Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
last sanitization. Some common sources of contamination are a crack in the well house
roof, walls, or floor; an improper well cap that lets runoff into the well; and a bird, mouse,
or feces that fell into the well when the well cap was left open.
If your sample shows contamination, the health department will probably tell you wheth-
er the water is safe for humans or animals and send you chlorinating procedures. Because
you will be without water for a whole day during chlorination, you should draw emergency
water or arrange for the delivery of other water.
Typical instructions are as follows: Mix 1 gallon of 5 percent unscented household chlor-
ine bleach with 10 gallons of water and add that to the well. Water should then be run from
the well through every pipe to all water outlets, hot and cold, including all household out-
lets (don't forget toilets), hydrants, and barn fixtures and spigots. Let the water run until
you smell chlorine at each outlet, and then turn off the water. When the chlorine water is in
all the pipes, turn off your pump. Let the chlorinated water stand in the pipes, receptacles,
pressure tank, and pump for 8 to 24 hours as instructed. Do not use any water during this
time. Then open all receptacles and let the water flow until the odor and taste of chlorine
are gone. After a specified period of time (days or weeks), retest the well. Plan for a routine
well check once a year.
If you need to chlorinate a large volume of water in a cistern or other storage tank in
order to safely use it, determine the volume in the pressure tank, the pump, the pipes to the
cistern, and the cistern itself. Check the chlorine dosage rate recommended by your health
department. If you add too much chlorine to your water storage, it can kill plants, be un-
palatable to animals, and may even harm your horses. If you don't add enough, it won't
disinfect. Chlorine is very volatile and dissipates rapidly.
Fresh water from clean streams or springs or water that has just been drawn from a good
well is bright, has a pleasant taste, and is naturally aerated. Air promotes digestion in horses
by helping digestive juices permeate feed. Foul-smelling water indicates the presence of
sewage gases from decomposing organic matter. Horses have a keen sense of smell and
detect tainted water easily. A bucket of water in an untidy stable or a stale trough often ab-
sorbs impurities, such as carbonic acid. Horses usually refuse to drink such bad water.
Rainwater from roofs often contains soot, dirt, and other impurities. A green or yellow
color to the water often indicates fermenting or decomposing plant matter. Iridescence is
often due to the presence of petroleum products. Muddiness, from clay, for example, poses
no big problem, but it is always best to try and provide clean and clear water.
MINERAL MATTER
The mineral content, as well as pH and levels of salts, sulfates, nitrates, and metals, will
be revealed by a chemical water analysis that can be performed at university or private
