Is Farm Run Off Polluting our Drinking Water?

 Feces are a natural part of every day life; in fact the ground we walk on and grow our food in is the by-product of one animal species or another. While manure is organic in nature and may even be very useful to humans, sometimes large amounts of manure can pose a significant hazard to our way of life.

Picture for a second the typical feedlot or pig farm. Hundreds of animals are kept in a relatively small enclosure, and they spend their days eating and metabolizing until they are ready to be butchered. This means that there are literally hundreds of pounds of manure created every day, and the large amounts can pose a serious threat to the health of the human population.

Whenever it rains, there is the possibility of manure run off, including several species of bacteria, to find its way into drinking supplies. Usually the combined natural filters of nature will combine with the artificial filters of man to eliminate the risk of health hazards, but in the case of large amounts from commercial farms there is a risk of certain harmful bacteria getting into drinking water supplies.

Although the public in general may be at risk, the people most likely to encounter problems will be those who live on or near the feedlot, and that usually includes the owners. That means that not only are there legislated measures for safe manure disposal, but the stakeholders have a personal interest as well. 

The high levels of nitrates in the contaminated water cause horrible effects to those unfortunate enough to drink it. It has been linked to cause spontaneous miscarriages in pregnant women; high levels of nitrates in drinking water also increase the risk of methemoglobinemia, or "blue-baby syndrome," which can kill infants. The contaminated water contains disease-causing pathogens, such as Salmonella, E. coli, Cryptosporidium, and fecal coliform, which can be 10 to 100 times more concentrated than in human waste. More than 40 diseases can be transferred to humans through waste contaminated water.

How do we keep our drinking water safe?

Chlorine is a chemical that the government adds to water because farms and other waste producing industries fail to decontaminate their water. Chlorinating the tap water is a significant public health measure that kills some of the bacteria from sewage and farm run off.  But chlorination is no substitute for cleaning up America’s waters. Actually it is greatly increased to cause cancer and it affects the taste of the water. Think about it… would you want to drink pool water? Who needs flavored water when your tap water comes with chlorine in it free of charge!  Whether you’re drinking contaminated water (from sewage or runoff) or you’re drinking chlorinated water it’s still harmful to your body.

For concerned water drinkers everywhere all you can do is use a home water filter. For the safest measures, we highly recommend a whole house water filter. Don’t make the mistake of relying on the government for clean water.  Many chemicals and other harmful elements get past government standards. As you have read these harmful chemicals make people sick or can even cause death! Even when chlorine is added to kill bacteria your safety & overall health is greatly compromised. Chlorine, when consumed in large amounts, is poisonous and in the long term it causes life threatening illnesses. People are also easily fooled by “Filtered” bottled water.  Drinking this water is the same as drinking any ordinary tap water and in most cases completely bypasses any filtration system.  With this said, bottled water is often contaminated just as easily. Having a water filter at home will ensure the water you and your family drink and use is safe, clean, and surprisingly delicious. It is a small and easy measure to take but it can save you and your family loads of cash. No more throwing away your hard-earned dollars on bottled water. Aside from safeguarding your wallet, the most important thing by far is that a home water filter will safeguard your life.  It could be decades before any real steps to clean up our water supply are taken. Until then, more chlorine and chemicals will be added to your water. 

To witness global results, a comprehensive, wide-spread attack on farm and sewage runoff must take place.  Utilizing compost piles, the bacteria can release and metabolize before it seeps into drinking water.  The waste can turn into manure and be used as a fertilizer. Other things such as lagoon treatment and batch reactors can reduce the waste.  Sadly most industries don’t take these measures and drinking water gets contaminated and that means more chlorine and other chemicals are added in.

In conclusion: Cattle, agriculture, and domestic waste from farms increase the nitrogen and phosphorous seeping into ground water.  These chemicals and bacteria cause people to get sick and in some cases die. Studies show nitrogen and phosphorus from farm runoff causes algae to grow.  More algae in water means more parasites and bacteria.  The bacteria and parasites also can cause severe deformities in frogs and other amphibians.  One does not have to live near a farm to see the effects of this pollution.  The pollution seeps into ground water and then is transported to many rivers, lakes, and streams in surrounding areas. So stay safe, install a home filter, and minimize the risk you and your family are exposed to. 

By: Rob Parker.

Co-written by Jennifer Karkoska, Armelin Media, LLC.