A dugout is a small fresh water reservoir that could then be used to in a variety of ways in farms, both for domestic uses and for general farm uses as well. Another word for a dugout is “pond”. The word “dugout” is descriptive in that it describes the processes of developing this water storage, as it is quite literally dug out.

In the Great Depression, the development of dugouts on southern Alberta farms was encouraged as a way to maximize the precipitation received. This encouragement can be seen in the Lethbridge Herald, specifically on January 3, 1936.