Hog Lagoons and Sprayfields
Background:
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture reports, there are 3,000swine operations in North Carolinacontaining nearly 10 million hogs. Approximately 1,100 of these farms containing 5 million hogs are located within the CapeFearRiver Basin alone.
The millions of tons of hog waste produced at these operations are causing harmful impacts on the air we breathe, water we drink, and the environment in which we live. Typically, hog feces and urine are flushed out of barns and into open-air “lagoons”. Solids then settle in the bottom of the lagoons and the upper layer of liquid is sprayed on crop fields. Hog waste is a significant source of water pollution because heavy rain and flooding can cause lagoons to overflow and the fields on which waste is sprayed leak polluted runoff into streams, rivers and wells (Mallin, 2006). It has been shown that runoff from lagoons and sprayfields has lead to the nutrification of our rivers and streams. Waterways high in nutrients often trigger algal blooms along with massive fish kills and diseases.
Hog waste also contributes to air pollution because the breakdown of the waste produces methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide (Sharpe et al., 2001). Relatively small quantities of hydrogen sulfide is released into the atmosphere during decomposition of hog manure, however, it is the most toxic of manure gases and has smells of rotten eggs.
In 1998 the State of North Carolina recognized the threat that hog lagoons and sprayfields impose and placed a moratorium on the construction of new hog farms and lagoons. Since that time, permits have been obtained through loopholes in the laws and the hog population has continued to increase to nearly 10 million
CFRW Position:
Cape Fear River Watch is dedicated to the elimination of all hog lagoons and sprayfields in North Carolina. CFRW supports the development of alternative technologies that can be utilized to treat hog waste in an economically feasible and environmentally beneficial manner.
Strategies:
Cape Fear River Watch will work encourage legislators to pass bills that will lead to the elimination of hog lagoons and sprayfields within a reasonable time frame. We will promote awareness of the problems associated with the industry through educational presentations and the dissemination of materials at events and workshops.
References:
Mallin, M.A. 2006. Wading in waste. Scientific American. 294:52-59.
Sharpe, R. R.; Harper, R. R; and Byers, F. M. 2002. Methane emissions from swine lagoons in Southeastern US. 90:17-24.