Water quality and the importance of water testing
Water can contribute to disease spread in any climate or location. Good quality water is vital for your livestock, household and business. It is therefore important to identify and correct any water quality problems. Knowing water quality allows you to plan for water treatments to avoid problems such as blocked irrigation or livestock watering pipes, poor plant growth, staining and other undesirable effects. In some instances, poor water quality can render water unusable.

Problems with water quality may have a chemical basis, such as pH or the concentration of certain elements or they may be physical problems, such as turbidity. Some problems are easily identifiable or obvious, while others require extensive testing and analysis to determine the cause.

Some of the most common problems affecting water quality are:

• pH that is either too high or too low (best between 6.5-8.5)
• high iron concentrations
• high hardness (mineral content) levels
• high salinity (salt content) levels
• high turbidity (sediment) levels
• high sodicity (soil salt content) levels
• algal growths
• poor colour, taste & odour
• bacterial growths

If you are considering whether a new water source is suitable for livestock, at a minimum it is essential to test:

• pH
• salinity
• chloride levels
• bacterial load

Other water quality measurements such as hardness, alkalinity and sodium absorption do not directly affect the waters use for livestock.

Turbidity is an indicator of how much solid matter is suspended in the water and extreme turbidity may affect use for livestock, depending on what the suspended matter is. Algae, bacteria and chemical pollutants are significant issues for appropriate water quality for livestock.

Salinity is the sum of all mineral salts present in the water and water salinity can be linked to adverse health in livestock if it contributes to a build up of excess salt in their systems. This depends on:

• livestock species, breed and age
• mineral content of the feed the animals are consuming
• temperature and climate
• which mineral salts are present in the water source

Livestock in hot climates will tend to drink more so if the water is saline they will be exposed to higher levels of salt through their drinking water. Feed content should also be assessed in conjunction with water salinity as the need for water increases with increasing intakes of protein, salt and roughage. If livestock are cumulatively exposed to high levels of salt it can build up in their systems and cause health and productivity problems.

If or when saline water is used, livestock should be monitored for symptoms of salt poisoning, these include:

If you have any doubt about the quality of water that you use for livestock, irrigation or domestic purposes, or if stock show reluctance to drink, you should provide an alternate supply and consider having your water tested by an accredited laboratory in your state or territory.

Water should be tested before and during use, as water quality does not stay constant. It can also vary from season to season and needs to be monitored regularly. Regular monitoring allows you to take remedial action before too much damage occurs or there is a loss of production. Most of the chemical changes that affect water quality cannot be detected by eye or smell and therefore laboratory analysis is critical.

The uses of water and how contaminated water can affect your livestock and property will vary between species and industry. Each industry has different management practices and farm biosecurity tools to suit their own farming practices. Water quality will differ from location to location so be aware of the conditions on your property and licensing requirements for your state or territory. For further information, visit http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/farm-biosecurity/secure-your-farm/water.cfm

SOURCE: NSW Department of Agriculture

Water temperature considerations
It is important to consider water temperature in relation to your water quality assessment. Shallow troughs may contribute to higher water temperature if exposed to sun or high air temperatures and this can not only provide a haven for bacteria and algae but may also impede livestock willingness to drink, thereby leading to dehydration or loss of condition.
Some studies have shown that British breed cattle increase feed intake, weight gain and energy utilisation when water is cooled to 18°C compared with 32°C.

The practical aspects of this entail finding a happy medium between maintaining satisfactory water temperatures, reducing the amount of water wasted when washing out troughs and providing ample space for stock to congregate around and drink without restriction.

Watering points and pumps; restricting livestock access
Traditional agricultural practices have often involved unrestricted livestock access to rivers and associated riparian zones and many access points continue to be used for livestock watering and summer feeding. Unrestricted stock access causes disturbance, environmental degradation, loss of productivity and potential farm biosecurity implications as a result of:

poor water quality and/or contamination weed invasion compacted soils loss of native fringing vegetation erosion Controlling livestock access is an important management tool in the protection of your water supply, in addition contributing to the restoration of rural riparian zones. This can be achieved through fencing, the provision of off-site or restricted access watering points and the implementation of sustainable grazing systems.

Image courtesy: Janette Pitt

Limiting stream access or providing alternative water sources protects livestock and the river from the problems associated with unrestricted access. It will improve water quality by limiting sedimentation and nutrient enrichment and enhance livestock health through access to cleaner water.

There is a variety of alternatives to direct river access for watering stock. These include:

• limited river access to drinking points
• reticulated water supply, dam or bore
• piping or pumping water from an existing source

Limiting river access points is one of the cheapest and simplest methods of supplying water to stock. Limited access points allow stock to drink from a short section of the steam. This not only decreases the amount of sediment, it reduces trampling, prevents livestock from standing or loafing in the stream and dramatically reduces the amount of urine and faeces deposited in and around the drinking source which, potentially can lead to bacterial and nutrient contamination of water.

If there is a dam upslope or a reticulated water supply is located nearby, then piping water from these sources may be an economical alternative to pumping water from the stream. A tank and trough, situated high enough so as not to be contaminated by faeces, may need to be installed. Having a water tank available also reduces the amount of time livestock spend in the stream.

Locating the water tanks away from the pasture gates and changing the location of the water tank for each grazing period will control the distribution of manure and urine. If a water tank cannot be placed in each pasture, consider options to minimise loafing by the herd following drinking. Hard-surfaced, narrow lanes leading to and from the tanks can help accomplish this goal. Water quality should be checked regularly as part of good Farm Biosecurity.

SOURCE: National Heritage Trust