How to Check & See If Water Is Safe for Horses to Drink

Test the source before letting your horse drink water from it.

Clean, safe water must be provided to horses on a daily basis. The average horse requires 10 gallons of water a day to remain healthy, and this amount can double or triple on hot, humid days. A horse's daily water consumption affects his temperature, food digestion, balance of fluids, tolerance of weather and overall health. City water should be given whenever possible. Water from natural sources can contain harmful bacteria, chemicals and contaminants. Prior to drinking, the water should be checked for toxicity, cleanliness and disease.

Things You'll Need

• Water testing kit
• Bleach

Instructions

1. Smell the water to see if there are any unusual odors. You can reasonably rely on your own senses to determine if drinking water is safe. If the water smells bad, has an unusual appearance or texture, do not allow your horse to drink it until it has been checked by a laboratory.

2. Go to the source. Find out where the water is coming from. If it originates from a municipal water source, it is safe. Municipal water serving 25 or more people must comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water act. If you are giving your horse city water, it is considered safe and no further testing is required.

3. Obtain a water sample test kit from your local extension service or county health office. Alternatively, you can order one from the Internet (see resources). Make sure that the test kit is designed to test water for organic chemicals, biological contaminants and total dissolved solids that can be harmful to horses.

4. Collect water samples and send to the testing facility as instructed by the testing kit.

5. Examine the results of the test for biological contaminants. For instance, elevated coliform counts indicate that the water is likely contaminated with waste, soil, or decayed plant matter and probably includes other harmful bacteria. Look for indications that the water is contaminated with organic chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizer, solvents, and industrial waste. Organic chemicals can contaminate water as a result of spills, misuse and illegal dumping. These chemicals can be harmful to horses.

6. Check the level of Total Dissolved Solids concentration, which measures the amount of organic materials and inorganic metals. High levels of TDS may not necessarily indicate a problem with the water; however, the water should be tested further to identify the specific contaminant. Water with high levels of TDS can contain calcium, magnesium, nitrate, nitrite, iron sulfate, copper, and lead. Depending on the levels, these materials can cause serious health problems in horses.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your water from private wells, springs and natural sources on a yearly basis to ensure that the water quality has not changed.

• Check the cleanliness of your water containers on a regular basis and change the water daily. Stagnant water in buckets and tubs can become contaminated with algae and may attract insects. Blue-green algae can be toxic to horses and dirty water will deter horses from drinking enough daily. Clean water containers regularly by scrubbing with bleach to remove any bacteria and algae build-up.

• Perform tests for bacterial contamination if you notice a change in water color, odor, or taste or if the water supply has been affected by flooding or if maintenance has been performed on the water system.

• Avoid allowing your horse to drink stagnant water in marshy areas or standing water around cattle as these water sources can carry diseases such as Potomac Horse Fever and Leptospirosis.

References

• Livestock Update; Larry Lawrence; December 1998
• Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine; Dehydration and Electrolyte Losses in the Sport Horse

Resources

• Horses for Clean Water
• Water Quality Association
• Pure Test Water Testing