To judge the suitability of a water supply for any class of livestock, consider each case individually. Give attention to the class and physical condition of the animals, the environment, the feed and the water. Whether from natural or human sources, water occasionally contains elements or substances in toxic amounts. Unfortunately, only limited information is available on experimentally determined toxic levels of various substances in water for livestock and poultry.
Good judgment is necessary when applying information.
So many conditions are involved in determining whether or not certain levels of a toxicant will cause harm that no single concentration can be accepted as dangerous in all situations. Following are some examples of the problems involved in assigning toxic levels to waterborne substances. Toxic substances may be present in water in solution or as suspended solids. The nutritional availability of toxic elements or substances in these phases may differ considerably among animals. Different chemical forms of the elements frequently result in different toxicities to the animals consuming them.