Abstract

The quality of water plays a crucial role in the health, growth performance, feed efficiency, and overall productivity of poultry in both residential and commercial farming systems. A field investigation was conducted across 25 poultry farms located in eight different regions of Egypt. In this study, we analyzed 58 samples of drinking water from various sources for their physicochemical and microbiological characteristics. According to the source and treatment status of the water, four distinct sampling sites were identified: the primary water sources (wells), the major tanks post-treatment, the header tanks, and the tap water supplies. Water hardness, chloride, calcium, magnesium concentrations, pH, and total dissolved solids (TDS) were analyzed. Sample pH values ranged between 6.9 and 7.2. TDS levels varied significantly, with well water having a high concentration of 1657 ppm while tap water had a much lower level of 261 ppm. Microbiological assessments contributed to understanding water safety and hygiene. The total viable count (TVC) had a median value of 4.05 log₁₀ CFU/ml on selective agar media. Water from header tanks exhibited the highest levels of coliform bacteria (2.95 ± 0.53 CFU/ml), whereas tap water samples had the lowest total coliform counts. Based on regression analysis, water hardness is positively correlated with other physicochemical parameters, including electrical conductivity (EC), TDS, and microbiological indicators such as total pseudomonas count (TPC) and total staphylococcus count (TSC). Overall, the study highlighted significant differences in water quality parameters across various water sources.

Key words: Hardness, TVC, Water Sources, Water Quality, Poultry farm