Snow cannon water is watering cattle on the alpine pastures

An installation built for winter is being used this summer for a different purpose. On the Hitzeggen alp above Obersaxen in Grisons, water meant for artificial snowmaking is being used to water livestock.

The pasture lies at 2,112 metres above sea level. Its springs dry up when rain fails for several weeks, as has happened this season. The farmer Ursin Riedi, who grazes his animals there, described a situation that recurs during long dry spells.

The need is substantial. A cow can drink up to a hundred litres of water a day. When the springs run out, herds are moved to lower altitudes where water is available.

The ski lift company's artificial reservoir holds between 30,000 and 35,000 cubic metres of water. In summer it sits unused, since it only serves snow production during the cold season.

A summer use for winter infrastructure

Every day at midday the water is pumped uphill and made available to the animals. The trial is planned to run until mid-August.

Ernst Sax chairs the board of the Obersaxen Mundaun ski lifts and is also the municipal mayor. In his view the experience opens the way to closer cooperation in future between the lift company and alpine farmers, to the benefit of both sides.

The case shows a possible second use for infrastructure built for winter tourism. Snowmaking reservoirs take up land and capital, and stand idle for much of the year.

The solution nonetheless depends on particular conditions. It requires a reservoir close to the pasture, a usable pipe network and an agreement between those running the installations and those bringing livestock up the mountain.

For mountain farming, the availability of water in summer is becoming a concrete constraint. Moving herds down shortens the grazing period and increases pressure on lower pastures, with effects on the management of the whole season.