Arsenic in water

[Fairview01]

Are you moving to becoming more self sufficient? If so consuming enough of the livestock stock that has consumed the higher arsenic levels in the water may result in high levels for you. Adults can handle higher levels of arsenic than children. Arsenic is a heavy metal very similar in effects like lead, mercury and cadmium. The only good thing is that unlike the other heavy metals, our body can metabolize arsenic and eliminate it.

If I had children I would proceed with caution.

 

[lazy gardener]

Excellent point. I would be uncomfortable giving untreated water to any of my stock in such a situation.

 

[wvchics]

Yeah I would definitely try to find an alternative if possible. I use rain water sometimes for my chickens. I, myself, would be Leary giving it to a food source. Also, people sometimes hold stock in low regard possibly allowing more than what should be( just a thought)

 

[Chaerie]

Rain barrel is a great idea! Course, doesn't rain here in northern Cali for 8 months out of the year haha but we can try during the winter.

Long term, we actually have a water tank that we will be utilizing, arsenic will precipitate in a holding tank. We moved in less than a year ago, so just haven't had time to set it up. We'll be using that also for irrigation for our garden and fruit trees. But in the meantime, lemme tell you, shlepping RO water up my mountain for some little bitty birds is not all that fun.

 

[wvchics]

It doesn't sound fun but it may end up being better in the long run. You could always distill water for them. I know that's not ideal either but maybe better than having to carry it all the way.

 

[lazy gardener]

Acccording to a quick google search, arsenic is absorbed by Carbon. So, a home made filtration system would work, even if using your well water. Now, I don't know how often you'd need to change out the carbon.

 

[Fairview01]

I have arsenic in my well water. It's 20 ppm, the acceptable range is 10ppm or less, so it's not a crazy ton. We filter our drinking water, but... Is it ok to give livestock water with a little arsenic? Will it be safe to eat the chickens and their eggs?

Something else. Is this well new construction or did you purchase this home and this is your only source of water? If the latter was the arsenic level part of the prepurchase acknowledgement by the seller? If you purchased the house and this is the sole source of water than I think you may want to speak to a lawyer and if purchased on a VA loan, the VA.

There could be a lot of people crosswise from the realtor to the prior owner. The prospective owner has a legal right to know of certain deficiencies prior to purchase. I can not believe that water contaminated with heavy metals isn't one of them.

 

[Chaerie]

Something else. Is this well new construction or did you purchase this home and this is your only source of water? If the latter was the arsenic level part of the prepurchase acknowledgement by the seller? If you purchased the house and this is the sole source of water than I think you may want to speak to a lawyer and if purchased on a VA loan, the VA.

There could be a lot of people crosswise from the realtor to the prior owner. The prospective owner has a legal right to know of certain deficiencies prior to purchase. I can not believe that water contaminated with heavy metals isn't one of them.

We've got 2 wells. The one that goes to the house is the one with arsenic. The other one is an older ag well, which is quite a ways downhill from the garden and chicken area.

This is an older home, existing wells. We have a conventional loan, and believe me we nearly backed out because of this issue but we did a whole lot of research and decided to manage by doing RO water for drinking.

So, thing is, they didn't even require this test to purchase the home. The coliform testing was required, and we purchased lead and arsenic on our own. Even the water lab didn't recommend arsenic testing. But we insisted, and lo and behold, here we are today. My realtor said we did the more testing than any of her clients, and she's been a realtor for like 30 years. People just don't care (?). It sounds scary but plenty of people have arsenic in their water. It's very common in Arizona, people just RO their water. Can even be in city water. The guidelines a few years ago was 50ppm and under, they only recently changed it to 10ppm, so our water at 20ppm is not crazy high. I can talk your ear off about water, so to speak. I was just hoping maybe someone else would have some experience and can give me some insight.

Believe me, if you saw my place, you wouldn't be recommending distilling my water haha. How do you even do that? Boil it on the stove? Maybe this is the wrong forum for me

 

[Alaskan]

The guidelines a few years ago was 50ppm and under, they only recently changed it to 10ppm, so our water at 20ppm is not crazy high

Oh really???

Then sheesh and all, I am sure it would be fine for the chickens!!!!!

I wonder though...how much it would cost, just for grins and giggles, to test your first egg and first meat bird, for arsenic levels...

 

[Chaerie]

I will look into that!