Pollutant Movement to Shallow Ground Water Tables from Anaerobic Swine Waste Lagoons

Abstract

The effect of three anaerobic swine waste lagoons on ground water quality was investigated in the Atlantic Coastal Plain region. The lagoons studied were located on high‐water‐table soils with different textures. Ground water was sampled from wells, with unperforated casings, located at depths to 6 m and distances to 30 m from the lagoons. These samples were taken monthly from September 1974 through January 1975, and bimonthly thereafter through November 1975. Ground water also was sampled in November 1975 from shallow wells with perforated casings located at distances to 36.6 m from two of the three lagoons. Constituents determined to investigate ground water contamination were density of fecal coliforms and concentrations of Cl, Cu, Mn, NH4‐N, NO3‐N, PO4‐P, and Zn.Chloride, NH4‐N, and NO3‐N concentrations in ground water samples indicated that seepage entered ground water from each of the three lagoons. Rupture of lagoon seals leading to seepage was attributed to drying of exposed subsoil or embankment soil during recession of lagoon liquid levels and to gas release from microbial activity in soil beneath the seal. Overall, a low level of ground water contamination occurred around a lagoon that was in operation for over 8 years in Myatt very fine sandy loam with a clay subsoil, and a lagoon that was in operation 1 mo prior to this investigation in Dragston fine sandy loam with a sandy clay loam subsoil. Ground water contamination in excess of recommended drinking water standards for Cl and NO3‐N occurred around the third lagoon. This lagoon was in operation for >8 years in a disturbed area consisting of predominantly sandy surface and subsurface soil. Ground water contamination in the embankment area of this lagoon was attributed to seepage and beyond the embankment area to ground water contamination from lagoon overflow.

Adsorption and desorption characteristics of ammonium in eight loams irrigated with reclaimed wastewater from intensive hogpen

“…As early as 1960s to 1970s, the NO 3 --N pollution problem in soil and groundwater caused by livestock manures appeared in many countries and regions with well-developed animal husbandry. Ciravolo et al (1979) reported that Cl -and NO 3 --N concentrations in the groundwater around a swine waste lagoon constructed on a sandy subsurface soil in the coastal plain region of Virginia exceeded the USEPA drinking water standard of 10 mg/L NO 3 -N. In south Netherlands, the livestock manures produced by animal husbandry exceeded the amount of normal agricultural use, resulting in the soil NO 3 --N pollution. Animal manures in Belgium are approximately 41.0 million tons every year, and 8.0 million tons in excess of the standard (Eli et al 2004).…”

“…NO 3 --N migrates much faster than ammonium under the same condition. A number of researches have been reported on nitrate level exceeding the safety limit in the neighboring areas of CAFOs (Ciravolo et al 1979;Eli et al 2004;Pierre et al 2005;Karr et al 2001;Evans et al 1984;Sloan et al 1999;David et al 2005;Donald et al 2001). Adsorption and desorption characteristics of ammonium played an important role in the regulation of the NH 4 ?…”

Concentrated Swine Feeding Operations and Public Health: A Review of Occupational and Community Health Effects

“…Contamination of the environment can result from lagoon breaks and the subsequent release of millions of gallons of animal wastes directly into surface water at one time (1) or from seepage losses of lagoon wastewater into the surrounding soil and groundwater (11)(12)(13). In addition, land application of liquefied wastes may result in wastes leaching into groundwater or reaching streams as a result of overland flow (4,14).…”

“…Studies in Iowa and North Carolina (11,14,(204)(205)(206) revealed groundwater contamination resulting from agricultural practices. Moderate to severe seepage losses from lagoons and groundwater pollution with nitrates and microbes, resulting in contamination in excess of drinking water standards, have been documented (11,14,(204)(205)(206) , NC) found that 22% of the tested wells in one county had nitrate levels which exceed the no-observed-adverse-effect level (79,2017).…”

Role of the dominant phototrophic bacterium in anaerobic swine waste lagoons, Rhodobacter sp PS9, in odor remediation

“…Swine waste storage systems have been shown to adversely impact ground water quality due to unintentional seepage through clay or earthen liners (Ciravolo et al, 1979 andChirnside, 1990). Ammonia, nitrate, dissolved solids, and chloride concentrations have been monitored as indicators of ground water quality near livestock production facilities.…”