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New process changes manure to clean water, fertilizer
An innovative alternative to a lagoon is designed to protect profits and the environment by converting dairy and swine waste into clean potable water, dry solids and a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer.
It was developed by Livestock Water Recycling, based in Calgary, Alberta. The company has more than 18 years experience building and installing ground water and wastewater treatment systems for agricultural, industrial, municipal and commercial application throughout North America.
The patent pending LWR Manure Treatment System uses mechanical and chemical treatment of manure liquids discharged from dairy and hog operations to remove solids, phosphorus, pathogens and ammonia while concentrating nutrients.
"It off ers producers the opportunity to save money while operating in an environmentally- sustainable way to improve soil, air and water quality," says Ross Thurston, president of the company. "Instead of having to deal with a diluted manure liquid that must to be stored, transported and applied to fi elds, this system leaves a farmer with valuable by-products."
The LWR system saves about 1 cent per gallon of produced manure, he reports. Currently the minimum cost of handling and transporting manure ranges from 0.9 to 1.5 cents per gallon. The LWR System eliminates this expense and operates at a cost of a fi fth of a cent per gallon of manure.
Thurston details other benefi ts of this system:
Clean water: About 70 percent of the original liquid manure is recovered as water.
"This water is within North American guidelines for human consumption," he says. "You can even use the produced water to feed your livestock, or for other purposes such as irrigation."
Beneficial fertilizers: Treatment of the manure produces a concentrated liquid ammonium nitrate fertilizer. It is worth about two cents per gallon of manure, based on a price of 50 cents a pound for nitrogen, Thurston notes. It can be used on the farm or sold to local farmers. The rest of the treated manure ends up as a dry solid, similar in texture to sawdust, which is high in phosphorus. It can be mixed with other dry fertilizers and spread on fields or sold for use in nurseries and gardens.
Cleaner air: Removing all the solids from liquid manure reduces methane emissions, Thurston says.
Lower costs: "When you factor in the land base costs and construction costs for a lagoon along with the cost of hauling and spreading the manure, the cost of installing and operating the LWR system is signifi cantly less," he says. "It requires no high pressures, uses low-horsepower electric motors and the equipment is simple and easy to maintain, all of which helps keep operating expenses low."
Less nuisance: The LWR system also eliminates or, at least, greatly reduces a major headache for both livestock producers and their neighbors — the smell of manure. This is one of the biggest issues for neighbors and employees, Thurston notes.
Pride of ownership: "This system improves the overall appearance, cleanliness and hygiene of the livestock operation and that has a real value, too," he says.
The LWR System is available in various size configurations to treat between 6 million and 110 million gallons of fresh liquid manure a year. Typically, the equipment is housed on a concrete pad in a structure about the size of a two-car garage, Thurston notes. The manure is processed as it is pulled from the barns. Converting the manure into the final by-products takes about 24 hours, Base equipment price starts at $400,000.
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the International Agri-Center and Farm Press when reprinting this item.
LWR MANURE TREATMENT SYSTEM |
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| COMPANY: | Livestock Water Recycling |
| CONTACT: | Karen Schuett |
| ADDRESS: | 5710-51 St. S.E Calgary AB T2C 4M9 |
| WEBSITE: | www.livestockwaterrecycling.com |
| E-MAIL: | karen.schuett@livestockwaterrecycling.com |
| PHONE: | (403) 297-0925 |
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