How can farming affect water?

Growing crops and raising livestock takes a lot of water. The average 1200 lb. cow drinks for 240 minutes a day. As well as when it rains and there is a farrow field or open field without any cover, the erosion factor is great and most of it winds up in near streams and rivers. These two factors in water quality is why we have such strict regulations on how much water can be taken from streams and rivers (mostly occurs in dry climates), and regulations about how much erosion and what chemicals are allowed on crops.

Farming does affect water quality but through conservation and regulations we are protecting our lands greatest asset, water.