Chapter 12 - Water Treatments

Various methods are available that can reduce or eliminate the impurities that adversely affect water quality.

Chlorination

Chlorination is the most common method used to treat water for bacterial contamination and effectively eliminate bacteria from the water supply. Chlorine can be administered through an in-line proportioner. General recommendations are to have a level of 2 or 3 ppm at the drinker farthest from the proportioner. Chlorine levels can be easily monitored using a pool test kit.

Softeners

Use water softening equipment to reduce hardness. Most softening equipment uses ion exchange to effectively remove the calcium and magnesium ions and replace them with sodium ions. Levels of TDS, however, are simply substituted and increases in sodium concentration of the water occur, possibly to unacceptable levels. Poultry are generally sensitive to increases in sodium levels, so producers should be judicial in their selection and use of water softening equipment.

Polyphosphates

Polyphosphates are chemical compounds used primarily to prevent the buildup of scale in the watering systems. They act to cause mineral contaminants to go into solution more readily.

Electrical / Magnetic devices

Electrical or magnetic devices keep minerals associated with scale buildup in solution by altering their electrical charges.

Guidelines for chlorination

• Do not chlorinate market age birds under extreme heat stress.
• Measure residual chlorine at the waterer to maintain at least a 1.0 ppm level at the drinker mid-house. 
• Discontinue chlorination and administer powdered milk solution before vaccination to neutralize chlorine since chlorine kills vaccines.
• Use caution since chlorine solutions are acidic and often oxidize soft rubber.