Author: Ron Wiederholt, Nutrient Management Specialist, North Dakota State University

The major water quality concern is the nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients in manure that can have deleterious effects on ground- and surface water quality. Nitrogen can contaminate groundwater, causing health problems in infants. Of equal concern is phosphorous contamination of surface water. Phosphorous contamination of surface water causes excess algal and plant growth in water bodies which can lead to fish kills and degradation in the resource quality of the water body.

A more important but less publicized concern is water supply contamination with bacteria from livestock manures. There are various types of bacteria and other single-celled organisms in manure that can cause serious human health problems when they contaminate drinking water sources. The combination of these factors is serious enough that society has deemed it necessary to regulate the storage, handling, and application of livestock manures.

Additional information on pathogens from animal manure, including bacteria, can be found in the Frequently Asked Question database by searching on "pathogens."