Water Quality for Wyoming Livestock and Wildlife

A review of the literature pertaining to the health effects of inorganic contaminants

M. F. Raisbeck DVM, PhD, DABVT, S.L Riker BS, C.M. Tate DVM, PhD, R. Jackson PhD, M.A. Smith PhD, K.J. Reddy PhD, J.R. Zygmunt BS
 

 

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Element

 

Short Exposure

 

Chronic Exposure

 

Rationale

 

Arsenic

(Summary)

 

1 mg/L

 

1 mg/L

 

As does not seem to be a carcinogen in livestock, therefore a concentration which protects against cytotoxic effects should be sufficient.

 

Barium

(Summary)

 

No recommendation

 

No recommendation

 

 See text

 

Fluoride

(Summary)

 

2 mg/L

 

2 mg/L    

 

Prevent dental lesions in most sensitive life stage.  Fully mature animals may be able to tolerate more.

 

Molybdenum

(Summary)

 

0.3 mg/L 

 

0.3 mg/L

 

Prevent secondary Cu deficiency and poor performance.

 

Nitrate

(Summary)

 

500 mg/L

 

500 mg/L

 

Prevent acute death and abortion in well-managed cattle.  Dry diets high in NO3 may require lower concentrations.

 

Nitrite

(Summary)

 

100 mg/L

 

100 mg/L

 

Prevent acute death and abortion in well-managed cattle.  Dry diets high in NO3 may require lower concentrations.

 

pH

(Summary)

 

No recommendation

 

No recommendation

 

See text

 

Selenium

(Summary)

 

0.1 mg/L

 

0.1 mg/L

 

Prevent selenosis in equidae.  Can probably tolerate slightly high concentrations for very short periods.

 

Sodium

(Summary)

 

4000 mg/L

 

1000 mg/L

 

Assuming normal feedstuff Na concentration and no other water sources, these concentrations should protect against acute lethality or chronically, poor performance.

 

Sulfate

(Summary)

 

1800 mg/L

 

 

                                               

 

1000 mg/L

 

Assuming normal feedstuff  S concentration, acute death may occur in ruminants at concentrations greater than 2000, especially if not allowed time to acclimate.  Long-term consumption result in poor performance.

 

TDS

(Summary)

 

No recommendation

 

No recommendation

 

See text.

Here are recommendations from other agencies for elements that we did not research, but still felt were important...

 

Element

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Primary Standards (Human)

Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC)

Canadian Livestock and Water Quality Guidelines

Beryllium

0.004 mg/L

N/A

0.1 mg/L

Boron

N/A

5 mg/L

5 mg/L

Cadmium

0.005 mg/L

0.01 mg/L

0.02 mg/L

Chloride

N/A

N/A

15,000 mg/L

Chromium

0.1 mg/L

1 mg/L

1 mg/L

Cobalt

N/A

1 mg/L

1 mg/L

Copper

N/A

0.5 mg/L

0.5-5 mg/L

Iron

N/A

N/A

0.3 mg/L

Lead

0.015 mg/L

0.1 mg/L

0.1 mg/L

Magnesium

N/A

N/A

6,000 mg/L

Manganese

N/A

N/A

0.05 mg/L

Mercury

0.002 mg/L

0.002 mg/L

0.003 mg/L

Uranium

N/A

0.2 mg/L

0.2 mg/L

 

Acknowledgements

Bibliography