Final Barrier Agricultural Division 

    Based upon numerous empirical studies, groundwater is in fact a significant vector for transmission of disease. This realization prompted the introduction of the Ground Water Rule (GWR) as part of the *Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The GWR was adopted in 2006 with measures to ensure the microbiological safety of public drinking water due to the threat of groundwater presented to bio-security of human populations. However, the risk to biosecurity on farms caused by groundwater, to date has largely been ignored. This suggests a significant disparity in terms of knowledge, risk assessment, and remedial strategies in address of biosecurity of water in use for general human consumption and that being used within the animal production industry.  Please note, the SDWA excludes Private and Agricultural water supplies. The risk presented by viral illness to the agricultural industry  is especially of note due to  outbreaks of viral illnesses that have continued over a period measured in decades. This is of  special concern given the statistic that viral illness are four times more likely to be the source of  illness in ground water then in surface water (Gerba 2004). To date it is known that up to 50% of wells are positive for enteric viruses (Borchardt ,Haas,Hunt). While, a number of water  conditioning products have been marketed under the guise of water treatment and/or disinfection by unknowledgeable veterinary supply and water conditioning companies, none  have represented technologies and/or application methodologies that otherwise must be compliant with performance certification or adherence to engineering design standards as would  otherwise be required within the public drinking water industry.  This leaves a glaring hole in the biosecurity of the agricultural industry if left unaddressed.

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    This is all in addition to problems that may arise in the plumbing distribution system itself mainly the build up of biofilm. Biofilm is a layer of microbes such as viruses, bacteria, archaea, fungi, plants like algae, and protozoa, among others that can form along the inside walls of pipe if left inadequately disinfected. These microbes, especially in the presence of chemicals in the water such as iron, are given a stable environment to thrive and divide. This stable environment along with the innate ability of many of these microorganisms go lay dormant for many weeks-months leaves a very serious risk to the biosecurity of any installation without proper disinfection protocols. However simply pulsing disinfectant like cholore in a line and expecting that chlorine to disinfect all of the pipes and water that had went through the system before and after its injection will unfortunately do niter of these things. Please read the page on disinfection for more information.

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    In short the commonly held belief that groundwater is microbiologically safe and is not a concerning vehicle for disease transmission is not only untrue but also detrimental. in order to achieve the best possible level of biosecurity for any facility It is important to address water as a vehicle for disease transmission in the agricultural industry . This area has already been addressed with the GWR for human consumption and should a similar response from the agricultural industry