Progress 07/01/99 to 06/30/04
Outputs
The results of this investigation indicate that an IFP system in northern, arid climates can be statistically stable and the operators could manage the quality of the system by sampling the data. The goal of the treatment system was to reduce the variability of the nutrient concentration in the manure. The flush water from the dairy was a highly variable product. The variability of nutrients concentration decreases as the product moves through the IFP. Control charts with control limits determined by sample averages and S.D., were developed. The tightening of the UCL and LCL on the control charts indicated increased process capability. This can be used to predict an expected range of process capability to reduce the pollution potential of manure. The water obtained at the end of the system can be flushed back to the field and not increase the soil nutrient concentrations. Additionally, these samples show a skewed distribution. The skewed distribution predicts the product
to be pure. Performance of the product can be predicted by process capability. The distribution potentially fits within the specification but the overall average was slightly off center. As expected, for sump sample, the overall average is closer to the lower specification. For the anaerobic pit, the overall average was closer to the higher specification. For the facultative pond, the overall average was centered towards the lower specification limit. In the high rate pond, the overall average was centered towards the higher specification limit. The Capability indices help to reduce the variation relative to the specifications or requirements, achieving increasingly higher Cp and Cpk values. Capability indices help to change the focus from only meeting requirements to continuous improvement of the process using trends over time and prioritize the order in which the process can be improved.
Impacts
Based upon the results of this project, two ponds have been designed, constructed and are being used in the state. These IFP systems are reducing the nutrient concentrations by 80 to 95%. Both owners have changed the way they operate their manure handling systems from manure input through final disposition. As a result of controlling their operations, these owners are not violating their neighbors property rights. The systems have not had any unexpected or illegal discharges, thus avoiding infringing upon neighboring property, the waters of the state, and $25,000.00 per day in potential administrative fines. Additionally, neighbor odor complaints around these two operations have been reduced from 2-3 per month to near zero. Finally, due to nutrient reduction, the pond liquids can be applied to the farms land resources more uniformly and without exceeding the agronomic rate for the crops and soils.
Publications
- Harrison, J.D. & Miller, B. (2004). Quality Management of the Integrated Facultative Pond System. [Electronic version]. Technical Library of the ASAE, Document No. 044024.
- Harrison, J.D., Ambrin, G., & Miller, B. (2003). Use of Control Charts to Manage a Manure Treatment Process. [Electronic version]. Technical Library of the ASAE, Document No. 034159.
- Harrison, J.D., Miller, T.J., & Sessions, B.R. (2002). Integrated Facultative Pond System for Agricultural Wastewater Treatment. [Electronic version]. Technical Library of the ASAE, Document No. 024160.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Integrated Facultative Pond development was continued. The objectives are to create a system that would provide a treatment process that was cost effective, efficient and easily implemented in both small and large farms. In the process of designing this system, it was developed, verified and validated in order to ensure quality by the use of control charts followed by process capability measurements. The control chart depicts the performance of the IFP system. It helps in predicting the cost and environmental process. The control charts can depict the stability of the system. If the process is statistically stable then the variability of the process becomes predictable. The performance of the system in the future can be predicted if the process is in control. The results indicate that the system was statistically stable and the operators could manage the quality of the system by sampling the data. Stability depends on the statistical control. By reviewing all the
control charts, it was observed that the process is in statistical control. All of the data points fall within the expected ranges of the upper and the lower control limits. The variations noted may be due to the manure collected, which could have varied due to the feed of the cattle. There is no special cause variation and therefore the IFP system is said to be under control. The goal of the treatment system was to reduce the variability of the total solids concentration in the manure. The flush water from the dairy was a highly variable product. The variability of total solids concentration decreases as the product moves through the treatment process. The IFP system reduces the total solids concentration to 68%. Since the control limit of the charts were determined by averages and their S.D, the tightening of the UCL and LCL indicated increased process capability. This can be used to predict an expected range of process capability to reduce the pollution potential of manure. The
water obtained at the end of the system can be flushed back to the field and it can be used to grow spirulina algae, which forms the feed for the fish culture. These samples show a skewed distribution. The skewed distribution predicts the product to be pure. Performance of the product can be predicted by process capability. The distribution potentially fits within the specification but the overall average was slightly off center. For sump sample, the overall average is closer to the lower specification. For the anaerobic pit, the overall average was closer to the higher specification. For the facultative pond, the overall average was centered towards the lower specification limit. In the high rate pond, the overall average was centered towards the higher specification limit. The Capability indices help to reduce the variation relative to the specifications or requirements, achieving increasingly higher Cp and Cpk values. Capability indices help to change the focus from only meeting
requirements to continuous improvement of the process using trends over time and prioritize the order in which the process can be improved.
Impacts
Based upon the results of this project, two ponds have been designed, constructed and are being used in the state. Inital samples indicate that these new ponds are preforming as predicted.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
The Integrated Facultative Pond has been determined to be a stable process (in statistical control) since September, 2001. Being a stable process, researchers have been able to predict the expected range of pollution potential, manure nutrient content, and gaseous emissions from the process. Additionally, researchers have be able to analyze patterns of process variation and determine whether these variations occur due to special causes (non-routine events) or from common causes (those built into the process). The data collected is being recorded in a database and indicates that the pollution potential, manure nutrient content, and gaseous emissions of the wastewater are being reduced significantly.
Impacts
The information collected from the system continues to assist owner/operator, private consultants and agency personnel in making informed decisions regarding integrated solutions to the manure treatment and management problems associated with animal feeding operations. Based on the findings of this study, two similar full scale ponds have been constructed in Utah. Both full scale ponds were designed by NRCS engineers and planners in consultation with USU AES researchers. Both ponds should be full operational in the spring/summer of 2003. Comparisons will be made between the current AES model system and the two full scale systems once the full scale process are determined to be stable
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
The Integrated Facultative Pond reached equilibrium in September and data has started to be collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. The objectives are to demonstrate that IFP treatment of the wastewater will result in reduction of the pollution potential, manure nutrient content, and gaseous emissions/odors. The first phase was already constructed, but the anaerobic pit had to be resized because it was too small to allow 1000 days of solids retention. The total volume of the pit is now 200 gallons and is 9 ft under ground while extending 2 ft into the facultative pond. A mechanical aeration system was installed because of the low surface area to depth ration of the polyethylene tank. Phase two of the system, a biogas collection system, was constructed over the anaerobic pit. This will be used to assess biogas production and use as an energy source for on-site heating, drying, and to produce electricity. Phase three of the system has begun to be
constructed and includes an overflow pond for the production of duckweed to be harvested as protein. A photosynthetic bio-reactor was also constructed as part of this phase and will be the growth chamber for spirulina algae to further process the wastewater. The algae is currently being cultured to a sufficient quantity to inoculate the bio-reactor. It will be cultured with water from the duckweed pond. The effluent, anaerobic pit, facultative pond, and duckweed pond are all being sampled and tested. The data collected is being recorded in a database and indicates that the pollution potential, manure nutrient content, and gaseous emissions of the wastewater are being reduced significantly.
Impacts
The information collected from the system continues to assist owner/operator, private consultants and agency personnel in making informed decisions regarding integrated solutions to the manure treatment and management problems associated with animal feeding operations.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Integrated Facultative Pond (IFP) development was begun and continues. The objectives are to demonstrate that with IFP treatment there will be a reduction in manure nutrient content, groundwater pollution potential, and gaseous emissions/odors. This first phase has included the construction of an anaerobic pit for digestion of cattle waste and a facultative lagoon -- a stratified digester with an aerobic surface and anaerobic bottom for first stage production of micro-algae and the production of single-cell protein. Due to weather and construction constraints the original model was reduced in size and placed at the research greenhouses on the USU campus. The model consists of an anaerobic pit (0.381 m diameter by 2.438 m in depth). This pit extends 0.9 m into a facultative pond (2.438 m diameter by 1.22 m depth). Additionally, a heat exchanger has been installed in the bottom of the pit. Heating the pit to provide stable anaerobic treatment throughout the year.
Wastewater is collected from a lift station at the dairy operated by Utah State University where the livestock is confined in either slotted-floor pens or in hard-surface pens. The wastewater is then transported to the greenhouse site where a pump has been installed to transfer collected wastewater to the anaerobic pit. Water and waste pumped into the pond is being measured by the pumping rate of the pump and the hours of operation. Also, at this point the influent is being sampled and tested to establish the baseline characteristics of the waste stream. Preliminary data indicates that manure nutrient content and gaseous emissions/odors are being reduced. At this early stage it has not been determined if these reductions are due to biological treatment or dilution in the pond.
Impacts
Information developing from this project continues to assist owner/operator, private consultants and agency personnel in making informed decisions regarding integrated solutions to the manure treatment and management problems associated with Animal Feeding Operations.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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