Recent e coli test results: 5 samples taken: 248, 225, 206,166,461 mpn/100 ml
geometric mean = 245
Results:
Almost twice above the state of Texas for primary contact recreation level for swimming, wading maximum of 126 mpn and no single sample above 399.
It is important to note that e coli is considered the indicator pathogen for a host of nasties such as giarda and cryptosporidium that do not respond to either chlorination or antibiotics.
Livestock manure is a biohazard; hundreds get sick every year from accidental leeching into fields of lettuce, strawberries, cantaloupe, etc. It should, IMHO, never be used as fertilizer unless it has first been properly composted. "Properly composted" is the operative phrase; this includes knowledge of how to properly handle, store, compost and distribute. Rule of thumb is the pile is driven twice to at least 130 F; even then you keep the pile away from creeks, streams, ponds, etc. because you can never kill all the nasties. One of the manure BMPs that I read had the statement "simply storing manure in piles IS NOT composting!" which says it all.
