Dear Shari,
As a supporter of organic farming in Ohio, I found the information you presented at Equine Affaire in Ohio of great interest. I have a question related to the talk you gave on environmental toxins: After testing well water used in the horse barn and finding it over the safe limit for certain agricultural chemicals, what is the next step? Are there filters available that could be used in such a situation? Are they the same as might be used in a residence or are there special designs for livestock watering? It's one thing to know there's benzene or nitrites in the water delivered to the stalls and quite another thing to be able to fix it! I am asking this for a friend as I do not own a horse (but I DO test my well water at least once a year and it is wonderfully clean despite the proximity to conventionally farmed fields).
Thanks!
Rowan Evans, Newark, OH
Hi Rowan,
I am happy to know a fellow organic farmer and am pleased to share information, as there is really not a lot out there (in my opinion). I am also happy for you and your clean well water; you are very fortunate. I am also very sad and fearful for all those (including your friend) who are faced with chemical toxicity in their water source. Our world’s source of clean water is getting smaller and smaller.
If a well tests unsafe you really should not use the water until it clears. E coli is an easy clear (shocking the well with Clorox and flushing). Toxic chemicals are an entirely different problem. The primary issue will be the source of the chemicals. If the source can be contained there is hope. If the source is upstream, the source cannot be cleared and therefore the problem will continue until the offender stops offending.
There is hope. Filters and devices can be added to the source prior to dispensing, allowing clean water access to livestock. A contaminated water source on the property can continue contaminating his land so both the land and water have to be addressed. A soil test will identify soil contamination. If chemicals are eliminated (ie, he uses ONLY organic from now on) Microbes and biological activity (carbs, molasses, fish...) will automatically regenerate and DETOX the land.
Is there electricity at his water source? Do you know the level of nitrites and benzene? Any other chemicals present?
Thank you for helping your friend. One by one, working together, cleaning up what generations have done to our world we can all make a contribution to a cleaner future.
Sincerely,
Shari Frederick