Consumption of simulated acid mine water by sheep

Water consumption by sheep in 48-h periods was measured in three replicated experiments. Intake was expressed as ml X kg body weight-.73 X d-1 and treatments were compared with intake of tap water or distilled water in no-choice situations. Neutralizing two acid mine drainage (AMD) polluted waters having pH values of 2.4 and 2.8, with Ca(OH)2 did not make either as acceptable to sheep as unpolluted water (P less than .01). Simulating AMD with sources of H+, HSO4-, SO4 =, Fe , Al++, Mn++, Zn++ or Na+ revealed several significant differences in acceptance. The ferric ion at 2.6 mM was rejected when presented as Fe2(SO4)3 but not as equimolar FeCl3. Moreover, SO4 = at 3.9 mM was not rejected when presented as Na2SO4 or ZnSO4. Neither AlSO4 nor MnSO4 at levels found in the two sources of AMD was rejected. Effects of prolonged consumption of the various components have not been determined.