Water Quality and Water Delivery Systems

Abstract

Water is essential to sustain an animal’s physiological and biochemical processes, and therefore necessary to sustain life. Water can be found within all tissues and cells and is the intracellular and extracellular medium where physiologic processes are carried out.It is important to recognize the significance of the relationship of water to the health and well-being of laboratory animals. It is equally important to recognize the relevance of water quality and the reliability of the systems used to deliver water to laboratory animals used in biomedical research. Providing high-quality water to research animals will help to minimize experimental variables, and can have a positive effect on overall animal health. This chapter is intended to provide some relevant background information on water sources, the importance of water quality, and some guidance to animal resource management and animal care personnel on drinking water treatment and delivery systems. As water quality serves as the microenvironment for aquatic species, refer to Chapter 24 for additional information.