Earthen Basin Seepage

Investigators:

• Dave Wall, Jim Hodgson MPCA; John Brach, Scott Swanberg, USDA-NRCS; Mark Wettlaufer, Morrison County, Roger Kuklok, Morrison County;
• Jim Ruhl, U.S. Geological Society
• Brain Hetchler, Graduate Student, Dept. of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
• Chuck Clanton, & Fred Bergsrud, University of Minnesota.

Objectives:
Install and monitor earthen-basin seepage collection systems to determine potential ground water quality impacts from clay lined earthen-basins.

Description:
Two newly constructed dairy manure basins in Morrison and Nicollet County and a swine basin in Dodge county are instrumented to measure seepage rates and leachate quality through a two-foot compacted clay liner. Over an approximate 35' X 70' area on the basin bottom and sidewall the basin was overexcavated two feet so that a PVC liner and sand drain could be installed below the compacted clay liner. Liquids seeping through the clay liner are intercepted by the PVC liner and drain to sidewall and bottom collection sumps where seepatge volumes are measured and samples are collected.

Results:
Intial indications from the first year of sampling at the Morrison County site suggest that sidewall seepage rates are greater than bottom seepage rates. No data has been collected at the other sites which were constructed in September 1996. This will be a multi-year project.

Funding:
Morrison County Project - Morrison County, MPCA NRCS, and University of Minnesota;

The Dodge and Nicollet County projects are funded by LCMR.

Last updated September 12, 1997 by drs
For questions and further information, send email to David Schmidt at: schmi071@maroon.tc.umn.edu
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