There has never been a long-term study made to evaluate the effects of factory farming methods on the rural community. Such a study would not be welcome.
How many rural babies have died because of nitrates in their drinking water? Nobody knows. Autopsies are rarely performed on infants.
If you’re a poor rural family, and a factory farm pollutes your well; what happens? Nothing. That’s your problem. Authorities advise spending a few thousand dollars on a reverse osmosis system or buying bottled water; but that is all they will give: the advice. What can you do? Where can you go? That’s your problem.
Agriculture-funded politicians and colleges are dismissive of the conditions that rural families are forced to endure; they can afford to be — or rather, they can’t afford not to be. Just follow the money.