Organic dairy farmers in Sonoma County, California, are a little nervous about a proposal to treat wastewater for livestock consumption. They fear the untested water could harm their animals and hurt business.
Albert Straus, president of Straus Family Creamery, speaking on behalf of several dairy farmers at a public meeting in Petaluma, said he felt that if the proposal passed his cows would wind up as guinea pigs testing the water, something he’s not willing to allow, according to anarticle by Derek Moore in The Press Democrat.Another farmer, George McClelland, said the recycled water may be a boon in some respects, but he wouldn’t let his cows drink the untested water.
Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, sponsored the proposal in an effort to provide drought relief to California ranchers, according to the article, and he has garnered many supporters who say the measure is an untapped source of drought relief.
“Some farmers already use recycled water for livestock consumption, including operations in Sonoma County,” the article reads. “Under a 25-year-old arrangement, the city of Santa Rosa has not restricted about 70 ranchers who are linked to its water distribution system from using treated wastewater for livestock consumption, with the exception of animals producing milk. That points to widespread confusion over whether current regulations already allow for what Levine is seeking with the legislation.”
The bill would require public health officials to approve the use of recycled water for pasture animals by 2016 unless they determine health risks, which then would require additional treatment of the water before it could be used.
Levine's bill covers all pasture animals, but he said giving dairy cows recycled water was “never the intent of any legislation.” PD
—Summarized by PD staff from cited source
