Effects of low pH rainwater????

[Jane&Ziggy]

Hello all.

In our field we have only recently got piped water, and the horses prefer to drink rainwater from our water butts.

My livery mate Susie's mare Bella is very itchy and she wondered if the water could be a factor. She tested the pH today and it was 4!!! Acid rain or what? Some bicarbonate of soda brings it back up to 7.

Can anyone tell me what the effect of this low pH might be on horses?

Many thanks!

 

[volcy]

For human health there is no level in the drinking water standards information on my desk :nerd: but between 6 - 8.5 is the norm. The more acidic it is the more dissolved organic matter (whatever has washed off your roof and into the rain butts probably) and potentially some heavy metals are likely to be in it.. Not sure if they can be related to itchiness - especially not in the levels likely to be present in the water.