pH
Water should have a pH in the range 6.5 to 8.5 to be satisfactory for sheep.
Indications are as follows:
Water pH requirements for sheep
| pH | Outcome for Sheep |
| < 5.0 | Highly acidic, reduced feed intake |
| 6.5 – 8.5 | Healthy range |
| > 9 | Digestive upsets, diarrhoea, lower feed conversion efficiency, reduced feed and water intake |
Salinity
Effect of salinity level on sheep
| Electrical conductivity (microSiemen per centimeter, S/cm)¹ |
Effect on Sheep |
| Acceptable range | |
| < 1,600 | Low salinity. No effect. |
| 1,600 – 4,700 | Generally satisfactory but may cause temporary, mild diarrhoea on first introduction |
| 4,700 – 7,800 | May be refused at first on introduction, but should be satisfactory. Possible temporary, mild diarrhoea. |
| Tolerable range for some stock | |
| 7,800 – 10,900 | Reasonably safe except for sheep that are pregnant or lactating. Higher end levels should be avoided. |
| 10,900 – 15,600 | Considerable risk to pregnant or lactating ewes and young stock. Avoid completely in hot conditions. Older stock may tolerate in short term. |
| High Risk | |
| 15,600 – 23,400 | May be OK in short term for old dry stock |
| 30,000 | Toxic |
¹Electrical conductivity (EC) value is obtained by dividing the mg/L or ppm value given in the reference literature by 0.64 to give S/cm.
Algal growth
Algae are primitive plants found in most surface waters and can build up to high levels indicating high levels of nutrient chemicals contaminating the water. At high levels the algae can be responsible for unsatisfactory taste and strong odors in the water. In extreme cases, some algae can produce toxins.