Case Study
Duplin
Co. Poultry Waste Spill
INTRODUCTION:
During the summer of 1995, at least six animal waste lagoons
ruptured and millions of gallons of liquid waste spilled into eastern
A breach in a lagoon serving 75,000 chickens in Duplin
County caused 8.5 million gallons of poultry waste to be released into
Limestone Creek, NC (which enters the North East Cape Fear River near
Hallsville, NC) causing great effects to the water
quality of the streams and rivers.
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PHYSICAL EFFECTS:
A very notable odor and water discoloration will appear in areas affected
by spills. For the poultry spill, there was a deep reddish tinge to the
waters. Turbidity levels increased to 87.0 in Limestone Creek (
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CHEMICAL EFFECTS:
Excessive loads of inorganic nutrients were introduced into the waters
when the waste lagoon burst. Waste lagoon liquid typically has a high
percent of phosphorous and nitrogen (total phosphorous in the form of
orthophosphate and nitrogen in the form of ammonia). The Limestone Creek
had large quantities of ammonia and orthophosphate after the chicken waste
lagoon spill. In fact, the nutrient load did not stay confined in a
small area but was transported long-distance downstream. Ten days after
the split 90 km downstream at NCF117, a 9-fold increase than the previous month
in ammonia concentrations was measured. Such high concentrations of
ammonia may be fatal to fish. When DO levels are low, there is a chemical
reaction that causes phosphate in the form of orthophosphate to be released. In
the
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BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS:
Warm-blooded animals carry fecal
coliform bacteria in their
intestines and by themselves they are not usually pathogenic; they are indicator organisms, which mean
they may indicate the presence of other pathogenic bacteria. Under the
conditions of a waste lagoon, these organisms will continue to survive and be
supported. When the chicken lagoon was breached, large quantities of
these bacteria entered the environment. Following the spill, samples for
fecal coliform were collected and results indicated concentrations of 14,333
CFU/100 mL in Limestone Creek. The North Caroline fecal coliform
standard to protect human health is less than or equal to 200 CFU/100 mL.
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CONCLUSIONS:
Undesirable environmental effect can be seen from animal waste spills on neat and far receiving waters. Physical effects include low dissolved oxygen and high turbidity – leading to unfavorable habitats for many organisms. Large amounts of organic and inorganic nutrients loaded into the water are evidence of chemical effects. Biological effects include the release of untreated pathogenic microorganisms (fecal coliform) into the environment that can cause effects upstream and be carried far downstream as well.
FUTURE
PROBLEMS :
The
(poultry
waste lagoon breach)
Lagoon leaks and breaches cause multiple problems for water quality, and with the increase in lagoon construction water quality problems are potentially on the rise. Human error, defective construction, intentional mismanagement, and unfavorable weather conditions may be contributors to lagoon breaches. Human activities such as urban and industrial development, farming, mining, stream and channel alteration, animal feeding operations, and many more may all contribute to changes in water quality.
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POLLUTION:
There are two types of pollutant sources: non-point
source and point source pollution. Agriculture is a common
contributor to non-point source pollution. Pesticides, fertilizers, and animal
wastes are often carried to streams in runoff. Fertilizers and animal waste
increase the nutrient amounts in streams. Nitrogen and Phosphorous are among
the main nutrients added, which will increase the growth in aquatic plants.
This rapid growth can be harmful as a larger amount of oxygen is used to
breakdown (or decompose) the increased amounts of dead plant material. More
oxygen is being used, which means here is less in the water for the aquatic
animals (such as fish) resulting in fish kills. In the summer months, the
The
RAIN:
Rainfall is very important in controlling the ecology and pollution of the Cape Fear River System, as well as controlling river flow. During the summer, rainfall has less effect due to the large amounts of green vegetation along the river. This vegetation takes up rainwater and transpires it back to the atmosphere. However, during the winter months there is little vegetation and little transpiration so rainfall runs directly into streams and river (this will increase the river flow). After a rainfall, there is an increase in nitrogen and phosphorous levels. If rainfall increases, fecal coliform levels and turbidity levels increase within a day. Just imagine what occurs after a hurricane!
For more information on the effects of hurricanes, visit the Hurricane
Lesson on the River Run Lesson Home Page.
________________________________
Lesson By:
Kelly
Hall
MAT graduate student
University of North Carolina - Wilmington