|
Farms
WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES for LIVESTOCK &
POULTRY & HORSE FARMS
Water quality for livestock
is not regulated by the federal government, and very little research
has been done on the effects of contaminated drinking water on livestock.
Available guidelines concerning inorganic and organic constituents
of livestock and poultry drinking water are given in table C.1.
Table
C.1
Water quality guidelines for livestock and poultry. |
CHEMICAL
|
MAXIMUM
CONCENTRATION
|
CHEMICAL
|
MAXIMUM
CONCENTRATION
|
aluminum
|
5.0
mg/l
|
nickel
|
1.0
mg/l
|
arsenic
|
0.2
mg/l
|
nitrate
nitrogen
|
25.0
mg/l
|
boron
|
5.0
mg/l
|
nitrite
nitrogen
|
3.0
mg/l
|
cadmium
|
0.05
mg/l
|
radioactive
contaminants
|
meet
drinking
water objectives
|
|
|
|
|
chromium
|
1.0
mg/l
|
salinity
(total soluble salts)
|
3,000.0
mg/l
|
cobalt
|
1.0
mg/l
|
selenium
|
0.05
mg/l
|
copper
|
0.5
mg/l
|
sulfates
|
300
mg/l
|
fluoride
|
2.0
mg/l
|
toxic
algae
|
no
heavy growth
|
|
|
|
|
lead
|
0.1
mg/l
|
vanadium
|
0.1
mg/l
|
mercury
|
0.01
mg/l
|
zinc
|
25.0
mg/l
|
|
Reprinted with
permission from Water Management, 1984, Ontario Ministry
of the Environment, 135 St. Claire Ave., West Toronto, Ontario,
Canada, M4V 1P5 |
.Acceptable
water bacteria levels for livestock vary with intended water use. Adult
animals are less affected by bacteria than young ones. Water used for
cleaning and sanitizing livestock equipment must be a very high-quality
to prevent infections and food contamination. Table C.2 lists guidelines
for livestock water supplies.
Table
C.2
Bacteria guidelines
for livestock water supplies. |
AGE OF ANIMALS BACTERIA
GUIDELINES
adult
animals - 1,000 fecal coliforms/ 100 ml
young animals
- 1 fecal coliform/ 100 ml
dairy wash
water - less than 1 total coliform/ 100 ml
|
There are
special water quality concerns that can affect production and quality.
Taste and odor problems in water limit consumption, while other contaminants
may taint some livestock milk or meat. Contaminants suspected of causing
these problems are listed in table C.3.
Table
C.3
Livestock
water quality problems and possible causes.
|
PROBLEMS
|
POSSIBLE
CAUSES
|
low
dairy cattle water consumption
|
hydrogen
sulfide
|
(checked
with water meter)
|
iron
|
|
salinity
|
|
stray
voltage
|
|
|
veal
calf problems
|
iron
greater than 0.2 mg/l
|
|
nitrate
greater than 10 mg/l (as nitrogen)
|
|
|
oxidized
flavor in milk
|
iron
greater than 0.1 mg/l
|
(caused
by metals in wash water)
|
copper
greater than 0.1 mg/l
|
|
hydrogen
sulfide greater than 0.1 mg/l
|
|
|
Salinity may
affect the usefulness of water for livestock and poultry drinking water
supplies. Table C.4 presents guidelines for saline water use for livestock
and poultry.
When making
water quality judgments for livestock, it is important to consider feed
composition. The total intake of any compound and possible adjustments
in the ration must be assessed before treating or changing the water
supply. Table 3.2 lists treatment options to be followed if a water
test confirms that a contaminant concentration is greater than the standard
and treatment is the chosen solution.
A companion
to this information, Home Water Treatment Devices, NRAES-48,
discusses home water treatment in more depth. After a review of background
information, it includes detailed discussions of each type of device.
If water treatment is the preferred option or if educational programs
are being planned, this information may be a useful guide.
TABLE
3.2
Water treatment
key.
|
WATER
TEST
SHOWS
|
U.S.
EPA STANDARD a (MCL
AND/ OR SMCL)
|
POSSIBLE
WATER TREATMENT
METHODS b
|
BACTERIA
|
coliform
bacteria (total)
|
|
boiling
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
iron
bacteria
|
|
|
|
|
|
INORGANIC
CHEMICAL
-
METALS
|
|
|
aluminum
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cadmium
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chromium
|
|
activated
alumina
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
copper
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
iron
(dissolved)
|
|
water
softener
|
|
|
(0.3
- 3.0 mg/l) d
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.3
- 3.0 mg/l) d,e
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3.0
- 10.0 mg/l) d
|
|
|
|
|
|
filtration
(greater than
|
|
|
10.0
mg/l) d
|
|
|
|
iron
(particles)
|
|
|
|
|
|
lead
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
manganese
|
|
chlorination,
followed by
|
|
|
filtration
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
mercury
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
silver
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
zinc
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
INORGANIC
CHEMICAL
- OTHER
|
|
|
arsenic
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
barium
|
|
reverse
osmosis
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
boron
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chloride
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chlorine
|
|
|
|
|
|
fluoride
f
|
|
activated
alumina
|
|
|
reverse
osmosis
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
hydrogen
sulfide
|
|
|
|
|
- chlorination
or aeration,
|
|
|
followed
by filtration
|
|
|
|
nitrate
(as N)
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
selenium
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sulfate
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
vanadium
|
|
|
|
|
|
ORGANIC
CHEMICALS
|
|
|
hydrocarbons
|
|
|
|
|
|
pesticides
and PCBs
|
|
|
|
|
|
total
trihalomethanes (THMs)
|
|
activated
carbon filter
|
|
|
|
volatile
organic chemicals (VOC)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RADIOACTIVE
CONTAMINANTS
|
|
|
radium
|
|
water
softener
|
|
|
|
radon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
pH
|
|
|
pH
|
|
neutralizing
filter
|
|
|
(pH
5.5 - 6.5 only)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(pH
less than 6.5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
acid
injection
|
|
|
|
Langlier
saturation index (LSI)
|
|
|
|
|
(less
than -0.5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(less
than -0.5)
|
|
|
|
OTHER
|
|
|
hardness
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
tannic
acids
|
|
|
|
|
|
total
dissolved solids (TDS)
|
|
distillation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
turbidity
|
|
|
|
|
a
When the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has set an MCL (Maximum
Contaminant Level) and/ or SMCL (Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level),
the values are listed.
b The
water treatment recommendations in this table are general. The water
pH, total dissolved solids, other dissolved or particulate substances,
or other water quality or water distribution system factors may impact
the effectiveness of a treatment device. Be sure to investigate the
limitations of a device before purchasing.
c Corrosion
control is an appropriate treatment method if the contaminant enters
water as a result of corrosive water dissolving the household plumbing.
d
Ranges refer to iron concentrations.
e Phosphates
are not allowed in some states.
f
Fluoride concentrations in the range of 1.0 mg/l are desirable
in drinking water for protection against dental caries. For this reason
fluoride may be added to a municipal water supply. Fluoride concentrations
greater than 2 mg/l may have negative effects.
Much
water is used in livestock operations to clean equipment. Qualities
such as hardness, iron content, and bacteria level affect the waters
ability to clean and sanitize. Farmers may need to treat water to reduce
soap films, stains, and scale from forming on fixtures and equipment.
The annual
tests recommended for livestock and poultry water supplies are listed
in Table C.5.
More tests
are recommended for livestock and poultry supplies than for human drinking
water supplies because the concentration of minerals in water is important
when mixing or choosing their rations. Water quality may affect food
intake or health and result in a loss of income.
Table
C.4
Guide to
the use of saline water for livestock and poultry.
|
TOTAL
SOLUBLE
|
COMMENTS
|
SALTS
(mg/l)
|
|
<
1,000
|
- These
waters have a relatively low level of salinity and should
present no serious problem to any class of livestock or
poultry.
|
1,000
- 2,999
|
- These
water should be satisfactory for all classes of livestock
and poultry. They may cause temporary and mild diarrhea
in livestock not accustomed to them or watery droppings
in poultry (especially at the higher levels), but should
not affect their health or performance.
|
3,000
- 4,999
|
- These
waters should be satisfactory for livestock, although
they might cause temporary diarrhea or be refused at first
by animals not accustomed to them. They are poor water
for poultry, often causing watery feces and (at the higher
levels of salinity) increased mortality and decreased
growth, especially in turkeys.
|
5,000
- 6,999
|
- These
water can be used with reasonable safety for dairy and
beef cattle, sheep, swine, and horses. It may be well
to avoid the use of those approaching the higher levels
for pregnant or lactating animals. They are not acceptable
waters for poultry, almost always causing some type of
problem, especially near the upper limit, where reduced
growth and production or increased mortality will probably
occur.
|
7,000
- 10,000
|
- These
waters are unfit for poultry and probably for swine. Considerable
risk may exist in using them for pregnant or lactating
cows, horses, sheep, the young of these species, or for
any animals subjected to heavy heat stress or water loss.
In general, their use should be avoided, although older
reminant, horse, and even poultry and swine my subsist
on them for long periods of time under conditions of low
stress.
|
>10,000
|
- The
risks with these highly saline waters are so great that
they cannot be recommended for use under any conditions.
|
|
Reprinted with
permission from Nutrients and Toxic Substances in Water for Livestock
and Poultry. 1974. National Academy Press. 2101 Constitution
Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20418. |
TABLE
C.5
Tests recommended
for livestock and poultry water supplies.
|
TESTS
RECOMMENDED FOR LIVESTOCK WATER SUPPLIES
|
|
magnesium
|
iron
|
barium
|
nitrate
|
pH
|
cadmium
|
total
coliform bacteria
|
total
plate count
|
calcium
|
copper
|
sulfate
|
fecal
coliform bacteria
|
total
dissolved solids
|
|
|
fluoride
|
|
|
|