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Bureau of Animal Health - Equine Programs

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What can be done to limit the impact of Horses on the Drinking Water Supply?

The quality of water directly impacts the quality of our lives. Contaminated water eliminates drinking water supplies for our horses and families, degrades our recreational water resources, and destroys wildlife habitat. Water that does not soak into the ground, whether from rain, snowmelt, a hose, or leaking pipes, is called runoff. Runoff picks up contaminants, such as nutrients, pathogens, and bacteria from manure and can transport them to the nearest water resource (lake, pond, wetland, stream, or river). Certain site conditions, such as steep and unprotected slopes, lack of vegetative cover, and proximity to receiving waters will encourage manure and contaminants associated with manure from entering surface water resources. Pollution carried by runoff is called nonpoint source pollution (NPS). Proper manure management and runoff management will protect or improve water quality on your property, and in your community and watershed.

Manure contains nutrients, such as phosphorous and nitrogen, and pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and parasites. These pollutants contaminate water resources and reduce recreational potential of lakes and rivers, destroy wildlife habitat, and eliminate drinking water supplies for people and livestock.

How does manure impact water resources?

When manure is deposited in water resources, either directly or by runoff, it can negatively impact water resources. The nutrients contained in manure, phosphorous and nitrogen, can be carried by runoff to the nearest water body, such as a pond, stream or lake. The nutrients then fertilize aquatic weeds and accelerate weed growth in lakes and ponds. The aquatic plants deplete oxygen levels, reducing the amount of oxygen available for other aquatic species such as fish. When the weeds die, additional oxygen is required for decomposition, further stressing oxygen stores and aquatic life.

Direct manure entry into the water resource can also cause oxygen starvation due to increased biological oxygen demand (BOD), and result in fish kills. Algae blooms are another result of excess nutrients in the lake or pond. Algae blooms further reduce oxygen in the water body, can turn the water an unsightly murky green, and generate an unpleasant odor. Eutrophication (accelerated weed growth) and algae blooms kill fish and make swimming and boating unpleasant.

When the pathogens found in manure, including viruses, parasites, and bacteria such as fecal coliform and e. coli, are deposited into a stream or lake, swimming areas and shellfish beds may be closed. Pet, livestock and human drinking water supplies may be contaminated.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has developed 9 brochures to provide information to horse owners.

These brochures will teach different Best Management Practices (BMPs-accepted agricultural practices that are used to protect and improve surface water and groundwater quality and other natural resources that may be on the land) that horse owners can utilize to better protect water supplies from nonpoint source pollution. The following are the titles of the 9 brochures:

• Vegetated Buffer Strips, Slow the Flow to Protect Water Quality
• A Horse Owner's Guide to Protecting Massachusetts Natural Resources
• Composting
• Protecting Public Health and Drinking Water
• Information Sources
  
• Manure Management for Healthy Horses
  
• Manure Impacts on Surface Water Quality
  
• The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and Single
• Family Home/Horse Ownership
  
• Mud and Pasture Management

All DEP brochures can be found at this web address: www.mass.gov/dep/consumer/animal.htm

The Massachusetts Farm Bureau has put together a guide specifically for horse owners. This guide includes the following articles:

• Good Neighbor Guide for Horse Keeping: Manure Management
• Pollution Control for Horse Stables and Backyard Livestock
• Directory of Composters and Other Manure Users
• Composting: A Solution to Horse Manure Storage & Disposal Problems
• Horse Manure, A Natural Resource for Composters & Compost Users
• Directory of Horse Farms and Stables with Manure Available
• Municipal Regulations
• Nuisance Complaints

This guide can be ordered for $10 from:
Massachusetts Farm Bureau
466 Chestnut St.
Ashland, MA 01721
(508) 881-4766
www.massfarmbureau.com

Related Publications

• Water Well-Being manual - one stop shopping for information about responsible pesticide and fertilizer use.
• Homeowner SWAP brochure
• Fertilizer Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Manure Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Pesticide Fact Sheet [PDF]
• Other Homeowner's guides from CSU Cooperative Extension
• "Audubon Guide for a Healthy Yard and Beyond - 10 Commandments for a Healthy Yard" [PDF]