A test being developed by K-State researchers will make it easier and more efficint to keep animal waste out of groundwater.
In 1999, a method was developed to measure seepage rates from animal waste lagoons. Minimizing seepage protects groundwater and surrounding natural systems.With that technology, environmental consulting firms are able to test the lagoon seepage rate during a five-day period, as long as the animal waste can be held back from entering the lagoon.
But problems sometimes arise during the five-day testing period. Animal facility operators may have a hard time holding the waste from emptying into the lagoon for that amount of time or unexpected weather events may interfere or prolong the testing period. Moreover, the consultants' travel expenses add up during the time it takes to conduct the test. Also, there is a waiting list for lagoon seepage testing, because firms cannot keep up with the amount of sites to be tested given the time it takes to finish a test.
To solve these issues, K-State researchers are developing a more efficient way to measure lagoon seepage. An overnight method has been tested at two swine sites in Kansas. This new seepage test takes 24 hours instead of five days. This quicker measuring method would make it easier for packing plants, municipal lagoons, processing plants, and other industrial sites that utilize lagoons to measure their seepage rates.