with machinery near dams, ponds and channels, or maintaining infrastructure in or above water.
How can a farm reduce drowning risk?
Restrict children's access to water with child-safe play areas and barriers, supervise closely, and build water awareness and swimming skills. Royal Life Saving maintains current guidance and figures.