Elev8 Water Filtration Science: Thoroughbred Bloodwork Results

Following our recent NYTHA webinar, we received more questions about the science behind the HYDR8 Elev8 system than about any other topic. Trainers, owners, and barn managers wanted to know: what exactly is in municipal water that could affect a horse’s bloodwork, how does the Elev8 filtration process address it, and does cleaner water actually move measurable health markers? This post is the detailed follow-up those questions deserve.

The short answer is yes, the data is real, and the mechanism is well understood. The longer answer is below.

What Did the Thoroughbred Bloodwork Pilot Actually Show?

In a 35-day observational pilot conducted with five New York-based Thoroughbreds, the HYDR8 Elev8 system was introduced as the sole drinking water source for each animal. Verified veterinary bloodwork tracked six key health biomarkers across the cohort. The results were consistent: glucose normalization was observed in 100% of the horses, and muscle stress markers dropped by an average of 40% across the group.^[1]

For context on why those numbers matter: Thoroughbreds in race training carry a gastric ulcer prevalence of 70 to 94 percent,^[2] and the industry lost more than 7,900 horses to race-related incidents between 2009 and 2023.^[3] Welfare pressure is no longer a background concern; it is a HISA compliance requirement at every NYRA venue where NYTHA members compete.

The pilot did not claim to be a controlled clinical trial. What it did produce is something the industry rarely sees: verified, biomarker-level evidence that water quality changes produce measurable physiological changes in elite equine athletes, within a single conditioning cycle.

The full press release with biomarker detail is published at hydr8.us.

How Does the Elev8 System Actually Filter Water?

The HYDR8 Elev8 system combines NSF/ANSI Standard 58-certified reverse osmosis (RO) purification with a proprietary mineral enhancement stage.^[1] Those two components do different jobs, and both matter.

Stage One: Reverse Osmosis Purification

Reverse osmosis forces water through a semi-permeable membrane at the molecular level. The EPA identified RO as one of the Best Available Technologies for PFAS reduction under its 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulation,^[4] alongside granular activated carbon and nanofiltration.

NSF/ANSI 58 certification requires that a system reduce PFAS to below 20 parts per trillion to make a PFAS reduction claim.^[5] That standard is not cosmetic. The EPA’s April 2024 rule set Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA and PFOS at 4.0 parts per trillion,^[6] and by 2026, all public water systems serving more than 3,000 people will be required to test for 29 PFAS compounds, with over 143 million Americans currently exposed to PFAS-contaminated drinking water.^[7]

For horses stabled near New York’s metropolitan water infrastructure, that regulatory backdrop is directly relevant. NC State University researchers found PFAS in the blood of every horse sampled in a community with contaminated drinking water. Of 33 PFAS compounds tested, 20 were detected in the animals, and more than 50% of horses had at least 12 of those 20 PFAS compounds in their blood, with blood chemistry panels showing changes indicating liver and kidney dysfunction.^[8]

NC State researcher Kylie Rock noted: “Horses have not previously been used to monitor PFAS exposure. But they may provide critical information about routes of exposure from the outdoor environment when they reside in close proximity to known contamination sources.”^[9]

New York State is also among the states moving toward PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels that align with or exceed federal standards,^[10] which means the regulatory floor for water quality at New York facilities is rising, regardless of federal compliance timelines.

More on what these contaminants mean for commercial and equine facilities is covered in our PFAS in New York water guide for commercial facilities.

Stage Two: Mineral Enhancement

RO purification produces exceptionally clean water, but it also strips beneficial minerals along with contaminants. The Elev8 system’s proprietary mineral enhancement stage reintroduces a calibrated mineral profile after purification.

This matters for equine performance because mineral balance directly affects muscle function, electrolyte status, and hydration uptake. An exercising Thoroughbred needs to consume 10 to 20 gallons or more of water per day to maintain proper hydration,^[11] and during heavy competition in heat, water requirements can increase by 300 to 400 percent, with horses losing up to 3 to 4 gallons of sweat per hour when temperatures exceed 86°F.^[12]

Mineral-balanced water is not just more physiologically effective. It also tastes better, which directly affects voluntary intake.

Why Would a Horse Refuse to Drink Clean-Looking Water?

Horses are acutely sensitive to the taste and smell of their water. Sulfates produce a bitter taste. Elevated chlorine creates a chemical smell. Algae triggers olfactory aversion. In every case, the result is the same: the horse self-dehydrates rather than drink water it finds objectionable.^[13]

Kentucky Equine Research director of nutrition Peter Huntington has noted that while a horse can survive for almost a month without food, within 48 hours without water a horse can begin to show signs of colic.^[14]

Colic statistics give that threshold its full weight. According to National Animal Health Monitoring System data, for every 100 horses, 4.2 colic events occur annually. Of those, 1.2% will require surgery and 11% will be fatal.^[15] Colic surgery averages $5,000 to $10,000 depending on severity.^[16]

A University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine study found that horses drank 41% more water when provided continuously heated water compared to near-freezing water, with winter described as especially dangerous for impaction colic risk due to reduced voluntary intake.^[17]

The palatability of Elev8 water is not a marketing point. It is the mechanism by which filtration converts into actual hydration. If the horse drinks more, the downstream health effects become accessible. If the horse refuses the water, the filtration is irrelevant.

For a fuller look at equine hydration science, our equine water filtration guide covers intake factors, seasonal risk management, and the research behind hydration-linked welfare outcomes.

What Does This Mean for NYTHA Members Under HISA?

NYTHA represents more than 4,000 owners and trainers competing at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga,^[18] all of which are governed by HISA’s national safety and welfare framework. The HISA Racetrack Safety Program, effective with rule modifications finalized in July 2024, mandates formal veterinary oversight and health protocols at covered tracks.^[19]

In 2024, the aggregate racing-related fatality rate at HISA-governed racetracks was 0.90 per 1,000 starts, nearly half the rate of 1.76 per 1,000 starts at non-HISA tracks, marking a 27% decrease from the prior year.^[20] The direction of the industry is clear: welfare improvements are measurable, and they are accelerating.

Water quality is not currently a HISA checklist item. But biomarker documentation is becoming standard, and the bloodwork data from the Elev8 pilot fits precisely into the evidentiary framework that responsible trainers and owners are being asked to build around their programs.

For a broader view of how hydration infrastructure intersects with athlete performance and institutional compliance, our case study on how FDU transformed water quality into competitive advantage covers parallel themes in a human performance context.

Does the Same Science Apply to a Commercial Workplace?

Yes, and the mechanism is nearly identical.

Employees, like horses, will self-dehydrate when tap water has an off-taste or chemical smell. They will reach for bottled water or skip hydration entirely. The HYDR8 Elev8 system was originally developed for commercial and workplace hydration,^[1] where the same filtration and mineral-enhancement process addresses both water quality and voluntary consumption.

For facilities managers evaluating filtration options, the NSF/ANSI 58 certification is the verifiable baseline. It is not a marketing claim; it is a tested, third-party-audited performance standard. If you are reviewing a filtration proposal and the system does not carry NSF/ANSI 58 certification, the PFAS reduction claims on the spec sheet are unverified.

The business case for upgraded filtration is covered in detail in our break room ROI guide, and for offices navigating New York-specific water quality concerns, our PFAS in office water guide covers what facility managers need to know before the 2027 federal monitoring deadlines arrive.

The Takeaway From the NYTHA Webinar

The bloodwork pilot was not designed to sell a product. It was designed to answer a legitimate scientific question: does the water a Thoroughbred drinks affect measurable health outcomes?

The answer, across five horses and 35 days of veterinary monitoring, was an unambiguous yes. Glucose normalized in every animal. Muscle stress markers fell by an average of 40%. And the system delivering those results, the HYDR8 Elev8, carries the same NSF/ANSI 58 certification that EPA regulators now formally recognize as Best Available Technology for PFAS reduction.

Whether you are a trainer looking to optimize your program, a barn manager evaluating water infrastructure, or a facilities director trying to make the case for upgraded filtration inside a commercial building, the science points in the same direction: water quality is not a background variable. It is an active performance and health input.

Email info@hydr8.us to learn how the HYDR8 Elev8 system can be configured for your facility, your stable, or your team.

Sources

HYDR8 Press Release – Winning Thoroughbreds Show Consistent Bloodwork Gains on HYDR8 Elev8 Water (2026). https://www.hydr8.us/winning-thoroughbreds-bloodwork-gains-hydr8-elev8-water/
University of Florida IFAS Extension – Colic in Horses / HYDR8 Equine Hydration Guide (2024). https://www.hydr8.us/equine-hydration-horse-health-performance/
Animal Welfare Institute – Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (2024). https://awionline.org/legislation/horseracing-integrity-and-safety-act
Holland & Knight – EPA Finalizes PFAS Drinking Water Regulation (2024). https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2024/04/epa-finalizes-pfas-drinking-water-regulation
NSF International – PFAS in Drinking Water (2025). https://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/articles/pfas-drinking-water
U.S. EPA – PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation / Federal Register (2024). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/26/2024-07773/pfas-national-primary-drinking-water-regulation
Smart Water Magazine – PFAS in Drinking Water: 2024 Regulatory Milestones (2025). https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/smart-water-magazine/pfas-drinking-water-2024-regulatory-milestones-and-road-ahead-us-water
NC State University / EurekAlert – PFAS Found in Blood of Dogs, Horses Living Near Fayetteville, NC, published in Environmental Science and Technology (2023). https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/992899
NC State University News – PFAS Found in Blood of Dogs, Horses Living Near Fayetteville, NC (2023). https://news.ncsu.edu/2023/06/pfas-found-in-blood-of-dogs-horses-living-near-fayetteville-n-c/
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner – PFAS Drinking Water Standards: State-by-State Regulations. https://www.bclplaw.com/en-US/events-insights-news/pfas-drinking-water-standards-state-by-state-regulations.html
Purina Animal Nutrition – How Exercise Affects Nutrient Requirements of Performance Horses (2026). https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/education/detail/how-exercise-affects-nutrient-requirements-of-performance-horses
HYDR8 Equine Hydration Guide / Purina Animal Nutrition (2024). https://www.hydr8.us/equine-hydration-horse-health-performance/
HYDR8 Equine Hydration Guide (2024). https://www.hydr8.us/equine-hydration-horse-health-performance/
HYDR8 Equine Hydration Guide, citing Kentucky Equine Research (2024). https://www.hydr8.us/equine-hydration-horse-health-performance/
High Plains Journal – Winter Months ‘Notorious’ for Increased Colic Risk, citing National Animal Health Monitoring System (2024). https://hpj.com/2024/01/25/winter-months-notorious-for-increased-colic-risk/
PetMD – Colic in Horses: Signs, Treatment, and Prevention (2024). https://www.petmd.com/horse/conditions/digestive/colic-in-horses
High Plains Journal – Winter Months ‘Notorious’ for Increased Colic Risk, citing University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (2024). https://hpj.com/2024/01/25/winter-months-notorious-for-increased-colic-risk/
NYTHA – Advocacy/PAC Page (2024). https://nytha.com/advocacy/
Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority – About Us / Federal Register Rule Modification 2024. https://hisaus.org/about-us
American Veterinary Medical Association – HISA 2024 Annual Metrics Report coverage (2025). https://www.avma.org/news/supreme-court-sends-horseracing-authoritys-constitutionality-cases-back-lower-courts

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