| Performance goal: Water treatment reduces scale impacts from the water on meat chicken farms. |
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| Description: Scale is the deposition of mineral solids on the interior surfaces of waterlines and containers. It most often occurs when water contains the carbonates or bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium. Scale can contribute to biofilms, cause blockages in drinkers and water lines. |
| Performance criteria: Water scale impacts are controlled. Best practice levels: hardness = 0–100mg/L, calcium = 0–60mg/L, magnesium = 0–14mg/L, sulphates = 0–40mg/L and pH 6.5–7.8 based on laboratory or on-farm testing. Maximum acceptable levels: hardness = 101–300mg/L, calcium = 61–600mg/L, magnesium = 15–125mg/L, sulphates = 41–250mg/L and pH 6.5–8.5 based on laboratory or on-farm testing. |
| Minimum requirements |
| Hardness, pH, calcium, magnesium and sulphates are measured on a periodic basis and at least annually. |
| Water lines are made from a material that is resistant to scale build-up. |
| Water lines and drinkers are inspected monthly for scale build-up. |
| Water lines are flushed regularly (after each batch). A high-pressure flush on water lines is performed between each flock and after adding supplements through the medicator (i.e. vaccine, medications, vitamins, electrolytes, etc.). |
| Best practice options |
| Drinking water distribution system (water lines, pumps, etc.) is resistant to scale build-up. |
| If scale is an ongoing moderate issue in the water distribution system: |
| If scale is a significant ongoing issue in water distribution system, use a pre-treatment to remove scale-forming compounds. |
| If scale from iron, manganese or sulphur is a significant issue, use oxidation (chemical or aeration) with sufficient contact time, followed by filter treatment is used in addition to disinfection. |
