Water test and treatment

It is recommended to test water quality annually. A regular water test allows for detection of changes in water suitability for pigs. Water tests typically assess TDS, hardness, pH, and coliform count. Water samples should be collected at the beginning and at the end of water lines for analysis.

It is important to clean water lines regularly. Water lines form a biofilm and a buildup with solids over time, which increases the pathogen load, reduces the volume of water, and decreases the efficiency of chemicals and medications used via water. Water lines should undergo a treatment with hydrogen peroxide and organic acids to flush out the buildup and then a chlorine-based disinfectant should be used to reduce the pathogen load. It is worth noting that disinfectants have little to no effect on microorganisms contained in biofilms or in the presence of organic matter. After cleaning, all nipples should be checked for flow rate as biofilm and solids can reduce or plug water flow through nipples.

Fact Sheet: Water in Swine Nutrition