1. Common Water Quality Problems on Farms

2. Water Importance Dairy cows need 4 to 4.5 lbs. per lb. of milk produced A single cow may consume over 300 lbs. of water daily via drinking water and ration Drinking water generally provides 80-90% of water needs

3. In General… Role of water in milk production or herd health can often be very difficult to determine relative to other variables The only simple way to determine its importance is to segregate a few animals and provide them with water of known quality

4. Types of Water Quality Problems Low Intake and Milk Production Perceived or measured? Usually aesthetic pollutants Especially common in mining areas Health Effects Often more difficult to determine cause Many potential pollutants

5. Water Sources (may be a mixture!) Wells Springs StreamsPonds

6. Microbial Pollution Sources - septic tanks, milkhouse wastes, manure Source water vs. drinking cups, bowls, tanks? May alter rumen microflora and compete with normal flora Depressed production or health effects Diarrhea (coliform, campylobacter, salmonella, giardia) Reproductive effects (campylobacter) Mastitis infections (pseudomonas, coliform) Calf deaths – (E. coli.)

7. Microbiological Parameters Total coliform (many environmental sources) Non-coliform pathogens H. pylori, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Legionellae, Chlostridium, etc. Viruses (rotovirus, hepatitis, etc.) Protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium). Standard Plate Count Heterotrophic Plate Count “total count, plate count, bacterial count, water plate count, total bacterial count” Fecal coliform (mostly fecal sources) E. coli (good fecal indicator) Other pathogens (Enterobacter, Klebsiella)

8. Studies of Bacteria in Private Water Systems More common in springs and shallow wells

9. Bacteria Standards For sanitation Water should be free of total coliform For adult cows < 50 per 100 mL total coliform < 10 per 100 mL fecal coliform For calves Total and fecal coliform absent

10. Bacteria Treatment Identify source Septic system, milkhouse waste, animal waste? Inspect wellhead area for obvious contamination Shock chlorination is the first step Readily inactivated by continuous chlorine Chemical treatment generally not a problem for cows UV light becoming very popular All require clear water (pre-filter)

11. Iron and Manganese Often found together Mining and natural sources Orange and black stains Metallic taste causes intake reduction Iron imparts taste over 0.3 mg/L Occurs in about 20% of private water supplies Iron bacteria may also occur Manganese imparts taste over 0.05 mg/L and can be very difficult to treat

12. Hydrogen Sulfide Rotten egg odor causes reduced intake. May also impart taste May cause problems with: anemia copper, selenium, vitamin E nutrition Caused by naturally occurring bacteria Difficult to test – nose is best method May be treatable with shock chlorination Numerous methods available for continuous treatment

13. pH Optimum pH for rumen = 6.4 to 6.8 Low or high water pH may cause acidosis or alkalosis depending on diet Reduced production, depressed milkfat, poor gains, lower feed intake, more infectious and metabolic problems About 20% of water supplies < pH 6.5 General range 5.1 to 9.0 -Natural or acid mine drainage -Acceptable range may be much larger depending on ration

14. Nitrate Water impact depends on ration nitrate Symptoms Reproductive problems Reduced gains in young stock No effect on milk production General guidelines (assuming normal ration) Adverse effects possible if > 100 ppm as NO 3 500-1,000 ppm may cause moderate toxicity > 1,000 ppm may cause acute toxicity or death

15. Nitrate 11% above 45 ppm as NO 3 Nearly all of these in SC or SE Pennsylvania 3% above 100 ppm as NO3 Highest concentration approached 200 ppm Concentration correlated with distance to nearest active cornfield

16. Hardness About 40% of water supplies Generally not a problem Include Ca and Mg intake from water in ration if Ca > 500 ppm or Mg > 125 ppm Water with > 125 ppm Mg (or > 250 mg/L sulfate) may be laxative

17. Copper Sources Corrosion of plumbing Pond treatment with copper compounds Limits May impart metallic taste over 1.0 mg/L Liver damage may occur with extended exposure to concentrations over 0.6 mg/L Acute toxicity at higher concentrations

18. Lead Sources Corrosive water = low pH, soft water Dumps - especially old batteries Lead Accumulates in body Numerous long-term health effects Should be less than 0.10 mg/L Occurs in about 20% of private supplies in PA

19. Blue-Green Algae Tanks or ponds exposed to sunlight Severe symptoms Muscle tremors Diarrhea Lack of coordination Collapse Labored breathing Liver damage Death Several species, most common = Anabaena Like flow through ponds with high phosphorous

20. Basic Water Testing pH Total coliform bacteria (fecal?) Total dissolved solids Iron Nitrate ($50 to $100)

21. National Testing Labs Good for cases where comprehensive water test is needed due to multiple contaminants Landfills Industry Pesticides 1-800-458-3330 70 parameters (coliform, metals, inorganics, physical, THM’s, VOC’s) for $132 Add pesticides, herbicides, PCB’s for an additional $30 www.watercheck.com

22. Questions to Ask Source of water? Why is water a suspected cause? Any recent changes? Any odors, tastes, stains? Herd effects? Intake or milk production versus health problem Have any cows been segregated on different water? Any water test results? Any treatment devices installed?