824-Uncatt*r Farming, Saturday, Saptambar 25, 1993 Water Problems With ANDY ANDREWS Lancaster Farming Staff MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.) Before reviewing expensive and time-consuming ways to treat problem water, poultry producers should first consider where the well is located and what goes on around it and stop the problem at its source. That was the message about 30 poultry industry rep resentatives heard from several water quality experts at the recent Poultry Management and Health Seminar at Kreider’s Restaurant. ‘ ‘The concept of wellhead protection is what’s going to happen around a well is going to have more influence on the water quality in that well that what's going to happen 'A of a mile away from that well,” said Jeff Stoltzfus, for mer Pequea-Mill Creek project associate and now young farmer instructor in the Eastern Lancaster County School District. Stoltzfus reviewed some of the findings of the recent water quality project conducted in the Mill Creek area of Lancaster, which encompassed nearly a quarter of the county with a mostly dairy herd population. Stoltzfus spoke about a recent U.S. Geological Survey of 180 wells. Of the wells sampled, pesticide amounts were found in half the wells, but only two wells had atra zine levels above the EPA limit of 3 parts per billion. According to Stoltzfus, what the project found was that wells were more likely to be contaminated the nearer the spill was to the well and the higher the amount spilled in one location. And what a recent Penn State study found, generally, according to Stoltzfus, was that the closer the well was to a cornfield, on average, the higher the level of nitrates tended to be. Near the well, when water is pumped up. a “cone of depression” is created, which drops the groundwater table. The drop could leave the well pruned for ready con tamination, if a spill occurs near the wellhead. He emphasized the importance of good wellhead con struction, including proper casing and grouting. Wells should be located upslope from any areas which could cause potential contamination. “If a farmer has a well very close to a small stream, he may be actually pulling in some of the bacteria problems that may be occuring in that stream,” said Stoltzfus. For poultry producers, the well recharge zone is critical. For a typical 100,000-layer operation, which dtaws about 8,000 gallons of groundwater a day, the recharge area should be about 10 acres. “All the water that falls in the 10 acres of ground around that well could potentially be drawn up,” he said. Fanners must understand that while much of the activi ty of the farm occurs nearby, such as pesticide mixing, sprayer loading, fuel lank use, septic system operation, and other factors, farmstead practices, including applica tion of manure and pesticides on land in the recharge zone, can be critical. Also, old, hand-dug wells can promote bac teria problems, and, if abandoned, can effect other wells nearby. Penn State is working on an education system that far mers can use to help locate and manage wells for water quality. Input for the Pequea-Mill Creek project came horn industry—and Stoltzfus emphasized the importance of industry in helping farmers locate and manage wells for water quality. Biggest nutrient The most critical production factor on the farm is water quality because it may be the biggest nutrient on the farm, according to Greg Ositko, vice president of sales for Aqua Treatment Service, Inc. But poultry producers must test the water first and think about how much it will cost to treat water if there is a prob lem. It may be easier to simply relocate a well than going through some of the costly practices to correct a water problem, according to Ositko. ‘ ‘The only way we know what’s in the water is if we test for what’s in the water supply,” said Ositko. A complete test could range from $240 to $3OO or more. “The single most important thing you can do for the farm is disinfection,” he said. Speaking at the recent Poultry Management and Health Seminar were, from left, Bill Patter son, Wenger’s; Greg Ositko, vice president, sales, Aqua Treatment Service; and Jeff Stolt zfus, young farmerjnstructor, Eastern Lancaster County. Your Flock? Think About Other problems can affect production, including too much iron in the water. He spoke about a flock in Dela ware that had an iron bacteria problem, which destroyed three pumps per year. The bacteria creates a jelly-like slime which clogged pumps and wasted delivery lines. It was solved by dropping pelletized chlorine into the sys tem. A filtration unit was also employed to bring the water quality up to par. ‘ ‘lf you have an iron problem, you will want to get rid of it in a hurry, or it will be very costly in terms of the physi cal capabilities of that water to be delivered to your flocks,” he said. Ositko spoke about various treatment methods for prob lem water, including: • Disinfection. This includes chlorination, which will include a 20 minute to 14 hour retention time with a 1 part per million residue remaining. Also, another method is an ultraviolet (U V) light chamber, which includes a U V tube housed in high-purity quartz sleeve. Also, ozonation, a new method, uses ozone gas to kill bacteria. • Oxidation reduction to break down bacteria. • lon exchange. This method, also called water soften ing, treats the hard water using a polystyrene filter which replaces the hard minerals with soft minerals such as sodium. • Filtration. This is ion exchange which removes nitrates. • pH adjustmen. A method to adjust the acidity of the water. • Adsorption. This uses a carbon filter. • Demineralization. This ion exchange methods rids the AOAMSTOWN CLUGSTON FARM napmmm. equipment Mohnton, PA NMduion PA *ttSSr 717-573-2215 BARTRON SUPPLY, INC. Tunkhannoek, PA 717-838-4011 CARLYLE & MARTIN, INC. Hagaratown, MD 301-733-1873 ■ Only John Deere forage harvesters feature the Dura-Drum™ cuttterhead, with 40 segmented knives. Less plugging. ■ When damaged, replace only a short knife. When worn, replace all 40 knives for a fraction of the cost of 12 long knives. A E3l CLUGSTON AG & TURF, INC. Chambaraburg, PA 717-263-4103 DEERFIELD AG & TURF CENTER, INC. Wataontown, PA 717-538-3557 SAVE HORSEPOWER, TIME AND MONEY Causes Before Treating water of all minerals, leaving only pure water. Poultry producers should positively identify the prob lem before applying a treatment method. In the case of a nitrate problem, removal is complicated and expensive. Ositko told the producers that it is important to make sure only those are certified should make the recommen dations regarding treatment of water quality problems. Poultry producers should not ignore the further pro cessed market, such as the breakers, in the coming years, because that could still prove profitable to layers, accord ing to Bill Patterson, Wenger’s EAS Marketing represen tative, at the poultry meeting. In 1980,13 percent of the shell eggs went to further pro cessing. By 1993, the number going to further processing increased to 24 percent By the year 2000, according to Patterson, as much as 45 percent of the shell eggs could go to further processing. Also, Pennsylvania is increasing in importance in terms of layers and broilers since many California companies are moving to lowa and other states because of land cost. In 1988, there were 19.7 million birds in Pennsylvania, and the number has grown to 21.4 million birds this year. The state itself is getting to be a real factor in the nation’s industry and could wind up as the number 1 egg producing state in the country, he said. Patterson also revealed upcoming marketing efforts. The American Egg Board will have a new marketing strategy and a new slogan. “I Love Eggs,” coming out next month. DUNKLE & GRIEB INC. Mill Hall, PA 717-728-3115 ENFIELD EQUIPMENT INC. Oxford, PA 215-932-8858 ENFIELD EQUIPMENT INC. Whhaford, MD 301-452-5252 ■ Knife sharpening is a breeze. Adjustments, a cinch. a Processed market EVERGREEN GUTSHALLI TRACTOR CO., INC. Carliil*. I Übinon, PA 717-249.2] 717-272-4641 KERMT H FINCH SERVICES- KISTLEfI I HANOVER INC. 7M6 King. hi Hinovw, PA 717-632-2345 215-»WOi A.B.C. GROFF, INC. LANDIS BROS Now Holland, PA LinciiU;. P 717-3544191 717-29 MM GUTSHALL’S INC. illS RD 42 Box 74-A EQUIPME) loytvlll*. PA Weieosvllk, 215-398-255: AFBA
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