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WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES for LIVESTOCK & POULTRY & HORSE FARMS

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Table C.1
Water quality guidelines for livestock and poultry.
Table C.2
Bacteria guidelines for livestock water supplies.
Table C.3
Livestock water quality problems and possible causes.
TABLE 3.2
Water treatment key.
Table C.4
Guide to the use of saline water for livestock and poultry.
TABLE C.5
Tests recommended for livestock and poultry water supplies.

 

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)

  • no coliform bacteria

  • boiling
    • chlorination

    • iodination

    • ozonation

    • ultraviolet light

    iron bacteria

    • shock chlorination

    • continuous chlorination

    INORGANIC CHEMICAL

    - METALS

    aluminum

    • 0.05 - 0.2 mg/l - SMCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    cadmium

    • 0.005 mg/l - MCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    • corrosion control c

    chromium

    • 0.1 mg/l - MCL

  • activated alumina
    • distillation

    • reverse osmosis

    • corrosion control c

    copper

    • 1.3 mg/l - MCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    • corrosion control c

    iron (dissolved)

    • 0.3 mg/l - SMCL

  • water softener
  • (0.3 - 3.0 mg/l) d

    • phosphates

    (0.3 - 3.0 mg/l) d,e

    • oxidizing filter

    (3.0 - 10.0 mg/l) d

    • clorination, followed by

    filtration (greater than

    10.0 mg/l) d

    iron (particles)

    • particle filtration

    lead

    • 0.05 mg/l - MCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    • corrosion control c

    manganese

    • 0.05 mg/l - SMCL

  • chlorination, followed by
  • filtration

    • oxidizing filter

    mercury

    • 0.002 mg/l - MCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    silver

    • 0.1 mg/l - SMCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    zinc

    • 5.0 mg/l - SMCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    • corrosion control c

    INORGANIC CHEMICAL

    - OTHER

    arsenic

    • 0.05 mg/l - MCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    • activated alumina

    • anion exchange

    barium

    • 1.0 mg/l - MCL

  • reverse osmosis
    • water softener

    boron

    • distillation

    • reverse osmosis

    chloride

    • 250 mg/l - SMCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    chlorine

    • activated carbon filter

    fluoride f

    • 4.0 mg/l - MCL

  • activated alumina
    • 2.0 mg/l - SMCL

  • reverse osmosis
    • distillation

    hydrogen sulfide

    • oxidizing filter

    • chlorination or aeration,

    followed by filtration

    nitrate (as N)

    • 10.0 mg/l - MCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    • anion exchange

    selenium

    • 0.05 mg/l - MCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    sulfate

    • 250 mg/l - SMCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    • anion exchange

    vanadium

    • distillation

    ORGANIC CHEMICALS

    hydrocarbons

    • activated carbon filter

    pesticides and PCBs

    • activated carbon filter

    total trihalomethanes (THMs)

    • 0.10 mg/l - MCL

  • activated carbon filter
  • volatile organic chemicals (VOC)

    • air stripping

    • activated carbon filter

    RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS

    radium

    • 5.0 pCi/l - MCl

  • water softener
  • radon

    • air stripping

    • activated carbon filter

    pH

    pH

    • less than 6.5 - SMCL

  • neutralizing filter
  • (pH 5.5 - 6.5 only)

    • soda ash injection

    (pH less than 6.5)

    • greater than 8.5 - SMCL

  • acid injection
  • Langlier saturation index (LSI)

    • neutralizing filter

    (less than -0.5)

    • soda ash injection

    (less than -0.5)

    OTHER

    hardness

    • water softener

    • phosphate e

    tannic acids

    • activated carbon filter

    total dissolved solids (TDS)

    • 500 mg/l - SMCL

  • distillation
    • reverse osmosis

    turbidity

    • particle filtration
     

    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 water’s 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
    • arsenic
  • magnesium
  • iron
  • barium
  • nitrate
  • pH
  • cadmium
  • total coliform bacteria
  • total plate count
  • calcium
  • copper
  • sulfate
  • fecal coliform bacteria
  • total dissolved solids
    • lead
  • fluoride
  •  


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