Virginia Farmstead Assessment System: Livestock Manure Storage and Treatment Facilities

Virginia Farmstead Assessment System*

Fact Sheet No. 9 Livestock Manure Storage and Treatment Facilities

Fact Sheet and Worksheet No. 9 were modified by Eldridge Collins and Tamim Younos (Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech).

Technical Reviewer: Russ Perkinson (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation-Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Richmond, Virginia).

Publication Number 442-909, June 1996

*Overview of the Virginia Farm Assessment System

Read Fact Sheet No.9, "Livestock Manure Storage and Treatment Facilities," before completing this worksheet.

How will this worksheet help you protect your drinking water?

It will take you step by step through your drinking water well or spring condition and management practices.
It will rank your activities according to how they might affect the groundwater that provides your drinking water.
It will provide you with easy-to-understand rankings that will help you analyze the "relative risk" to your drinking water well or spring.
It will help you determine which of your practices are reasonably safe and effective, and which practices might require modification to better protect your drinking water.

Follow the directions below.

Note: You will probably want to make a print-out of this worksheet to complete it.

Use a pencil. You may want to make changes.
For each category listed on the left that is appropriate to your farmstead, read across to the right and circle the statement that best describes conditions on your farmstead. (Skip and leave blank any categories that don't apply.)
Then look above the description you circled to find your "rank number" (4, 3, 2, or 1) and enter that number in the blank under "your rank."
Directions on overall scoring appear at the end of the worksheet.
Allow about 15-30 minutes to complete the worksheet and figure out your risk rank.

LONG-TERM STORAGE

(180 days or more) (See Fact Sheet No. 9, Section I)

LOW RISK
(rank 4) LOW-MOD RISK
(rank 3) MOD-HIGH RISK
(rank 2) HIGH RISK
(rank 1) RISK NUMBER

Steel, glass-lined (liquid-tight design, above ground) storage Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Properly maintained. Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Not maintained. Leaking tank on medium-textured soils (silt loam, loam). Water table deeper than 20 feet. Leaking tank on coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Water table or fractured bedrock less than 20 feet. _____

Concrete stave (liquid-tight design) storage Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Properly maintained. Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Not maintained. Concrete cracked, medium-textured soils (silt loam, loam). Water table deeper than 20 feet. Concrete cracked, coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Water table or fractured bedrock less than 20 feet. _____

Poured concrete (liquid-tight design) storage Designed and installed according to accepted standards and specifications. Properly maintained. Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Not maintained. Concrete cracked, medium-textured soils (silt loam, loam). Water table deeper than 20 feet. Concrete cracked, coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Water table or fractured bedrock less than 20 feet. _____

Earthen waste storage pit (below ground) --------- Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Not designed to engineering standards. Constructed in medium or fine-textured dense materials (silt loam, silty clay). Water table deeper than 20 feet. Earthen lining eroding. Not designed to engineering standards. Constructed in coarse-textured materials (sands, sandy loam). Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet. More than 10 years old. Earthen lining perforated. _____

	LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	RISK NUMBER
Steel, glass-lined (liquid-tight design, above ground) storage	Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Properly maintained.	Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Not maintained.	Leaking tank on medium-textured soils (silt loam, loam). Water table deeper than 20 feet.	Leaking tank on coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Water table or fractured bedrock less than 20 feet.	_____
Concrete stave (liquid-tight design) storage	Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Properly maintained.	Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Not maintained.	Concrete cracked, medium-textured soils (silt loam, loam). Water table deeper than 20 feet.	Concrete cracked, coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Water table or fractured bedrock less than 20 feet.	_____
Poured concrete (liquid-tight design) storage	Designed and installed according to accepted standards and specifications. Properly maintained.	Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications. Not maintained.	Concrete cracked, medium-textured soils (silt loam, loam). Water table deeper than 20 feet.	Concrete cracked, coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Water table or fractured bedrock less than 20 feet.	_____
Earthen waste storage pit (below ground)	---------	Designed and installed according to accepted engineering standards and specifications.	Not designed to engineering standards. Constructed in medium or fine-textured dense materials (silt loam, silty clay). Water table deeper than 20 feet. Earthen lining eroding.	Not designed to engineering standards. Constructed in coarse-textured materials (sands, sandy loam). Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet. More than 10 years old. Earthen lining perforated.	_____

SHORT-TERM STORAGE

(usually 60-90 days; in some cases, up to 180 days) (See Fact Sheet No.9, Section II)

LOW RISK
(rank 4) LOW-MOD RISK
(rank 3) MOD-HIGH RISK
(rank 2) HIGH RISK
(rank 1) RISK NUMBER

Stacked in field (on soil base) --------- --------- Stacked on high ground. Medium- or fine-textured soils (silt loam, loam, clay loam, silty clay). Water table deeper than 20 feet. Stacked on high ground. Coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet. _____

Stacked in yard Covered concrete yard with curbs, gutters and settling. Concrete yard with curbs and gutters. Grass filter strips installed and maintained. Earthen yard with medium- or fine-textured soils (silt loam, loam, clay loam, silty clay). Water table deeper than 20 feet. Earthen yard with coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet. _____

Water-tight structure (designed to accepted engineering standards and specifications) Designed and installed in clay soils. All liquids retained. Designed and installed on medium-and fine-textured soils (silt loam, loam; clay loam, silty clay) with clay liners. Water table deeper than 20 feet. Designed and installed on coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet. Not properly maintained. Storage facility, diversion and terrace structures allowed to deteriorate. _____

Stacked in open housing Building has concrete floor, protected from surface water runoff. Adequate bedding provided. Building has earthen or concrete floor on meduim- or fine-textured soils (silt loam, clay loam, silty clay), protected from surface runoff. Water table deeper than 20 feet. Building has earthen floor on coarse-textured soils (sands, sandy loam), subject to surface water runoff. Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet. Building has earthen floor on coarse-textured soils (sands, sandy loam), subject to surface water runoff. Fractured bedrock or water table shallower than 20 feet. _____

Location of livestock waste storage in relation to drinking water well Manure stack or earthen waste storage pit more than 300 feet downslope from well or spring. Manure storage structure (liquid tight) more than 100 feet downslope from well or spring. Manure stack or earthen waste storage pit more than 300 feet upslope from well or spring. Manure storage structure (liquid tight) more than 100 feet downslope from well or spring. Manure stack or earthen waste storage pit less than 300 feet downslope from well or spring. Manure storage structure (liquid tight) more than 100 feet downslope from well or spring. Manure stack or earthen waste storage pit less than 300 feet upslope from well or spring. Manure storage structure (liquid tight) more than 100 feet upslope from well or spring. _____

	LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	RISK NUMBER
Stacked in field (on soil base)	---------	---------	Stacked on high ground. Medium- or fine-textured soils (silt loam, loam, clay loam, silty clay). Water table deeper than 20 feet.	Stacked on high ground. Coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet.	_____
Stacked in yard	Covered concrete yard with curbs, gutters and settling.	Concrete yard with curbs and gutters. Grass filter strips installed and maintained.	Earthen yard with medium- or fine-textured soils (silt loam, loam, clay loam, silty clay). Water table deeper than 20 feet.	Earthen yard with coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet.	_____
Water-tight structure (designed to accepted engineering standards and specifications)	Designed and installed in clay soils. All liquids retained.	Designed and installed on medium-and fine-textured soils (silt loam, loam; clay loam, silty clay) with clay liners. Water table deeper than 20 feet.	Designed and installed on coarse-textured soils (sand, sandy loam). Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet.	Not properly maintained. Storage facility, diversion and terrace structures allowed to deteriorate.	_____
Stacked in open housing	Building has concrete floor, protected from surface water runoff. Adequate bedding provided.	Building has earthen or concrete floor on meduim- or fine-textured soils (silt loam, clay loam, silty clay), protected from surface runoff. Water table deeper than 20 feet.	Building has earthen floor on coarse-textured soils (sands, sandy loam), subject to surface water runoff. Fractured bedrock or water table less than 20 feet.	Building has earthen floor on coarse-textured soils (sands, sandy loam), subject to surface water runoff. Fractured bedrock or water table shallower than 20 feet.	_____
Location of livestock waste storage in relation to drinking water well	Manure stack or earthen waste storage pit more than 300 feet downslope from well or spring. Manure storage structure (liquid tight) more than 100 feet downslope from well or spring.	Manure stack or earthen waste storage pit more than 300 feet upslope from well or spring. Manure storage structure (liquid tight) more than 100 feet downslope from well or spring.	Manure stack or earthen waste storage pit less than 300 feet downslope from well or spring. Manure storage structure (liquid tight) more than 100 feet downslope from well or spring.	Manure stack or earthen waste storage pit less than 300 feet upslope from well or spring. Manure storage structure (liquid tight) more than 100 feet upslope from well or spring.	_____

LAND APPLICATION OF MANURE

(See Fact Sheet No. 9, Section V)

LOW RISK
(rank 4) LOW-MOD RISK
(rank 3) MOD-HIGH RISK
(rank 2) HIGH RISK
(rank 1) RISK NUMBER

Application site More than 300 feet downslope from well or spring. More than 300 feet upslope from well or spring. Less than 300 feet downslope from well or spring. Less than 300 feet upslope from well or spring. _____

Method of application Solid manure surface applied. Solid or liquid manure injected. Liquid manure surface applied. Liquid manure irrigated. _____

Timing of application Crops are actively growing or will be planted within several days. Crop to be planted within 1 month of application. No crop to be planted for 1-3 months. Fall or early winter application when crops are dormant, soil is bare, or ground is frozen or saturated. _____

Nutrient management plan Manure applied according to a nutrient management plan. --------- --------- Nutrient management plan is not followed. _____

	LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	RISK NUMBER
Application site	More than 300 feet downslope from well or spring.	More than 300 feet upslope from well or spring.	Less than 300 feet downslope from well or spring.	Less than 300 feet upslope from well or spring.	_____
Method of application	Solid manure surface applied.	Solid or liquid manure injected.	Liquid manure surface applied.	Liquid manure irrigated.	_____
Timing of application	Crops are actively growing or will be planted within several days.	Crop to be planted within 1 month of application.	No crop to be planted for 1-3 months.	Fall or early winter application when crops are dormant, soil is bare, or ground is frozen or saturated.	_____
Nutrient management plan	Manure applied according to a nutrient management plan.	---------	---------	Nutrient management plan is not followed.	_____

Use this total to calculate risk rank: Rank Number Total
_______

Use this total to calculate risk rank:		Rank Number Total	_______

Calculate Risk Rank.

Step 1:

Sum up the rankings for the categories you completed and divide by the total number of categories ranked. Carry your answer out to one decimal point.

Rank Number Total

_______ divided by No. of categories ranked

_______ equals Risk Rank

_______

Rank Number Total _______	divided by	No. of categories ranked _______	equals	Risk Rank _______

Risk Categories

3.6-4.0 = low risk

2.6-3.5 = low to moderate risk

1.6-2.5 = moderate to high risk

1.0-1.5 = high risk

This ranking gives you an idea of how your well or spring management practices as a whole might be affecting your drinking water. Later you will combine this risk ranking with other farmstead management rankings in Worksheet No. 13, "Overall Risk Assessment." This ranking should serve only as a very general guide, not a definitive indicator of contamination. Because it represents an averaging of many individual rankings, it can mask any individual rankings (such as 1's or 2's) that should be of concern (see Step 2.).

Step 2:

Look over your ranking for each category:

Low-risk practices (4's): ideal; should be your goal despite cost and effort.
Low-to-moderate risk practices (3's): provide reasonable groundwater protection.
Moderate-to-high-risk practices (2's): inadequate protection in many circumstances.
High-risk practices (1's): inadequate; pose a high risk of polluting groundwater.

Any individual rankings of "1" require immediate attention. Some concerns you can take care of right away; others could be a major-or costly-project, requiring planning and prioritizing before you take action. Note the activities that you identified as 1's to be listed later under "High-Risk Activities" in Worksheet No. 13.

Return to Fact Sheet No. 9, " Livestock Manure Storage and Treatment Facilities."

View a list of the Virginia Farmstead Assessment System publications.