About half of the total U.S. population and over 80 percent of rural residents drink water from groundwater sources. Water contaminated by manure may be brownish in color, have a displeasing taste and/or odor due to the decomposition of the organic matter in the manure, or may contain high nitrate and bacteria levels.
Eutrophication is a natural process of aging that occurs in lakes and ponds, regardless of the activities of man. When nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen are added, the growth of aquatic plants is stimulated and causes accelerated eutrophication rates. Manure contains both of these nutrients and, thus, may cause lakes and ponds to age more rapidly if present in them.
When manure enters streams and ponds, the organic matter in manure can deplete dissolved oxygen in the water to the point that fish can no longer survive. A total of 40 to 50 manure spills are reported each year in Indiana with 10 to 20 of these resulting in fish kills. Other Midwestern states report similar occurrences.
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