EPA-R2-72-061 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY SERIES
September 1972
Characteristics of Rainfall Runoff
from a Beef Cattle Feedlot
National Environmental Research Center
Office of Research and Monitoring
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Corvaliis, Oregon 97330
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RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES
Research reports of the Office of Research and
Monitoring, Environmental Protection Agency, have
been grouped into five series. These five broad
categories were'established to facilitate further
development and application of environmental
technology. Elimination of traditional grouping
was consciously planned to foster technology
transfer and a maximum interface in related
fields. The five series are:
1. Environmental Health Effects Research
2. Environmental Protection Technology
3. Ecological Research
4. Environmental Monitoring
5. Socioeconomic Environmental studies
This report has been assigned to the ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION TECHNOLOGY series. This series
describes research performed to develop and
demonstrate instrumentation, equipment and
methodology to repair or prevent environmental
degradation from point and non-point sources of
pollution. This work provides the new or improved
technology required for the control and treatment
of pollution sources to meet environmental quality
standards.
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EPA-R2-72-061
September 1972
CHARACTERISTICS OF RAINFALL RUNOFF
FROM A
BEEF CATTLE FEEDLOT
R. Douglas Kreis, Marion R. Scalf, and James F. McNabb
Robert S. Kerr Water Research Center
P.O. Box 1198
Ada, Oklahoma 74820
Project 13040 FHP
Program Element B12039
National Environmental Research Center
Office of Research and Monitoring
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
200 S.W. 35th Street
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
For sale by the Superintendent or Documents, U.8. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price $1.00
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ABSTRACT
Rainfall runoff from a 12,000-head capacity commercial beef cattle
feedlot was characterized and a treatment-disposal system used by the
feedlot was evaluated. Fifty percent of the rainfall events produced
measurable runoff from the feedpens. A four to ten inch manure mantle
on the feedpen surface was found to prevent runoff from 0.2 to 0.3 inch
rainfalls depending on intensity and antecedent moisture conditions.
The total runoff from the feedpens was equivalent to 39 percent of the
total rainfall during the study period.
Direct runoff from the feedpens contained pollutant concentrations
in the form of oxygen demand, solids, and nutrients that were generally
an order of magnitude greater than concentrations typical of untreated
municipal sewage. Dilution from direct rainfall and a few days of sedi-
mentation in the runoff collection ponds reduced the concentrations of
the pollutants up to 90 percent. The total weight of solids and oxygen
demanding materials was reduced by about one-half, but the total weight
of nutrients was not significantly reduced. The remainder of the treat-
ment disposal system produced no appreciable improvement in the quality
of the waste water. Final discharges still contained pollutant concen-
trations two to three times those of untreated municipal sewage.
111
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CONTENTS
Section Page
I Conclusions 1
II Recommendations 3
III Introduction 5
IV Objectives 11
V Experimental Procedure 13
VI Results and Discussion 17
VII Acknowledgments 33
VIII References 35
IX Appendices 39
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FIGURES
Page
1. FEEDPENS AND DRAINAGEWAY 7
2. DIAGRAM OF STUDY AREA 8
3. INFLUENT END OF DITCH 9
4. DITCH EFFLUENT AT FARM POND 9
5. RAIN GAUGE, FLUME, AND SAMPLER 14
6. RAINFALL RUNOFF SAMPLER AND H-FLUME 14
7. SAMPLER AND WEIR AT FARM POND OVERFLOW 16
8. FEEDLOT RUNOFF VERSUS RAINFALL 18
9. RELATIONSHIP OF BOD AND COD IN FEEDLOT RUNOFF 22
10. RELATIONSHIP OF BOD AND TOC IN FEEDLOT RUNOFF 23
11. RELATIONSHIP OF TOC AND COD IN FEEDLOT RUNOFF 24
vi
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TABLES
No. Page
1. Summary of Volumes of Rainfall on the Feedpens and
Runoff from all Feedpens 19
2. Concentrations of Chemical Constituents Measured in
Direct Runoff from the Feedpens Gng/1) 20
3. Comparison of Solids Concentrations (mg/1) Measured
in Direct Feedpen Runoff and During Pumping Periods 26
4. Comparison of Nutrient Concentrations (mg/1) Measured
In Direct Feedpen Runoff and During Pumping Periods 27
5. Comparison of Organic Pollutant Concentrations (mg/1)
Measured in Direct Feedpen Runoff and During
Pumping Periods 28
6. Tons of Solids, Organic Pollutants, and Nutrient Wastes
Before and After Detention 30
7. Number of Microorganisms 32
vii
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SECTION I
CONCLUSIONS
1. Manure was not removed from the feedpens during the eight-month
study period resulting in a four- to ten-inch mantle of manure which
demonstrated a variable capacity to absorb rainfall. Depending on rain-
fall intensity and antecedent moisture conditions, the minimum rainfall
to result in rainfall runoff from the 3 percent slopes was 0.2 inches,
while the maximum rainfall that did not result in runoff was 0.32 inches.
2. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOG), and 5-day
biochemical oxygen demand (6005) concentrations were high, averaging
7,210, 2,010, and 1,075 mg/1, in direct feedpen runoff. BOD5 concentra-
tions were about four times the concentration typical for raw domestic
sewage.
3. A very good correlation was demonstrated for three parameters of
organic pollution—COD, TOG, and BODr. Direct feedpen runoff, ditch
influent, ditch effluent, and farm pond effluent provided a broad range
of concentrations of the same waste for comparison of these different
parameters.
4. Direct feedlot runoff contains high and variable concentrations of
solids and nutrients. Total suspended solids and total solids averaged
5,900 and 11,429 mg/1, respectively. Total phosphate concentrations
ranged from 21 to 223 mg/1 which .is 3 to 20 times concentrations normally
found in municipal wastes. Essentially all of the nitrogen was in the
total organic and ammonia form which averaged 228 and 108 mg/1,
respectively.
5. Detention of runoff in holding ponds resulted in a reduction of
mean concentrations of solids, nutrients, and organic pollution in the
form of COD, TOG, and BOD. Dissolved solids concentrations were reduced
by 90 percent and organic pollutant concentrations were decreased by
70 percent.
6. Detention of runoff in the holding ponds reduced the total amount
of solids and organic pollutants by about one-half. The greater reduc-
tions in mean concentrations were a result of solids sedimentation plus
dilution with direct rainfall on the pond surfaces. The total amounts of
nutrients such as ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate were not significantly
reduced. There was a reduction in the total amount of nitrogen, as the
organic nitrogen was converted to ammonia, some of which was subsequently
lost to the atmosphere.
7- Pumping the effluent from the runoff collection ponds through the
2-mile long treatment channel had no significant effect on the quality
of the waste water.
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8. Although the quality of the discharge from the total collection-
treatment system was greatly improved over the direct feedpen runoff,
organic and nutrient concentrations remained two to three times those
typical of untreated municipal wastes and much too concentrated for
stream discharge.
9. Bacterial counts from holding pond samples collected one day follow-
ing rainfall were higher than counts from direct feedpen runoff, indi-
cating possible aftergrowth.
10. The ditch-pond treatment system resulted in no significant improve-
ment in the bacterial quality of the feedlot runoff.
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SECTION II
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The study reported herein represents only one beef cattle feedlot
in one climatic area; i.e., 37-inch annual rainfall, but data agree
generally with published data from other researchers. Rainfall runoff
from cattle feedlots contains pollutant concentrations two to three
orders of magnitude too great for stream discharges, therefore these
waste waters must be managed in a manner that will protect the quality
of receiving surface and ground waters.
2. Open, uncovered cattle feedlots should have diversion and storage
facilities to prevent feedlot runoff from reaching a watercourse.
3. Extraneous runoff from outside the feedpens should be diverted away
from manure and waste holding facilities to reduce the volume of waste
water for treatment and/or disposal.
4. Runoff collection ponds should be arranged in series to accomplish
optimum reduction of pollutant concentrations by solids sedimentation.
Additional research should seek to determine optimum detention time for
maximizing solids separation while minimizing the dissolution of the
solid material.
5. This project indicated that sedimentation plus dilution by direct
rainfall could reduce pollutant concentrations by as much as 90 percent.
Since these levels are now within treatable limits, additional research
should be directed toward further reduction in pollutant concentrations
by a number of processes that will produce an acceptable effluent.
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SECTION III
INTRODUCTION
In the last decade, the public demand for more and better quality
meat has resulted in a radical change in animal production methods.
Prior to marketing, an increasing majority of animals for slaughter are
being fed under confined conditions. The results of confined feeding
are most evident in the beef cattle industry where feeding efficiency
is greatly increased, but so are environmental pollution problems.
Confinement feeding no longer allows the animals to deposit wastes
over several acres of pasture land where the natural assimilative capac-
ity of the soil can absorb and degrade the wastes without adverse envi-
ronmental effects. One beef animal will produce over a half ton of
manure, on a dry weight basis, during its stay of from three to five
months in a feedlot. This waste is deposited on an area usually less
than 300 square feet. The major water pollution problem results from
rainfall runoff which comes in contact with the manure and carries
high concentrations of oxygen demanding materials, solids, nutrients,
and disease organisms into surface waters and sometimes into the ground
water.
Since animal feedlots represent the largest single source of solid
wastes generated in the nation (over 2,000,000,000 tons annually) runoff
from these feeding operations is a widespread water pollution problem
of major significance (23) . The overwhelming majority of the growth in
the present 114 million head beef cattle feeding industry has been in
large scale feedlots of 5,000- to 100,000-head capacity. Uncontrolled
runoff from only a few acres of feedlot surface has been responsible for
numerous cases of surface and ground water pollution (16) and has been
implicated in the transmission of diseases to both animals (3, 8, 9, and
18) and humans (25).
In May 1969, Robert S. Kerr Water Research Center personnel met with
officials of Meat Producers, Inc., of Dallas, Texas, who operate several
beef cattle feedlots in Texas. One of their operations was a recently
constructed feedlot which afforded one of the more advanced designs in
feedpens and drainage control in the United States. This feedlot was
near the city of McKinney in north central Texas.
The site, in the undulating Trinity River Basin, was originally
covered by a shallow mantle of eroded Austin silty clay soil on the
Austin Chalk bedrock (11) . The soil was removed at one end of the feed-
lot and some of the feedpens were constructed on bedrock. Crushed rock
from other areas was used as the base material for the remainder of the
feedpeng.
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The average annual rainfall in the McKinney area is 37 inches (10)
with a mean annual runoff of 6 to 8 inches and a normal Class A pan
evaporation of 70-80 inches (15). Mean July and January temperatures
are 83.7 and 45.6 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively, with a temperature
extreme range of 118 to -7 degrees Fahrenheit (10) . The mean number of
frost-free days per year is 228 (10).
The 12,000-head capacity beef cattle feedlot consisted of 96 feed-
pens, each pen measuring 100 feet wide by 125 feet deep and containing
125 head of cattle. Pens are located in rows of six and each row is
sloped uniformly at 3 percent toward an alleyway which collects rainfall
runoff and transports it into four holding ponds which total 24 surface
acres (Figure 1). Fences between pens are set in concrete curbs which
prevent drainage across feedpens and facilitate the removal of manure
by tractor-mounted loaders. Alleyway fences are set on swivels which
permit the bottom of the fence to swing up for manure removal. The
feedpen area, including alleyways, totals approximately 32 acres.
Extraneous drainage is diverted around the feedpens so that the holding
ponds receive only direct rainfall and runoff from the feedlot (Figure 2).
To prevent objectionable odors from developing in the holding ponds,
after several days of detention, runoff was pumped into a ditch approxi-
mately 4 feet wide by 1 foot deep by 12,000 feet long with sloping sides
(Figure 3). The ditch which is located on a pastured hillside has a
relatively constant slope of about one half percent and transports the
waste water to a farm pond of about 2 surface acres (Figure 4). The
ditch-pond system was designed and constructed by the feedlot operator
to provide waste water treatment through natural aeration, filtration
action of the grass in the ditch, and biological degradation and dilution
in the farm pond. The waste from the farm pond overflows into a natural
draw which is a tributary to an adjacent 40-acre flood control reservoir.
The design and operation of the feedlot offered a well-controlled,
full-scale site for research on the characteristics of cattle feedlot
runoff, treatment of the runoff, and the effect of effluents on receiving
waters. Despite the well-drained feedpens, extensive drainage control
and waste water storage facilities, and existence of a system for treat-
ing waste water, the owners of Meat Producers, Inc., remained concerned
about and interested in improving ultimate disposal of the waste efflu-
ents. As a result of their concern, they agreed to the use of their
feedlot facilities for research purposes, and a three-study project was
initiated by the Robert S. Kerr Water Research Center personnel in
July 1969-
The purposes of the study reported herein were to determine the
characteristics of rainfall runoff and to evaluate the efficiency of
treatment process in operation at that time. A coincident study by the
Environmental Protection Agency (5) reported on the effect of feedlot
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FIGURE 1, FEED PENS & DRAINAGBJAYS
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EXTRANEOUS DRAINAGE BYPASS DITCH
DIRECT RUNOFF
COLLECTION POINT
PUMP
00
EFFLUENT FROM
FARM POND
COLLECTION POINT
INFLUENT TO
TREATMENT DITCH
COLLECTION POINT
EFFLUENT FROM
TREATMENT DITCH
COLLECTION POINT
FIGURE 2 - DIAGRAM OF STUDY AREA
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FIGURE 3, INFUJENT END OF DITCH
FIGURE 1, DITCH EFLUBiT AT FARM POf
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effluents on the water quality and aquatic life of the receiving reser-
voir. The third phase, anticipated at the outset and confirmed by the
first two concurrent studies, is currently in progress. This phase
involves the addition and evaluation of an automated spray runoff soil
treatment system for the removal of nutrients, solids, and oxygen demand
from the feedlot runoff before discharge to the receiving reservoir.
An interim report of the first two studies by Scalf, Duffer, and Kreis
(19) documented the circumstances surrounding a fish kill in the 40-acre
flood control reservoir which received feedlot waste discharges.
10
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SECTION IV
OBJECTIVES
1. Determine the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics
of rainfall runoff from an actual beef cattle feedlot under normal oper-
ating conditions.
2. Determine the quality changes as the waste water traversed the
collection, retention, and treatment system from the feedpens to the
receiving flood control reservoir.
11
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SECTION V
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
One row of six feedpens was isolated for sampling and flow measure-
ment to determine the characteristics of the direct runoff from the
feedlot. This permitted a representative sampling of feedlot runoff
from the entire feedlot. An 18-inch H-flume equipped with a Stevens F-l
8-day water level recorder was installed in the channel between the feed-
pens and collection pond. The amount and intensity of rainfall during
the study period was recorded with a Science Associates, Inc., No. 551
recording rain gauge located near the 18-inch H-flume (Figure 5).
Initially, a gravity type composite sampler was installed on the
H-flume to collect samples of the direct feedpen runoff. This sampler
consisted of a perforated vertical pipe inside the flow measuring flume.
Perforations increased in number up the pipe so that the sampling rate
was proportional to the flow rate through the flume. Sample water was
transported from the perforated pipe to two glass containers, located
in the ground beside the flume, through a 1-inch pipe inserted through
the bottom of the H-flume. Plugging problems created by the high solids
waste rendered this sampling procedure unreliable. Therefore, a Nappe
Model PPD automatic, float-actuated, pump-type liquid sampler powered
by a wet-cell automotive battery was installed immediately downstream
from the H-flume (Figure 6). This sampler was programmed to sample at
15-minute intervals during periods of rainfall runoff.
Sample flow was split between two duplicate 5-gallon bottles and
excess waste. One of the bottles contained a sufficient amount of
sulfuric acid to preserve the sample for laboratory analyses of chemical
oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total phosphate
(T-P04-P), nitrate (N03~N), total organic nitrogen (TON-N), ammonia
(NHo-N), and chloride. The unpreserved samples were analyzed for total
solids (T-solids), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids
(TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg),
sodium (Na), and potassium (K). When unpreserved samples could be
collected and processed on the same day as a runoff event, they were
also analyzed for 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (6005).
*
The effects of the retention-treatment system on the quality of the
waste water was determined during four pumping periods which succeeded,
within a few days, rainfall runoff events. In November 1969, after the
first three pumping events, the waste water pump used to dewater the
runoff collection ponds malfunctioned. The feedlot operator did not
repair the pump until March 1970, just prior to the fourth and final
pumping event.
13
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iaflu.
FIGURE 5, RAIN GAUGE, FLUME, & SAMPLER
FIGURE 6, RAINFALL RUNOF SAMPLER & H-FLJUME
14
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During the first two pumping periods, composite samples were col-
lected from the ditch influent and effluent with Serco Model NW-3
vacuum-type refrigerated sequential samplers which were programmed to
collect 100 ml of sample each hour for 24 hours. The collections were
split into duplicate samples and composited. Hand-dipped grab samples
were collected coincident with the composited sequential samples from
flow-agitated areas of the ditch influent and effluent. Sequential
sampling was discontinued in favor of the more convenient grab sampling
after the first two pumping events due to a lack of appreciable differ-
ence in results obtained between the two techniques. Flow through the
ditch was measured with an 18-inch Parshall flume equipped with a
Stevens water level recorder.
A Nappe Model PPD liquid sampler, installed in a manner similar to
the one used to collect direct feedpen runoff, was used to collect
samples of the farm pond effluent. Additionally, grab samples of this
effluent were taken from flow-agitated areas. Overflow discharges from
the farm pond were measured with a 150° V-notch weir also equipped with
a Stevens water level recorder (Figure 7).
The composite and grab samples collected from these sources were
analyzed for the same chemical constituents as the direct feedlot runoff.
When unpreserved samples could be processed on the same day as collected,
they were also analyzed for BODij, nitrite (N02~N), orthophosphate
(O-PO^-P), pH, conductivity, and total alkalinity.
Analyses for COD, 6005, TOG, T-solids, TDS, TSS, VSS, O-PO/^-P,
T-PO^-P, NH3~N, chloride, total alkalinity, pH, and conductivity were
by wet lab techniques; NOo-N was by automated technique; and Ca, Mg, Na,
and K were by atomic adsorption techniques according to Federal Water
Quality Administration Methods (21). TOG was analyzed according to the
method of Van Hall, Safranko, and Stenger (22) . TON was analyzed by
Technicon Auto Analyzer Methodology (20); the accuracy of this method
was periodically checked by FWQA methods.
Microbiological grab samples were collected from the direct feed-
pen runoff during three rainfall events, and from the holding pond
ditch influent and effluent and the farm pond effluent during the first
two pumping periods. Densities of coliform, fecal coliform, and fecal
streptococci were obtained using standard membrane filter methods (2).
K. F. Streptococcus agar (Difco) was used instead of M-enterococcus agar
due to the higher recovery of Streptococcus bovis by the former medium
(13). The procedure of Geldreich et_ al. (6) was used to obtain
densities of coliforms. The results obtained by this method have been
shown to be comparable to those obtained by using most probable number
(MPN) fecal coliform techniques described in Standard Methods (2 and 7).
15
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FIGURE 7, SAFPLER AND WEIR AT FARM POND OVERFLOW
16
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SECTION VI
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This study was initiated about six months after the first cattle
were placed in the feedpens. The six feedpens which were isolated for
this study were maintained at the full 125-animal per pen capacity
throughout the study period. Each animal was fed a 21-pound daily ration
consisting of 62 percent milo, 22.5 percent silage, 10.5 percent protein
supplement, 4 percent molasses, and 1 percent tallow. The mean starting
and finishing weight of the animals was approximately 400 and 750 pounds,
respectively. Manure was not removed from the pens during the study
period.
There were 40 rainfall events during the study period, of which
21 produced measurable runoff (Appendix Table 1). The minimum rainfall
which resulted in measurable runoff was 0.2 inches and the maximum rain-
fall which did not result in measurable runoff was 0.32 inches. The
relationship of rainfall to runoff (Figure 8) may be expressed by the
equation:
RU = 0.500 RA - 0.124
RU is runoff and RA is rainfall, both expressed in inches.
Between July 24, 1969, and July 15, 1970, of the rainfall which
resulted in runoff, the runoff to rainfall ratio from the feedpens was
1:2. Runoff totaling 10.1 inches from the feedpens between August 1969
and April 1970 equaled 39 percent of the total rainfall during that
period (Table 1).
The concentrations of pollutants in the rainfall runoff were high
and variable. Five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen
demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC) were used as parameters of
organic pollution. Biochemical oxygen demand is recognized as a poor
measure of organic pollution of animal waste waters because of 'the inher-
ent difficulties with the analytical procedures, antibiotics, high solids
concentration which interfere with the analyses, and the extremely high
BOD concentrations encountered in animal wastes which necessitate very
high dilutions for analyses. Nevertheless, it is a widely used pollution
parameter and was included for comparison with COD, TOC, and other
waste waters.
In the direct feedlot runoff, COD and TOC concentrations ranged
from 1,439 to 16,320 mg/1 and 150 to 4,400 mg/1. Mean COD and TOC values
in the direct runoff were 7,210 and 2,010 respectively. Concentrations
of BOD ranged from 1,075 to 3,450 mg/1 with a mean value of 2,370 mg/1.
Total suspended solids concentrations, which were also very high, ranged
from 745 to 17,200 mg/1, with a mean value of 5,900 mg/1 (Table 2).
17
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(O
LL)
X
O
z
RU= 0.500 RA- 0.124
Corr. Coef. = 0.803
2 3
RAINFALL (INCHES)
FIGURE 8 - FEEDLOT RUNOFF VERSUS
RAINFALL
18
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TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF VOLUMES OF RAINFALL ON THE FEEDPENS AND RUNOFF FROM ALL FEEDPENS
PRE-PUMPING
PERIOD
RAINFALL
inches acre-ft,
TOTAL FEEDPEN RUNOFF
inches acre-ft.
PERCENT
OF RAINFALL
THAT RAN OFF
7/24-10/4/69
10/5-10/25/69
10/26-11/12/69
11/13-4/7/70
3.91
4.18
1.80
16.14
10.75
11.50
4.95
44.39
1.54
1.37
0.89
6.28
4.25
3.76
2.44
17.27
39
33
49
39
Combined Periods
26.03
71.59
10.08
27.72
39
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TABLE 2
CONCENTRATIONS OF CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
MEASURED IN DIRECT RUNOFF FROM THE FEEDPENS
(mg/1)
T-Solids
TSS
VSS
TDS
Chloride
T-P04-P
N03-N
NH3-N
TON-N
COD
BOD 5
TOG
Ca
Mg
Na
K
Number
of Samples
8
8
7
8
7
16
15
15
15
15
4
15
6
6
6
6
Mean
11,429
5,912
3,426
5,526
450
69.2
0.64
108
228
7,210
2,201
2,010
698
69
408
761
Min.
3,110
745
475
882
97
21
<0.05
4
31
1,439
1,075
150
194
28
130
226
Max .
28,882
17,202
9,286
22,372
648
223
2.3
173
493
16,320
3,450
4,400
1,619
89
655
1,352
20
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The wide range of BOD, COD, and TOG values from the feedpens to the
farm pond overflow presented a unique opportunity to correlate these
parameters on the same waste water. The relationship of BOD to COD in
this waste water (Figure 9) can be expressed by the equation:
BOD = 0.024 + 0.265 COD
Regression analysis of the above equation resulted in a correlation
coefficient of 0.946. The approximate ratio of 3.5 for COD to BOD is
less than one-half the value found by Miner et^ al. (17), and Ward and
Jex (24), but is in close agreement with Witzel et al. (26) and Agnew
and Loehr (1).
Total organic carbon is a parameter which is gaining widespread
acceptance as a measure of organic pollution and in many cases is replac-
ing the 5-day BOD test. The increased use of TOC results not only from
the variability of the BOD test, but from the much greater ease and speed
of measuring TOC. The relationships of TOC to the BOD and COD of feed-
lot runoff are presented in Figures 10 and 11, respectively, and can be
expressed by the following equations:
TOC = 0.229 + 0.817 BOD
TOC = 0.190 + 0.238 COD
Regression analyses of the above equations resulted in correlation
coefficients of 0.892 and 0.926, respectively.
The collection of either TOC or COD samples which may be preserved
chemically for later analysis in many circumstances is advantageous over
BOD samples which, to obtain reliable results, must be analyzed in a
short period of time following collection. These data presented in
Figures 9, 10, and 11 indicate a direct relationship between TOC, COD,
and BOD in feedlot wastes. Therefore, TOC and COD can be used as a
substitute for BOD if the number of BOD analyses included in the program
are sufficient to develop a regression line applicable to the waste
being studied and to maintain quality control.
Nutrient concentrations were measured in terms of total phosphate,
total organic nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen. Total
phosphate concentrations ranged from 21 to 223 mg/1 with a mean concen-
tration of 69.2 mg/1 which is 3 to 20 times concentrations normally
found in municipal wastes. Essentially all of the nitrogen was in the
total organic and ammonia form. Total organic nitrogen and ammonia
concentrations ranged from 31 to 493 mg/1 and from 4 to 173 mg/1
respectively. Mean total organic nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen concen-
trations were 228 and 108 mg/1, respectively.
21
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ho
5000
4000
- 3000
2000
1000
0
o»
E
a
o
CD
BOD = 0.265 COD+ 0.024
Corr. Coef. = 0.946
0
I
I
J_
2000
4000 6OOO 8000
COD ( mg/l )
10000
12000
14000
FIGURE 9- RELATIONSHIP OF BOD AND COD IN FEEDLOT RUNOFF
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3000
2000
o>
E
g IOOO
TOC =0.229 +0.817 BOD
Corr. Coef. = 0.892
©
I
IOOO
20OO
3000
4000
BODS (mg/l)
FIGURE 10 - RELATIONSHIP OF BOD AND TOC IN
FEEDLOT RUNOFF
23
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5000-
TOC = 0.238 COD + 0.190
Corr. Coef. = 0.926
2000
4000
6000 8000
COD (mg/l)
KDOOO
12000
14000
16000
FIGURE II - RELATIONSHIP OF TOC AND COD IN FEEDLOT RUNOFF
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Miner et al. (17) reported that pollutant concentrations were
higher during warm weather. Most of the samples reported in this study
were collected during the winter months in a relatively mild climate.
Chemical oxygen demand and nitrogen concentrations were consistent with
those reported by Miner et al. (17) for paved feedlots. The feedpens
of the subject study were unpaved, but the surface was of soft chalk
bedrock material which retarded infiltration. The well graded and
uniformly sloped lots contained several inches of manure cover through-
out the study period, and it is probably that water retention charac-
teristics of the manure cover and the slope of the lots affected runoff
drainage more than the subsurface material.
Collection of the feedlot runoff in the holding ponds has a
significant impact on the quality of the waste water. Reduction in
pollutant concentrations was a result of dilution by direct rainfall on
the holding ponds, but more important, several days' detention in the
ponds settled out most of the particulate matter. A total of 56.7
acre-feet of feedlot runoff and direct rainfall was pumped from the
holding ponds into the ditch—pond treatment system during the four
pumping events. Eighty-eight percent of the waste was pumped during two
events: 17.4 acre-feet in October and 32.5 acre-feet in March-April.
The volume pumped in March-April was almost the total winter accumula-
tion of runoff in the holding pond. The remainder of the waste was
pumped during the September-October and November-December pumping periods
(4.6 and 2.2 acre-feet, respectively).
Detention of runoff in holding ponds resulted in a reduction in
concentrations of solids ranging from 60 to 90 percent. The greatest
reduction of 90 percent was in the mean concentration of total suspended
solids, Table 3. Mean nutrient concentrations were reduced from 40 to
80 percent, Table 4. Mean concentrations of organic pollutants, in the
form of COD, TOG, and BOD, were decreased by approximately 70 percent,
Table 5. The range and mean concentrations of all measured physical
conditions and chemical constituents in the ditch influent and effluent
and in the farm pond effluent are presented in Appendices Tables 2-4.
The reduction in oxygen demand and suspended solids is consistent
with Witzel et^ al. (26) who reported that 70 to 80 percent of the BOD
and COD were associated with the suspended solids. A large proportion
of all pollutants was associated with suspended solids contained in
the feedlot runoff.
It is evident that most of these solids settled to the bottom of
the collection pond without dissolving. The cool weather during most
of the project period and the limited sedimentation time probably inhib-
ited dissolution of the solids. If the waste water is to be treated for
stream discharge and odor problems are to be minimized, it would appear
25
-------
TABLE 3
COMPARISON OF SOLIDS CONCENTRATIONS (mg/1) MEASURED IN DIRECT
FEEDPEN RUNOFF AND DURING PUMPING PERIODS
Number
of Samples
Direct
Feedpen
Runoff
Pumped
Ditch
Influent
Ditch
Effluent
Pond
Effluent
T-Solids
TSS
VSS
TDS
T-Solids
TSS
VSS
TDS
T-Solids
TSS
VSS
TDS
T-Solids
TSS
VSS
TDS
8
8
7
8
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
Mean
11429
5912
3426
5526
2892
735
540
2106
3172
1297
703
1875
1835
543
283
1299
Max
28882
17202
9286
22372
2970
922
617
2212
5101
2969
1220
2204
2874
1585
460
1884
Min
3110
745
475
882
2652
540
276
2048
2380
470
260
1236
1157
188
108
565
26
-------
TABLE 4
COMPARISON OF NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS (mg/1) MEASURED IN DIRECT
FEEDPEN RUNOFF AND DURING PUMPING PERIODS
Number
of Samples
Direct
Feedpen
Runoff
Pumped
Ditch
Influent
Ditch
Effluent
Pond
Effluent
T-P04-P
TON
NH3-N
N03-N
T-PQ4-P
TON
NH3-N
N03-N
T-P04-P
TON
NH3-N
N03-N
T-P04-P
TON
NH3-N
NOn-N
16
15
15
15
6
14
14
14
15
15
15
14
11
11
11
10
Mean
69.2
228
108
0.64
37.4
62
63.4
0.21
38
64
50
0.2
25.5
39
35
0.22
Max
223
493
173
2.3
45
136
112
0.5
65
142
70
0.9
39.6
80.5
57.5
0.36
Min
21
31
4
<0.05
29
36
45
0.09
21
38
30
<0.05
5.3
11
9.5
<0.05
27
-------
TABLE 5
COMPARISON OF ORGANIC POLLUTANT CONCENTRATIONS (mg/1) MEASURED IN DIRECT
FEEDPEN RUNOFF AND DURING PUMPING PERIODS
Direct
Feedpen
Runoff
Pumped
Ditch
Influent
Ditch
Effluent
Pond
Effluent
TOC
COD
BOD5
TOC
COD
BOD5
TOC
COD
BOD5
TOC
COD
BODr
Number
of Samples
15
15
4
14
14
6
14
14
6
11
11
6
Mean
2010
7210
2201
711
1980
582
694
2310
558
429
1379
276
Max
4400
16320
3450
1030
3055
820
1100
4410
1069
680
1956
405
Min
150
1439
1075
520
812
337
520
996
337
128
436
110
28
-------
advisable to separate the solids from the supernatant before pollutant
concentrations of the liquid are increased by dissolution and leaching
of the solids and anaerobic degradation creates noxious gaseous products.
The mean tons of solids, nutrients, and organic pollutants in feed-
lot runoff which were available for discharge to the system before and
after detention in the holding ponds are presented in Table 6. The tons
of solids and organic pollutants in the form of COD, BODc, TON, and TOG
were significantly reduced. However, the tonnage of nutrients such as
NH3-N, N03-N, and T-PO^-P was not significantly changed even though the
concentration of these constituents was reduced. This would indicate
that either detention time was sufficient to facilitate dissolution of
these nutrients from the solids or that these particular constituents
were not associated with settleable solids and their concentrations
were reduced mainly by rainfall dilution.
The 12,000-foot ditch, which transports pumped feedlot runoff from
the retention pond to the small farm pond, was carefully designed and
constructed to provide treatment through natural aeration and filtration
through grass. The time required to fill the ditch and saturate the soil
lining the ditch was approximately eight hours during the initial pump-
ing period. This flow-through time was approximately four hours during
the other three pumping periods when the soil lining the ditch was
saturated by previous pumping events or rainfall. The retention time
of effluent from the ditch was approximately equal to/or less than four
hours. Comparison of the mean chemical concentrations of ditch influ-
ent and effluent presented in Tables 3-5 indicates no significant change
in the quality of water. Although mean solids concentrations appeared
to increase through the ditch, this can be attributed to a few high
concentrations in the ditch effluent during the first pumping event
when a significant amount of silt was flushed from the ditch. It is
concluded that this treatment ditch system is ineffective in reducing
the concentrations of pollutants.
The quality of overflow from the farm pond was improved over the
ditch effluent, but most of this improvement can be attributed to dilu-
tion by rainfall runoff from another tributary of the farm pond. The
total pounds of organic and nutrient pollution contributed by the farm
pond overflow to the downstream reservoir was almost equivalent to that
introduced through the treatment ditch to the pond.
Although the chemical quality of waste water at the farm pond over-
flow was greatly improved over the runoff at the feedpens, organic and
nutrient concentrations remained 2 to 3 times those of raw municipal
wastes and much too concentrated for discharge to surface or ground
water. However, the improved quality at this point does suggest that
it may be feasible to further treat the waste water by a number of
processes that will produce a dischargeable effluent.
29
-------
TABLE 6
TONS OF SOLIDS, ORGANIC POLLUTANTS, AND NUTRIENT WASTES
BEFORE AND AFTER DETENTION
T-Solids
TSS
TDS
T-PO. -P
4
N03-N
NH3-N
TON-N '
COD
BOD5
TOC
Direct Feedpen
Runoff
430
222
208
2.6
0.02
4.06
8.6
271
83
76
Holding Pone
Effluent
223
56.6
162
2.9
0.02
4.4
4.8
152
45
55
30
-------
Fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus densities in direct feedlot
runoff were extremely high as shown in Table 7. The fecal coliform to
fecal streptococcus ratios were .08 or less in each case. This concurs
with Geldreich (7) who found that ratios less than 0.7 are indicative
of fecal pollution from animals other than man, provided the sample is
taken before the original populations are altered by ecological condi-
tions in the receiving system.
Bacterial counts from holding pond samples collected one day
following rainfall were higher than any counts obtained from direct
feedpen runoff. Lower counts would normally be expected due to the
dilution factor of direct rainfall to the surface of the holding pond
and the normal die-away of organisms butside the animal gut. Although
the higher counts may be due to sampling error, inadequate data, and/or
disintegration of solids, they raise the possibility of aftergrowth in
the holding ponds.
The use of coliforms and fecal streptococci as pollution indicators
is based partially on the density of the indicator organisms being
roughly proportional to the amount of fecal pollution present and high
densities of fecal coliform and streptococci being indicative of rel-
atively recent pollution. Therefore, if aftergrowth or slow die-off
occurs the use of such indicator systems to determine the age and extent
of pollution would be limited. Furthermore, the use of fecal coliform
to streptococcus ratios to differentiate between feedlot runoff and
domestic sewage as sources of pollution might be altered.
Studies have shown aftergrowth of coliforms when discharged into
systems where nutrients were available and other conditions governing
survival of bacteria, such as pH, temperature, and absence of predators
or toxic chemical were favorable (4) and (14). Nutrients in soluble
form and a pH range of 7-8, existed in the direct runoff and retention
pond. In addition, predators such as protozoa would be limited in the
low-oxygen concentrations existing in the holding pond.
A more serious question raised by the possibility of aftergrowth
or slow die-off is the unknown fate of possible pathogens. Little is
known about the survival of pathogens compared to the survival of fecal
coliforms and fecal streptococci. If the absence of these indicator
groups does not guarantee safe water, then their presence in large
numbers could indicate a great potential hazard.
The ditch-pond treatment system had no significant effect in
improving the bacterial quality of the feedlot runoff, evidently because
of the short flow-through time. Any reductions were due to normal die-
off plus the dilution factor of the farm pond.
31
-------
TABLE 7
NUMBER OF MICROORGANISMS
106/100 ml
Total Fecal Fecal FC/FS
Coliform Coliform Streptococci Ratio
Direct Runoff
Mean
Min.
Max.
Holding Pond -
Mean
Min.
Max.
Holding Pond -
Mean
Min.
Max.
Ditch Influent
Mean
Min.
Max.
Ditch Effluent
Mean
Min.
Max.
Overflow from
Mean
Min.
Max
(3 samples)
12.5
4.3
33
1st Day Following Runoff
84.5
83
86
7-8 Days Following Runoff
.88
.55
1.2
(9 samples)
7.4
.47
31.0
(7 samples)
11.7
.26
39.
Farm Pond (9 samples)
.26
0.026
8.9
1.35
0.2
17
(2 samples)
55
10
100
(2 s amp 1 e s )
.38
.11
.64
2.0
.03
14.
1.7
.02
9.7
.072
.004
5.5
73.7
6.8
280
92
61
122
.39
.34
.44
4.2
.23
8.2
1.6
.28
9.1
0.25
0.046
3.7
.003
.08
.16
.83
_ _ _
.09
1.48
32
-------
SECTION VII
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The cooperation and support of Meat Producers Inc., who provided
the feedlot facilities studied, were indispensible to the completion
of the project.
Other Robert S. Kerr Water Research Center personnel who assisted
the authors and contributed greatly to the project were:
Richard Thomas, Dr. William Duffer, and Jack L. Witherow who were
instrumental in the initiation and planning of the project;
Bill DePrater, Bert Bledsoe, Mike Cook, and Kenneth Jackson who
were responsible for most of the chemical analysis;
Montie Fraser, Lowell Penrod, Bob Smith, and Tommy Redman who
fabricated much of the sampling and flow measuring equipment, and
carried out the sampling program.
33
-------
SECTION VIII
REFERENCES
1. Agnew, R. W., and R. C. Loehr, "Cattle Manure Treatment Techniques,"
Proceedings National Symposium on Animal Waste Management, East Lansing,
Michigan, p. 81 (1966).
2. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association,
Water Pollution Control Federation, Standard Methods for the Examination
of Water and Waste Water, Twelfth Edition, New York, pp. 567-626 (1965).
3. Anon., "Report on Pollution of the Navigable Water of Moriches Bay
and Eastern Section of Great Sontle Bay, Long Island, New York,"
FWPCA, Metuchen, New Jersey, September 1966.
4. Ballentine, R. K., and F. W. Kittrell, "Observations of Fecal Coliforms
in Several Recent Stream Pollution Studies," FWPCA, Div. of Tech.
Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, August 1968.
5. Duffer, W. R., and R. D. Kreis, "Effects of Feedlot Runoff on the
Water Quality of a Small Impoundment," Water Pollution Control Research
Series - 1608, EPA, WQO, Robert S. Kerr Water Research Center, Ada,
Oklahoma, (1971).
6. Geldreich, E. E., H. F. Clark, C. B. Huff, and L. C. Best, "A Fecal
Coliform Medium for the Membrane Filter Technique," Journal of the
American Water Works Association, v. 1, p. 208 (1965).
7. Geldreich, E. E., "Sanitary Significance of Fecal Coliforms in the
Environment," Publication WP-20-3, USDI, FWPCA, Cincinnati, Ohio,
(1966) .
8. Gibson, E. A., "Salmonellosis in Cattle," Agriculture, v. 73, pp. 213-
216 (1966).
9. Gibson, E. A., "Disposal of Farm Effluent - Animal Health," Agriculture,
v. 74, pp. 183-192, (1967).
10. Hambidge, Gove, and M. J. Drown, Climate and Man/Iearbook of
Agriculture, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., pp. 1129-
1135 (1941)
11. Hanson, A., and F. F. Wheeler, Soil Survey; Collin County, Texas,
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Texas Agri-
cultural Experiment Station, McKinney, Texas, (1969).
35
-------
12. Hibbs, C. M., and V. D. Foltz, "Bovine Salmonellosis Associated
with Contaminated Creek Water and Human Infection," Vet. Med./Small
Animal Clinic, v. 59, pp. 1153-1155 (1964).
13. Kenner, B. A., H. F. Clark, and P. W. Kabler, "Fecal Streptococci I,
Cultivation and Enumeration in Surface Waters," Applied Microbi-
ology, v. 1, pp. 15-20 (1961).
14. Kittrell, F. W., and S. A. Furfari, "Observations of Coliform
Bacteria in Streams," Journal Water Pollution Control Federation,
v. 35, p. 1361, (1963).
15. Linsley, R. K., Jr., M. A. Kohler, and J. L. H. Paulhus, "Hydrology
for Engineers," McGraw Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, New York,
pp. 77 and 110 (1958).
16. Loehr, R. C., "Animal Wastes - A National Problem," Proceedings
of the ASCE, Journal of the Sanitary Engineering Division, v. 95,
No. 542, pp. 189-221, April 1969.
17. Miner, J. R., L. R. Fina, J. W. Funk, R. I. Lipper, and G. H. Larson,
"Stormwater Runoff from Cattle Feedlots," Proceedings National Sym-
posium on Animal Waste Management, East Lansing, Michigan, p. 23
(1966).
18. Oglesby, W. C., "Bovine Salmonellosis in a Feedlot Operation,"
Vet. Med./Small Animal Clinic, v. 59, pp. 172-174 (1969).
19. Scalf, M. R., W. R. Duffer, and R. D. Kreis, "Characteristics
and Effects of Cattle Feedlot Runoff," Proceedings of the 25th
Annual Purdue Industrial Waste Conference, May 1970. »
20. Technicon Auto-Analyzer Methodology, Industrial Method 39-69 H.
21. USDI, FWQA, "Method for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes."
FWQA Division of Research, Analytical Quality Control Branch, (1969) .
22. Van Hall, E. E., J. Safranko, and V. A. Stenger, "Rapid Combustion
Method for the Determination of Organic Substances in Aqueous Solu-
tions," Analytical Chemistry, v. 35, pp. 315-319, March 1963.
23. Vaughan, R. D., Solid Waste Management, "Everybody's Problems,"
Environmental Science and Technology, v. 5, p. 293, April 1971.
24. Ward, John C., and E. M. Jex, "Characteristics of Aqueous Solu-
tions of Cattle Manure," Animal Waste Management, Cornell Univer-
sity Conference on Agricultural Waste Management, Syracuse, N. Y.,
p. 310 (1969).
36
-------
25. Willrich, T. L., "Animal Wastes and Water Quality," Dept. of
Agricultural Engineering, Iowa State University, April 1967.
26. Witzel, S. A., E. McCoy, L. B. Polkowski, 0. J. Attoe, and M. S.
Nichols, "Physical, Chemical, and Bacteriological Properties of
Farm Wastes (Bovine Animals),"Proceedings National Symposium on
Animal Waste Management, East Lansing, Michigan, p. 10, (1966).
37
-------
SECTION IX
APPENDICES
Table Page
1. Direct Runoff Events from Feedpens 40
2. Range and Mean Concentrations of Chemical Constituents and
Physical Conditions Measured in the Ditch Influent 41
3. Range and Mean Concentration of Chemical Constituents and
Physical Condition Measured in the Ditch Effluent 42
4. Range and Mean Concentration of Chemical Constituents and
Physical Condition Measured in the Farm Pond Effluent 43
39
-------
TABLE 1
DIRECT RUNOFF EVENTS FROM FEEDPENS
Date
9/7/69
9/22-23/69
10/12/69
10/27/69
10/28/69
10/29-30/69
12/5-6/69
12/18-19/69
12/28-29/69
1/5/70
2/1/70
2/15/70
2/22-25/70
2/27-28/70
3/2/70
3/3/70
3/16-17/70
3/20-21/70
4/18/70
4/25/70
4/30/70
Rainfall
Amount
(Inches)
0.85
2.15
4.15
0.53
0.65
1.99
1.96
0.53
1.76
0.65
2.35
0.76
2.53
0.90
1.30
0.35
1.05
0.75
0.86
3.02
0.85
Runoff
Amount
(Inches)
0.14*
1.78*
2.06*
0.22
0.03
1.08*
1.14
0.12
1.59*
0.17
1.95
0.56*
1.38*
0.74
0.19*
0.23*
0.30*
0.10*
0.71*
2.06*
0.44*
* Chemical samples were collected during these events.
40
-------
TABLE 2
RANGE AND MEAN CONCENTRATIONS OF CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS* AND
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS MEASURED IN THE DITCH INFLUENT
pH
Conductivity
T- Alkalinity
T-Solids
TSS
VSS
TDS
Chlorides
O-PO.-P
4
T-PO.-P
NO -N
N03-N
NH3-N
T-Org N-N
COD
BOD
TOG
Ca
Mg
Na
K
N
5
5
4
5
6
6
6
6
13
6
3
14
14
14
14
6
14
8
8
8
8
M
7.3
6720
852
2892
735
540
2106
314
36.4
37.4
2.36
0.21
63.4
62
1980
582
711
186
38
141
292
Min.
7.2
4800
768
2652
540
376
2048
295
12.2
29
0.01
0.09
45
36
812
337
520
163
32
125
244
Max.
7.5
8400
1028
•>970
922
617
12
323
55.8
45
7.01
0.5
122.5
136
3055
820
1030
218
45
219
322
* All Concentrations reported as mg/1 except pH (units) and
conductivity (pmhos/cm).
41
-------
TABLE 3
RANGE AND MEAN CONCENTRATIONS OF CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS* AND
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS MEASURED ON THE DITCH EFFLUENT
pH
Conductivity
T-Alkalinity
T-Solids
TSS
VSS
TDS
Chlorides
0-P04-P
T-P04-P
N02-N
N03-N
NH3-N
T-Org N-N
COD
BOD
TOC
Ca
Mg
Na
K
N
4
4
4
7
7
7
7
6
4
15
3
14
15
15
14
6
14
6
6
6
6
M
7.7
6088
791
3172
1297
703
1875
308
25
38
0.16
0.2
50
64
2310
558
694
269
37
182
207
Min.
7.6
5900
740
2380
470
260
1236
290
13.3
21
0.02
<0.05
30
38
996
337
520
180
22
150
125
Max.
7.8
6500
822
5101
2969
1220
2204
325
35
65
0.45
0.9
70
142
4410
1096
1100
567
50
202
284
* All concentrations reported as mg/1 except pH (units) and
Conductivity (ymhos/cm).
42
-------
TABLE 4
RANGE AND MEAN CONCENTRATION OF CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS* AND
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS MEASURED IN THE FARM POND EFFLUENT
pH
Conductivity
T-Alkalinity
T-Solids
TSS
VSS
TDS
Chlorides
0-P04-P
T-P04-P
N02-N
N03-N
NH3-N
T-Org N-N
COD
BOD
TOC
Ca
Mg
Na
K
N
2
2
2
8
8
8
8
3
2
11
2
10
11
11
11
6
11
11
11
11
11
M
7.9
4875
500
1835
543
283
1299
240
16.7
25.5
0.01
0.22
35
39
1379
276
429
152
25
120
182
Min.
7.8
4400
610
1157
188
108
565
186
16.4
5.3
0.01
<0.05
9.5
11
436
110
128
95
12
76.2
85
Max.
7.9
5350
690
2847
1585
460
1884
277
17
39.6
0.01
0.36
57.5
80.5
1956
405
680
150
37
150
250
* All concentrations reported as mg/1 except pH (units) and
Conductivity (ymhos/cm).
43
-------
SELECTED WATER
RESOURCES ABSTRACTS
INPUT TRANSACTION FORM
Re;
•No
w
Characteristics of Rainfall Runoff from a Beef Cattle Feedlot 6.
Kreis, R. Douglas, Scalf, Marion R., McNabb, James
Environmental Protection Agency
Robert S. Kerr Water Research Center
Ada, Oklahoma
12. Spotitoring Or<;aniz?' .10
'. P- ' 'ormi: Orgar -ition
Jv- . jrtfft.
130^0 FHP
13 rype
,nd
Environmental Protection Agency report
number EPA-R2-72-061, September 1972.
Rainfall runoff from a 12,000-head capacity commercial beef cattle feedlot
was characterized and a treatment-disposal system used by the feedlot was
evaluated. Fifty percent of the rainfall events produced measurable runoff from
the feedpens. A four- to ten-inch manure mantle on the feedpen surface was
found to prevent runoff from 0.2- to 0.3-inch rainfalls depending on intensity
and antecedent moisture conditions. The total runoff from the feedpens was
equivalent to 39 percent of the total rainfall during the study period.
Direct runoff from the feedpens contained pollutant concentrations in the
form of oxygen demand, solids, and nutrients that were generally an order of
magnitude greater than concentrations typical of untreated municipal sewage.
Dilution from direct rainfall and a few days of sedimentation in the runoff
collection ponds reduced the concentrations of the pollutants up to 90 percent.
The total weight of solids and oxygen demanding materials was reduced by
about one-helf, but the total weight of nutrients was not significantly reduced.
The remainder of the treatment disposal system produced no appreciable improvement
in the quality of the waste water. Final discharges still contained pollutant
concentrations two to three times those of untreated municipal sewage.
*Cattle, *Confinement Pens, *Rainfall-Runoff Relationships, *Pollutants, Farm
Wastes, Nutrients, Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Coliforms,
Streptococcus
*Feedlot, *Manure Wastes, *Wastes Characteristics, Solids, Total Organic Carbon
05B
19. S nrity f ss.
OxeporO
20 Seoul-, f C/as.-..
f" ?ej
21. 1 of
Page*
2. P >ce
Send To :
WATER RESOURCES SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CENTER
U S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
WASHINGTON. D C. 2O24O
U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1972-514-148/62
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