Thus, the importance of an accurate diagnosis must be emphasized. Tables 1 through 4 in this guide show the recommended limits of certain pollutants and other substances commonly found in water used for livestock and poultry. These tables should not be used as diagnostic indicators of health problems in livestock. Toxicity from a specific mineral or compound depends on its concentration and on relative levels of other components with which it interacts. Alkalinity is expressed either as a pH or as titratable alkalinity in the form of bicarbonates.
Excessive alkalinity can cause physiological and digestive upsets in livestock.
Desired and potential problem levels of some common pollutants in livestock water supplies are listed in Table 1. Table 2 shows the safe upper limits for several substances that may be contained in livestock water. Unfortunately, northwest of this line, the water from deep, high-yield aquifers is usually too highly mineralized to be used for watering livestock. This area commonly depends on surface water supplies for farms and public uses. The saltiness of water is commonly measured by total dissolved solids, which is approximated by the electrical conductance of the water.