You are here:
Characterization Of Nutrients And Fecal Indicator Bacteria At A Concentrated Swine Feeding Operation In Wake County, North Carolina, 2009-2011
Citation:
Harden, S. L., S. ROGERS, M. Jahne, C. Shaffer, AND D. G. Smith. Characterization Of Nutrients And Fecal Indicator Bacteria At A Concentrated Swine Feeding Operation In Wake County, North Carolina, 2009-2011. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Data compiled in this report are intended to assist the USEPA in better understanding (1) the survival of bacterial indicator organisms in soils receiving applications of swine lagoon wastewater and (2) the transport of nutrients and fecal bacteria through runoff from waste-application fields to adjacent streams. The purpose of this report is to describe the LWRFL study area and the sampling and analytical methods used in the study, and to summarize the hydrologic and analytical data collected during October 2009 to January 2011 at the study sites (fig. 1). During the study, continuous precipitation data were recorded to document rainfall conditions at the monitoring sites. Samples of wastewater were collected from the swine housing units, two storage lagoons, and the spray application fields for analysis of nutrients and FIB (Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci). Analyses of FIB also were conducted on soil samples collected from the spray application fields. Surface-water samples were collected from three in-field runoff sites and four sites on a stream adjacent to the LWRFL swine facility and analyzed for nutrients and (or) FIB. Continuous water-stage data were collected at each in-field runoff site and two sites on the stream. Values of discharge for collected samples were based on direct measurements or the stage-discharge relation determined for each site.
Description:
Hydrologic and water-quality data were collected during October 2009 - January 2011 to characterize nutrient and bacteria concentrations in stormwater runoff from agricultural fields that receive wastewater originating at a swine facility at North CarolinaState University's Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory (LWRFL) in Wake County, North Carolina. The swine facility consists of six swine houses, two wastewater storage lagoons, and wastewater spray fields. The data-collection network consisted of 11 sampling sites, including 4 wastewater sites, 3 in-field runoff sites, and 4 stream sites. Continuous precipitation data were recorded with a raingage to document rainfall conditions during the study. Study sites were sampled for laboratory analysis of nutrients, total suspended solids (TSS), and (or) fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). Nutrient analyses included measurement of dissolved ammonia, total and dissolved ammonia + organic nitrogen, dissolved nitrate + nitrite, dissolved orthophosphate, and total phosphorus. The FIB analyses included measurement of Escherichia coli and enterococci. Samples of wastewater at the swine facility were collected from a pipe outfall from the swine housing units, two storage lagoons, and the spray fields for analysis of nutrients, TSS, and FIB. Soil samples collected from a spray field were analyzed for FIB. Monitoring locations were established for collecting discharge and water-quality data during storm events at three in-field runoff sites and two sites on the headwater stream (one upstream and one downstream) next to the swine facility. Stormflow samples at the five monitoring locations were collected for four storm events during 2009 to 2010 and analyzed for nutrients, TSS, and FIB. Monthly water samples also were collected during base-flow conditions at all four stream sites for laboratory analysis of nutrients, TSS, and (or) FIB.
URLs/Downloads:
Characterization Of Nutrients And Fecal Indicator Bacteria At A Concentrated Swine Feeding Operation In Wake County, North Carolina, 2009-2011