Livestock Waste Storage Facilities

by John E. Vavroch, Civil Engineering Technician
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Colby, Kansas

With concerns over water quality and quantity lately, it has become increasingly important to contain feedlot livestock waste. Due to drought conditions, it has been some time since we have seen streams and rivers flow in western Kansas. Even so, it would only take one significant rain event to take unwanted waste by-products into those water courses.

Livestock waste storage facilities consist of several component practices. These practices include: waste storage pond, settling basin, diversion, underground outlet, pond sealing, critical area seeding, fencing, and nutrient management.

The waste storage pond is designed to handle a precise amount of drainage from the pens and miscellaneous areas between the pens and settling basin. Normally, the waste pond has a design depth of ten feet. The bottom four feet of storage capacity is for normal operation; the next four feet for storage of the 25-year storm, and the remaining top two feet for safety from overtopping, also known as freeboard.

The settling basin does just what its name implies. It collects the runoff water and manure that washes out of the lots and increases the longevity of the waste pond. The settling basin is also designed for a specific amount of drainage acres and usually stores the waste water for four to ten hours depending on the design. The solids settle out in the basin, and the liquid is conveyed to the pond by underground pipe. Maintenance of the settling basin is very important. The settling basin is usually cleaned out yearly, or as needed. It is much easier to clean out than the waste pond.

Diversions are used to divert clean water from the pens and basin areas. More drainage acres result in bigger ponds, so clean water is diverted away whenever possible.

Manure transfer, or underground outlet, conveys the waste water from the settling basin to the waste pond. Pipe material is usually PVC and pipe diameter is normally eight or ten inches. A riser in the channel normally regulates the flow in to the outlet pipe.

After construction, a pond must be sealed to meet seepage requirements. Depending on the soils in the pond, soil amendments, such as soda ash or bentonite, may be used. A compacted clay liner may also be used if suitable material can be found on site or within a short distance. The disturbed area is seeded back to grass and the pond and basin areas are fenced off to prevent access by animals and humans.

A nutrient management plan is created to assist the producer in using the manure generated by the feeding operation. Soil tests of nearby cropland fields and manure tests are taken and recommendations made to fully use the solid waste.

Knowing how to address resource concerns pertaining to livestock facilities is important to the health of our water, as well as our families. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) located at your local county U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Service Center is available to offer guidance on this matter, as well as provide technical and financial assistance to get the job done.

For more information about natural resources conservation, contact your local U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Service Center and visit with the NRCS or conservation district staff or visit the Kansas NRCS Web site at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

Livestock Waste Storage Facilities (DOC; 49 KB)

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Last Modified: 08/13/2008