TEX*A*Syst Slide Training Series: Milking Center Wastewater Management
Milking center wastewater contains organic matter, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, chemicals, and microorganisms such as coliform bacteria.
Wastewater from the processing of dairy cows can contain feed stuffs, hoof dirt, manure, bulk tank rinse water, and detergents used in cleaning.
Discharge of concentrated animal waste or process-generated wastewater into the “waters of Texas” is illegal. Therefore, wastewater should be confined and stored in a liquid treatment and/or storage facility until it can be land applied.
Milking center wastes should be combined with manure in a common disposal system for both types of waste. Liquid manure facilities, such as this, can be used to store wastes until they can be properly land applied.
Land application of wastewater is an effective Best Management Practice to reduce the risk of surface and ground water contamination. Monitoring application rates enhances plant use and prevents exceeding plant nitrogen requirements or excessive accumulations of phosphorus.
When incorporating wastewater into your nutrient program, test the effluent for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels.
A soil sample should also be taken to determine how much wastewater you should apply. Do not saturate any area with wastewater because that can allow rapid percolation of contaminants to ground water or runoff of contaminants to surface water.
Credits
Home Page: http://waterhome.tamu.edu