T: 0113 2524786 M: 07884 253827Farm Yard Run Off A Solution
Contact :- Melvyn.Rutter@btinternet.com
T: 0113 2524786 M: 07884 253827
Farm Yard Run Off Reedbed System
New Water Framework regulations require Farming to solve problems of agricultural surface run-off effluents. Normal rainfall can bring into suspension all manner of pollutants from the Farm Yard. Cattle slurry, milk wastes, chemicals, oils and fuels can all collect as run-off potentially causing pollution of streams and rivers.
In 1995 my original research into reedbed filtration began with cattle slurry. I thought that if reedbeds worked on cattle slurry then they were certainly worth developing. My first results were as follows :-
I persuaded the man from ADAS to include my samples in those he was taking from a friends farm. So these are independent tests. A 99% reduction for dry matter, nitrates, phosphates and ammonia convinced me reedbeds worked. The levels of potash and magnesium in the outflow samples were too low to measure.
A second set of tests at another farm produced the following results.
|
BOD
in |
BOD
out |
%
reduced |
|
5580.0 |
15.0 |
99.7 |
|
6530.0 |
25.8 |
99.6 |
|
6000.0 |
31.0 |
99.5 |
These samples were tested
by ENCO. The results are better displayed in the second chart. This was further
proof of the effectiveness of my design for vertical flow reedbeds in treating
cattle slurry and farm yard runoff
Reedbeds can effectively
filter 75 litres per m2 per day, but this must be at a rate a little and often.
So a 100m2 can filter 7500 litres, which divides to no more than 350 litres per
hour, or 120 litres every 20 minutes.
Rain fall comes all at once. Even on wet days, there are periods of showers in between other damp periods. Farm yards need to drain all the surface water quickly. And then it may not rain for a number of days. How can reedbeds be used to filter farm yard run off water when they work on the principle of a little and often.
We could use the idea of a settlement lagoon with a slope on the base. A lagoon 10m x 5m x 2m deep will hold 100m3, or 100,000 litres. The 100m reedbeds will effectively filter 7500 litres per day. So this lagoon will hold approximately 13 days worth of flow
Here settlement lagoons of the design described above are used to settle solids from mine water flows. They do need emptying periodically. But this is no more than standard maintenance.
Yes
Reedbeds are offering for sale this total
package to farmers. We build the lagoon, the reedbeds and living soakaway. We
supply and fit the pumps and the timer so I know there is a little and often
going to the beds.
The
main pump would be working all the time, and a secondary pump to work when
levels in the lagoon rise in flood times.
Farm
yard run off can then flow through a 100m2 reedbed fitted with living soakaway
from the outflows of the beds.
The idea of the living soakway is that the discharge point is more than 10m from a water course. This helps the EA and planning. And if something does go wrong then it can be caught before it does go to the water course. There will be extra evaporation, but not huge amounts.
Yes
Reedbeds are offering for sale this total
package
for £8510 + vat ( £10,000 in total ).
Where
the farmer uses his own digger then the price could be reduced by 4 days at £250,
a total reduction of £1,000.
A larger settlement lagoon would be priced on application.
I
would also offer 3 days maintenance each year at £150 per day
Horse Stables may only need 50m2 reedbed system with settlement lagoon.
Prices :-
50m2
reedbed + lagoon + living soakaway = £5106 + VAT Where
the farmer uses his own digger then the price could be reduced by 3 days at £250,
a total reduction of £750.
100m2
reedbed + lagoon + living soakaway = £8510 + vat
+ VAT Where
the farmer uses his own digger then the price could be reduced by 4 days at £250,
a total reduction of £1,000.
150m2 reedbed
+ lagoon + living soakaway = £12766 + vat
+ VAT Where
the farmer uses his own digger then the price could be reduced by 5 days at £250,
a total reduction of £1,250.
We
also offer 3 days maintenance each year at £150 per day
Can One Size Settlement Lagoon Fit all Situations ? Click here for the calculations.
Contact :- Melvyn.Rutter@btinternet.com
T: 0113 2524786 M: 07884 253827
It
could be that the soakaway could be a willow coppice, or the miscanthus, if
the farmer wants to extend the idea themselves. But that would be for them to
sort out.
Photo of Miscanthus from Web Site Information Below
Miscanthus Crop + Yes Reedbeds
New Water Framework regulations require Farming to solve problems of agricultural surface run-off effluents. Normal rainfall can bring into suspension all manner of pollutants from the Farm Yard. Cattle slurry, milk wastes, chemicals, oils and fuels can all collect as run-off potentially causing pollution of streams and rivers.
Miscanthus is a tall and dense energy crop. Its dense canopy reduces the amount of rainwater falling to the ground. Miscanthus therefore needs additional irrigation when compare to alternative crops. Should miscanthus be grown on marginal land, then there would be a benefit from nutrient rich irrigation. Miscanthus does not grow in wetland situations. So the area given over to miscanthus would need to be irrigated. The amount of evaporation will be as huge as the plants themselves, in warm weather, and for as long as the crop grows.
Farm Yard run off would seem to be most suitable to irrigate the miscanthus crop, and for the field drainage to deliver the resulting ground water flows to the Yes Reedbed for effective filtration.
Miscanthus attracts a Government Grant to set up the crop. There is a cash value for the crop, which can yield upto 16 tons per hectare. Miscanthus can be cultivated using standard farming machinery.
Look at the web site links
below for further information on how to grow miscanthus, and how and where to
gat the government grants.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/sectg.htm
http://miscanthus.illinois.edu/?page_id=14
http://www.walesbiomass.org/misc-planting.htm
Here Andrew Harper ( 0797 443 9935 ) is helping construct a 200m2 Reedbed System.
Contact :- Melvyn.Rutter@btinternet.com
T: 0113 2524786
M: 07884 253827
One customer calculated it took him 2 days each month to empty and spread the contents of his yard water tank, costing approximately £3000 per year in time, fuel and machinery costs.
Spreading the run off to land results in unproductive land, and where the run off still gets into the water course, attracting Environmental Agency attention.
Contact :- Melvyn.Rutter@btinternet.com
T: 0113 2524786 M: 07884 253827