Annex 2. Water quality guidelines for livestock and poultry production for parameters of concern in agricultural drainage water

Soluble salt content

Rating

Uses

< 1 000 mg/litre
(<1.5 dS/m)

Excellent

Excellent for all classes of livestock and poultry

1 000-3 000 mg/litre
(1.5-5 dS/m)

Very satisfactory

Satisfactory for all classes of livestock. May cause temporary mild diarrhoea in livestock not accustomed to them. Those waters approaching the upper limits may cause some watery droppings in poultry.

3 000-5 000 mg/litre
(5-8 dS/m)

Satisfactory for livestock

Unfit for poultry

Satisfactory for livestock but may be refused by animals not accustomed to it. If sulphate salts predominate, animals may show temporary diarrhoea. Poor waters for poultry, often causing watery faeces, increased mortality and decreased growth especially in turkeys.

5 000-7 000 mg/litre
(8-11 dS/m)

Limited use for livestock

Unfit for poultry

This water can be used for livestock except for those that are pregnant or lactating. It may have some laxative effect and may be refused by animals until they become accustomed to it. It is unsatisfactory for poultry

7 000-10 000 mg/litre
(11-16 dS/m)

Very limited use

Considerable risk for pregnant and lactating cows, horses, sheep and for the young of these species. It may be used for older ruminants or horses. Unfit for poultry and probably swine.

> 10 000 mg/litre
(> 16 dS/m)

Not recommended

This water is unsatisfactory for all classes of livestock and poultry.

Constituent

Upper limit (mg/litre)

Constituent

Upper limit (mg/litre)

Arsenic (As)

0.025¹

Nickel (Ni)

1.0

Boron (B)

5.0

Nitrate + nitrite

Cadmium (Cd)

0.05²

(NO₃-N + NO₂-N)

100

Chromium (Cr)

0.05³

Nitrite (NO₂-N)

10

Copper (Cu)

0.5-5.0⁴

Selenium (Se)

0.05

Lead (Pb)

0.1

Uranium (U)

0.2

Mercury (Hg)

0.01⁵

Vanadium (V)

0.1

Molybdenum (Mo)

0.5

Zinc (Zn)

24⁶