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Research Summaries
Purpose
An automated aerobic suspended growth unit that was designed for onsite generated wastewater was tested for its capacity to treat high strength dairy milking facility wash water so that it can be either disposed of in a leach field or reused for non-contact purposes.
Current Activity
A system was designed, assembled, operated, and analyzed at the MSU Dairy Teaching and Research Facility. This dairy typically milks 150 cows. Included were primary settling tanks, a dose tank, an advanced aeration treatment unit, a recirculation tank, and a UV disinfection unit. Testing continued for approximately 6 months.
What We Have Learned
Off the shelf onsite wastewater treatment systems can achieve a tremendous reduction in traditional wastewater pollutant levels that may be discharged to a land treatment system and potentially be reused. High solids levels however, resulted in major operational and maintenance problems. The solids resulted from the management practices at the Dairy. Further testing is warranted at smaller farms (50 cows) with intensive solids management procedures.
Why is This Important
Dairy farmers with small herds face challenges in managing milking parlor wash water. Often manure storage structures are not available to serve as collection sites for impacted water and expensive engineered treatment systems are simply not economically feasible. Yet improper discharge of impacted water to surface and ground water may result in potential health risks and environmental harm.
The need to find water treatment solutions is equally applicable to larger farms as impacted storm water runoff must be properly managed to prevent discharges. Storing milking parlor wash water in manure storage lagoons is not a sustainable practice. Such water occupies 20 to 50% of the lagoon volume, increases hauling costs, and dilutes manure nutritional value, negatively impacting nutrient balancing.
For More Information
Steve Safferman
Michigan State University
Biosystems Engineering
202 Farrall Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
Safferman, S. I., Milking Facility Wash Water: Facts and Figures. Michigan Dairy Review, Vol. 13., No. 1., January 2008, pp. 1-2.
Becky, L., Safferman, S. I., Potential of Two Aerobic Units to Treat Milking Facility Wash Water, In Press, Michigan Dairy Review.
This report was prepared for the 2008 annual meeting of the regional research committee, S-1032 "Animal Manure and Waste Utilization, Treatment and Nuisance Avoidance for a Sustainable Agriculture". This report is not peer-reviewed and the author has sole responsibility for the content.
