The CAFO report is now online! Click here to view it
Over the last two decades, the consolidation of farms into larger and larger operations known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has displaced small farms and has raised public health concerns about groundwater and surface water pollution, air pollution and risk of microbial pathogens found in animal waste. Other public health concerns include nutrient overload of waterways leading to algal blooms, and the possible increase in organisms such as piscicida and Pfiesteria shumwayae, the increase in antibiotic-resistant organisms due to the broad application of antibiotics to farm animals, and questions about the quality of life of community residents adjacent to CAFOs.
Perhaps the most pressing questions center on the contamination of groundwater and surface waters with runoff from land application of manure or from waste storage and treatment. Threats to water quality come from both chemical and microbial contamination. Excess level of nitrates and phosphorus are among a number of chemicals that are seen in groundwater and surface waters in many agricultural areas in the United States. It has been hypothesized that excess nutrients may be an important contributing factor for the growth and increase in dinoflagellates such as Pfiesteria. Infectious organisms in ground and surface water also pose a potential risk to health. Many of the infectious organisms that cause illness in animals can cause disease in people and can survive in water. Among the most common pathogens that pose a health risk include Salmonella species, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, as well as viruses and protozoa such as Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia.
The purpose of this project is to investigate the impact of CAFOs on groundwater and on surface waters in Virginia. Study locations include the eastern shore of Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Surface waters and groundwater wells in proximity or located on CAFO operations and control farms were sampled during 2002-2004. Additional sampling in the Shenandoah Valley will take place during 2004-2005. Water samples were analyzed for microbial contamination, nutrients and metals. Bacterial indicators and pathogens were tested for resistance to a number of commonly used antibiotics. An interim report is pending analysis of recently collected data.