ISSN:
1573-2932
Keywords:
cow slurry
;
groundwater pollution
;
self-sealing
;
slurry lagoon
;
Upper Chalk
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract The chemical and biological composition of groundwater sampled from a 76 m deep borehole situated 80 m from an unlined, earth-banked lagoon excavated in Upper Chalk and continuously used to store liquid cow manure was regularly monitored from August 1975 to January 1982 for signs of pollution. The lagoon became self-sealing 3 months after the start of filling in 1975, but was further enlarged and re-filled in autumn 1976, and emptied by dragline in September 1978 and 1980. No significant changes in groundwater composition were detected in the period August 1975 to December 1978. In January 1979, significant numbers of Escherichia coli and a large, rapid increase in concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), chloride (Cl) and sulphate (SO4) were detected in the groundwater. Nutrient concentrations fluctuated at elevated levels throughout 1979 but decreased during 1980. Additional bacterial and chemical (NH4-N, P and K) contamination was recorded in January 1981 and subsequent months. The contamination was considered to have occurred as a result of fissure flow through the unsaturated zone of the Upper Chalk following repeated disruption of the self-sealing layer during emptying of the lagoon by dragline in September 1978 and 1980. The results indicate that unlined, earth-banked slurry storage lagoons need to be carefully managed to avoid biological and chemical pollution of Chalk aquifers.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1004923631734
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