LPM 221: Commercial Poultry Production and Hatchery Management (1+1)

WATER QUALITY

• Other than glass distilled water, there is no such thing as pure water. All other waters contain foreign substances in solution or suspension, which may affect its palatability, functionality, or the well being of the birds.
• Water composition varies with geographical region as the nature of the geological makeup changes.
• Water contamination can occur if surface water drains into the well.
• Standards of water quality include elements associated with taste and appearance of water and health and demonstrated toxic effects in birds when consuming it.
• Poor quality water affects the production performance of the birds by producing infectious and non-infectious diseases.
• The effectiveness of vaccines and medications administered through the water lines could be reduced when water quality is poor.
• Water contaminants could create equipment problems that would either restrict the amount of water available for consumption or affect the evaporative cooling and fogging systems. Reduced water consumption or cooling capacity would have detrimental effects on both growth and reproduction.
• Poor water quality could also cause leaky water nipples inside the house, which will wet litter and lead to increased ammonia production.
• Poor litter quality and high levels of ammonia can cause reduced performance and livability.
• Standards for water quality should include factors that affect taste, solid buildup within water systems, and toxicity.
• Factors that should be observed for poultry production include, but are not limited to:

Color	Water is colorless, and any color in the water may indicate an increased contamination level.
Turbidity	Particles such as clay, silt, sand or organic matter in suspension can cause the water to appear cloudy or muddy. Turbid water can cause leaky nipples and clog fogging nozzles.
Hardness	Calcium and magnesium salts cause the water to be hardened and can lead to scale and sludge buildup within water lines. Hardness reduces the effectiveness of soaps and disinfectants and interferes with the administration of some medications.
Iron (Fe)	Iron will stain almost everything it contacts, and it is a common water quality issue. Recent studies indicate that iron in the water does not appear to affect poultry health, but some of the iron may form solid particulates such as iron oxide, which can lead to equipment problems. These small particles can cause leaky nipples and block fogging nozzle openings. Either of these conditions can have negative impacts on poultry production. Bacteria are more likely to thrive in water with high iron concentrations. As a result, biofilm buildup can occur, which can obstruct nipple drinkers and promote pathogen proliferation.
Manganese (Mg)	While manganese itself does not cause a negative effect on poultry health, like iron, it can form solid particulates that can cause leaky nipples and clog foggers.
Nitrate-N (N)	Elevated nitrate concentrations indicate decaying organic material. It has been correlated with poor oxygen use in animals, but recent studies observed no differences in broiler performance with nitrate levels as high as 600 ppm. Presence of nitrate is a good indicator that water should be checked for bacteria.
pH	The pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity. A scale from 0-14 is used to measure pH. A value of 7.0 is neutral, values below 7.0 are acidic and values greater than 7.0 are basic. A pH of 6.0 to 6.8 is preferred for broiler production, but birds can tolerate a pH range of 4 to 8. A pH range of greater than 8 could cause reduced water consumption.
Alkalinity	Caused by calcium carbonate, bicarbonate or sulfate. High alkalinity increases the buffering capacity of water.
Total solids	Total solids represent the total amount of solid material in both suspension and solution. Total solids are not directly linked to any poultry health issues, but equipment function and water delivery could be nega-tively affected by total solids, which could influence bird performance.
Toxic compounds	The amount will vary depending on the compound, but elements such as lead, selenium and arsenic should be kept below 1.0 ppm to prevent bird health problems as well as residues.
Dissolved oxygen	Normal ground water concentrations have little or no dissolved oxygen. Concentrations greater than zero indicate possible surface water influence.
Bacteria	Keep bacteria levels to a minimum (Table 2).