H2MOO AND APSU: TESTING WATER QUALITY FOR CATTLE SAFETY

A well with a solar-powered pump was installed in spring of 2016 at Austin Peay State University’s Environmental Education Center, which provides resources and research opportunities for the campus and community. The Department of Geosciences has been intermittently testing the quality of the water from the storage tank, the PVC pipe where water is pumped into the tank, and two spigots that connect to the tank via a pipe and will eventually be the cattle’s water source. Compartment bag tests were used for Escherichia coli (E.coli) analyses. Manganese, iron, nitrate, nitrite, sulfide, and sulfate levels were analyzed with a photometer; pH, total dissolved solids, and conductivity of the water were also measured in the field. Preliminary results indicate only manganese and E. coli are of concern in regards to cattle health. Initial testing suggests that the source of the manganese is the holding tank, since water from the well does not contain the element. The main source of E. coli is likely cattle feces, which could easily be transported into the groundwater in the local karst environment, especially after storm events. Future sampling may help confirm the sources and aid in mitigation efforts to ensure the water is safe for cattle consumption, which will allow for an additional grazing rotation and increased sustainability.