Seasonal Variations Alter Drinking Water Quality at Different Points in The water Distribution Systems of Cattle Farms in Egypt

THE monitoring of seasonal variations in drinking water quality (DWQ) within the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) of Egyptian dairy and beef farms affected by emerging epidemics is the main focus of this work. Across 132 farms, the DWQ was examined at four locations along the DWDS: the water source (WS), water tank (WT), calf trough (CT), and adult trough (AT). Correlations between DWQ and DWDS sample points, DWQ and microbial composition, and water temperature (Tw) and ambient temperature (Ta) were found by statistical analysis. Seasonal variations were highlighted by the strong effect sizes (d=0.88-1) that showed significant differences between Tw and Ta. Significant differences with medium to strong effect sizes (d= 0.53-0.85) in physicochemical DWQs were noted between WSs and house troughs (HTs). Furthermore, significant differences in the small to large effect sizes (d = 0.47 - 0.87) of microbial DWQ between winter and summer were found. Subsequent investigations revealed significant differences, with variable effect sizes, in the microbial DWQs between the WS and WT points (d = 0.41 - 0.65), between the WT and CT points (d = 0.51 - 0.57), and between the WT and AT points (d = 0.56 - 0.65) in the DWDS (ranging from small to large). The investigation concluded that variations in microbial DWQ were caused by interactions between seasonal variations in Ta and Tw, which in turn affected the DWDS. Furthermore, the DWDS had a major effect on the physicochemical characteristics of the DWQ that were observed on the cattle farms.