Water is the most essential component of an animal's diet and is often a forgotten management element. Water quality plays a significant role in overall animal health and production performance. A clean, safe water supply is a necessity for healthy animals. Water can be easily contaminated by pathogens, including Salmonella, E. coli, Pasteurella, Streptococcus and Clostridium, which can compromise animal health and performance. Providing livestock and poultry with a clean water source, free of bacteria and other pathogens, should be a priority for today's livestock and poultry producers.