WATER QUALITY TESTING CHECKLIST
Ranch/Farm Information
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Ranch Name | _________________________________ |
| Date | _________________________________ |
| Tested By | _________________________________ |
| Water Source ID | _________________________________ |
| Source Type | □ Well □ Pond □ Tank □ Stream □ Spring □ Other: _______ |
| GPS Location | _________________________________ |
PART 1: VISUAL INSPECTION
Water Appearance
- [ ] Clear and colorless
- [ ] Cloudy or turbid
- [ ] Green tint (possible algae)
- [ ] Brown/rust color (iron/sediment)
- [ ] Oily surface film
- [ ] Floating debris
- [ ] Visible algae bloom
- [ ] Dead insects/animals visible
Odor Assessment
- [ ] No odor
- [ ] Rotten egg smell (hydrogen sulfide)
- [ ] Musty/earthy smell (algae/bacteria)
- [ ] Chemical smell
- [ ] Petroleum smell
- [ ] Other unusual odor: _______________________
Surrounding Area
- [ ] No visible contamination sources
- [ ] Animal carcasses present nearby
- [ ] Evidence of chemical application
- [ ] Erosion runoff entering source
- [ ] Livestock waste accumulation
- [ ] Wildlife activity observed
- [ ] Industrial/oil equipment nearby
- [ ] Recent flooding evidence
PART 2: SAMPLE COLLECTION PROTOCOL
Before Collection
- [ ] Lab-provided containers obtained
- [ ] Collection instructions reviewed
- [ ] Hands washed/gloves worn
- [ ] Container labels prepared
Collection Steps
- [ ] Avoid disturbing sediment
- [ ] Rinse container with source water (3x) unless pre-treated
- [ ] Fill container completely, no air bubbles
- [ ] Cap tightly
- [ ] Label immediately
- [ ] Collect from tap closest to well head
- [ ] Follow standard procedure above
- [ ] Do NOT rinse container
- [ ] Avoid touching inside of container
- [ ] Fill without overflow
- [ ] Keep on ice, deliver within 24 hours
After Collection
- [ ] Samples placed in cooler with ice
- [ ] Chain of custody form completed
- [ ] Delivery arranged within required timeframe
- [ ] Photos taken of water source
PART 3: TEST PARAMETERS
Basic Panel (Recommended annually for all sources)
| Test | Requested | Results | Safe Limit | Pass/Fail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pH | □ | _______ | 6.5-8.5 | □ P □ F |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | □ | _______ mg/L | <3,000 | □ P □ F |
| Hardness | □ | _______ mg/L | <500 | □ P □ F |
| Nitrate-N | □ | _______ mg/L | <100 | □ P □ F |
| Sulfate | □ | _______ mg/L | <500 | □ P □ F |
| Iron | □ | _______ mg/L | <0.3 | □ P □ F |
| Total Coliform | □ | _______ CFU/100mL | 0 | □ P □ F |
| E. coli | □ | _______ CFU/100mL | 0 | □ P □ F |
Extended Panel (If concerns exist)
| Test | Requested | Results | Safe Limit | Pass/Fail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium | □ | _______ mg/L | <1,000 | □ P □ F |
| Chloride | □ | _______ mg/L | <1,000 | □ P □ F |
| Copper | □ | _______ mg/L | <0.5 | □ P □ F |
| Lead | □ | _______ mg/L | <0.1 | □ P □ F |
| Arsenic | □ | _______ mg/L | <0.2 | □ P □ F |
| Mercury | □ | _______ mg/L | <0.01 | □ P □ F |
| Manganese | □ | _______ mg/L | <0.05 | □ P □ F |
| Fluoride | □ | _______ mg/L | <2.0 | □ P □ F |
| Zinc | □ | _______ mg/L | <25 | □ P □ F |
| Molybdenum | □ | _______ mg/L | <0.5 | □ P □ F |
Special Tests (As indicated)
| Test | Requested | Results | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-green algae | □ | _______ | If bloom visible |
| Cyanotoxin screen | □ | _______ | If algae positive |
| Hydrogen sulfide | □ | _______ | If rotten egg smell |
| Salmonella | □ | _______ | If illness suspected |
| Complete mineral panel | □ | _______ | Comprehensive assessment |
PART 4: FIELD MEASUREMENTS (Optional)
If you have testing equipment:
| Parameter | Reading | Date/Time | Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | _______ °F/°C | _________ | _________ |
| pH (field) | _______ | _________ | _________ |
| Conductivity | _______ µS/cm | _________ | _________ |
| Dissolved oxygen | _______ mg/L | _________ | _________ |
| Turbidity | _______ NTU | _________ | _________ |
PART 5: RESULTS INTERPRETATION
Overall Assessment
Based on test results:
- [ ] SAFE - All parameters within acceptable limits
- [ ] MARGINAL - Some parameters elevated; monitor closely
- [ ] CONCERN - One or more parameters outside limits; take action
- [ ] UNSAFE - Do not use until addressed
Action Items
| Parameter of Concern | Current Level | Required Action | Target Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| __________________ | _____________ | _______________ | ___________ |
| __________________ | _____________ | _______________ | ___________ |
| __________________ | _____________ | _______________ | ___________ |
PART 6: FOLLOW-UP
Retest Schedule
- [ ] 30 days (if action taken)
- [ ] 90 days (if marginal)
- [ ] Annually (if safe)
- [ ] After significant weather event
- [ ] Other: _______________________
Documentation
- [ ] Results filed in water records
- [ ] Copy provided to veterinarian
- [ ] Issues communicated to relevant personnel
- [ ] Follow-up testing scheduled
QUICK REFERENCE: WATER QUALITY LIMITS FOR CATTLE
| Parameter | Excellent | Good | Fair | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TDS (mg/L) | <1,000 | 1,000-3,000 | 3,000-5,000 | >5,000 |
| Sulfate (mg/L) | <250 | 250-500 | 500-1,000 | >1,000 |
| Nitrate-N (mg/L) | <10 | 10-40 | 40-100 | >100 |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 | 6.0-8.0 | 5.5-8.5 | <5.5 or >9 |
LABORATORY INFORMATION
| Lab Name | _________________________________ |
|---|---|
| Address | _________________________________ |
| Phone | _________________________________ |
| _________________________________ | |
| Sample ID | _________________________________ |
| Date Submitted | _________________________________ |
| Results Expected | _________________________________ |
NOTES
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