| Parameters | Maximum acceptable milligrams per litre (ppm) | |
|---|---|---|
| Major Ions & Nutrients | Livestock | Humans |
| Calcium | ||
| Nitrate plus nitrate | 1000 | — |
| Nitrate alone | 100 | 11 |
| Sulphate | 10 | 1 |
| Total dissolved solids | 1000 | 500 |
| 3000 | 500 | |
| Heavy Metals and Trace Ions | ||
| Aluminum | 5 | — |
| Arsenic | 0.025 | 0.025 |
| Beryllium | 0.1 | — |
| Boron | 5 | 5 |
| Cadmium | 0.08 | 0.005 |
| Chromium | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Cobalt | 1 | — |
| Copper | 1 | cattle |
| 5 | swine/poultry | |
| 0.5 | sheep | |
| Fluoride | 2 | 1.5 |
| Iron | — | 0.3 |
| Lead | 0.1 | 0.01 |
| Manganese | — | 0.05 |
| Mercury | 0.003 | 0.001 |
| Molybdenum | 0.5 | — |
| Nickel | 1 | — |
| Selenium | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Uranium | 0.2 | 0.02 |
| Vanadium | 0.1 | — |
| Zinc | 50 | 5 |
Note — indicates no guideline
| Typical Livestock Water Consumption Levels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy (litres/day) | Beef (litres/day) | ||
| Dry cows | 40 | Dry cows | 35 |
| Lactating | 100 | Lactating | 55 |
| Yearling Heifers | 30 | Yearling Heifers | 30 |
| Feedlot animals | 50 | ||
| Swine (litres/day) | |||
| Sows | 25 | Poultry (litres/day) | |
| Weaners | 2.5 | Broilers | 140 |
| Growing-finishing | 7 | Layers | 190 |
| Turkeys | 700 |
Notes
(1) All intake levels are subject to large variation related to environmental temperature, humidity, water quality and availability, diet composition and animal performance level.
(2) Animals consuming wet feeds such as by-products, pasture or silages will drink considerably less water than indicated above.
Compiled by Murray Snowdon, NBAFA, 2000. Updated in 2008.