Leaking liquid manure storage facilities in Alberta: Potential impacts on groundwater quality and risk management.

摘要

If stored animal manure from confined feeding operations is not properly contained within liquid manure storage (LMS) systems, then seepage of nutrients may pose potential risks to the environment including impact on surface and ground water quality, aquatic life and human health. The first objective of this study is to analyze monitoring results collected by the Natural Resources Conservation Board to determine whether leakage occurs in these EMS facilities. The second objective is to formulate an evaluation process based on a risk ranking system to assess the risk to ground water contamination caused by a leaky LMS system. The evaluation method utilizes a map-based Aquifer Vulnerability Index and the distance of domestic wells and water bodies from the leaky LMS system as the screening tools. Furthermore, this study presents a risk management framework that will provide regulators guidance establishing timely decision to minimize impacts of leaky LMS on groundwater.