Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651

Agricultural Waste Management

Field Handbook

651.1380 Appendix 13D—Agricul-

tural Waste Management System
Troubleshooting Guidelines

(210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996) 13D–9

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

13D–10 (210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996)

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Appendix 13D AWMS Troubleshooting Guide
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

Production function

Observed problem Recommended actions

An unusually strong odor is present Check for manure covered animals and excess manure. Animals should be
where animals are kept cleaned and adjustments made to keep them separate from their manure.

Look for evidence of poor drainage in lot areas. If noted, improve lot drain-
age and consider such things as installing concrete pavement around
feeders and waterers to keep lot drier.

Collection Function

Observed problem Recommended actions

An unusually strong odor is present Check for spilled feed that is being allowed to ferment or areas where
in animal housing area manure is not being routinely collected and removed. Remove these
materials as a measure to reduce odors.

Check the frequency of collection. Suggest consideration be given to more

frequent collection to reduce odors.

Check for manure covered animals.

Check for soiled or wet bedding. If found in excessive amounts, a more

frequent removal schedule should be considered.

Consider providing additional ventilation.

(210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996) 13D–1

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

Storage Function

Observed problem Recommended actions

Waste storage pond

Pond is filled at or near capacity too Activate the contingency plan for emptying a portion of pond’s contents to
early allow for future waste storage and storm events.

Undesired material in pond Initiate removal prior to pumping. Take remedial measures to exclude
undesired material from pond.

Waste storage structure—Tank

Undesired material in tank Assure that measures, such as sand traps and settling tanks, are in place to
prevent mineral material from entering the tank. Install measures to
remove undesired material if not in place.

If possible, exclude all foreign material, such as baling wire or twine,

plastic bags, wood, and syringes, from the tank. Remove any materials that
are found in the tank.

Waste storage structure—Stacking facility

Waste will not stack Suggest ways that the total solids of the waste can be increased, such as
using less water or increasing the amount of bedding used.

13D–2 (210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996)

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

Treatment Function

Observed problem Recommended actions

Waste treatment lagoon

An unusually strong odor is present Check pH of lagoon water (should be between 5.5 and 8.0). The optimum
pH is about 6.5. Testing for pH can be done in several ways. A meter with
pH electrode provides a means of making a quick and accurate test. Tests
should be taken at different locations and depths to assure a pH represen-
tative of the lagoon contents. If the pH falls below 6.5, add 1 pound of
hydrated lime or lye per 1,000 square feet of lagoon surface daily until the
pH reaches 7.0.

Observe color of water. Very black water is indicative of low or no desired

biological activity. Other colors, such as purple or various shades of brown,
are indicative of water having high suspended solids content, and they
normally represent proper operation. Dilution or aeration should be
considered as possible ways of reducing odor.

Test composition of water. Concentrations of ammonia should not exceed

600 mg/L, and TVS should not exceed recommended loading rates.
Suggest reducing loading rates, dilution, or aeration as ways to reduce
odor.

Undesired material in lagoon Remove undesired material from lagoon if present.

Floating crust Crust formation generally does not effect the treatment function of an
anaerobic lagoon; however, it does reduce evaporation from the lagoon
surface. If a crust forms and if design assumed a reduction in storage
requirements because of normal evaporation, early filling may result. An
adjustment, such as reducing the quantity of wastewater inflow, will be
required to compensate for less evaporation losses.

Mechanical separation

Plugs with solids Completely wash out the separator. Washing remaining solids from the
separator after each use so solids will not dry in place may also reduce
potential of plugging.

Vegetative filters

Excessive buildup of solids in Consider solid separation prior to discharge into filter. Regrade and
vegetative filter revegetate if buildup of solids is affecting performance of filter.

Vegetation is dying or has died Revegetate as necessary. Consider dilution of the wastewater before
discharge. An alternative treatment component to treat wastewater should
also be considered.

(210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996) 13D–3

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

Treatment Function—Continued

Observed problem Recommended actions

Composting

Pile temperature—Temperature Check moisture content of pile. Remedy is adding water or wet ingredient
too low if pile is too dry. Add dry material and remix if too wet (moisture content of
more than 60%).

Check C:N ratio of pile mix. Remedy is adding high nitrogen ingredient if
the C:N ratio is greater than 50:1.

Check pH of pile. Remedy is adding lime or wood ash and remixing if pH is

less than 5.5.

Observe pile structure evidenced by pile settling too quickly and few large
particles. Remedy is adding bulking agent and remixing.

If weather is cold, remedy is to enlarge or combine piles or to add highly

degradable ingredients.

Pile may fail to heat because of improper aeration. Aerate pile and check
temperature frequently to see if it increases.

Pile temperature—Temperature Indicates low oxygen. Remedy is to turn or aerate pile. Check moisture
prematurely falls consistently content. If low, the remedy is to add water.
over several days

Pile temperature—Temperature Observe differences in pile’s moisture content and materials. If observed
is uneven and has accompanying the remedy is to turn or remix pile.
varying odor

Pile temperature—Temperature Observe for completeness of composting as described in the O&M and
gradually falls, and pile does not Safety Inspection Guidelines, finished compost. If complete, no action is
reheat after turning or aeration required. If composting is not complete, check for low moisture content. If
low, add water.

Pile temperature—Pile overheating Check the height of the composting material. It should never exceed the
with temperatures greater than 5 to 7 feet range. Reducing the height will lessen the probability of
165 °F and rising spontaneous combustion.

Check for low moisture and a pile interior that looks or smells charred or if
temperatures are even exceeding 180 °F. If any of these conditions are
apparent, then the material should be removed from the composting bin.
Do not add water to the compost as this may promote additional combus-
tion. Avoid putting materials with dissimilar moisture contents next to each
other.

13D–4 (210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996)

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

Treatment Function—Continued

Observed problem Recommended actions

Composting (Continued)

Pile temperature—Pile is extremely Check for low moisture and a pile interior that looks or smells charred. If
overheating with temperatures these conditions exist, break pile down and re-pile to a reduced size.
greater than 170 °F

Strong ammonia odor is present Check C:N ratio and add amendment if less than 20:1.

Check pH. Add acidic ingredients and/or avoid alkaline ingredients if pH is

greater than 8.0.

If large woody particles are being used as a carbon source and C:N ration is
less than 30:1, use another carbon amendment or increase the carbon
proportion.

Rotten-egg or putrid odors comes Check for low pile temperature and too high moisture content. Add dry
from pile continuously amendment if these conditions exist.

Check for low pile temperature and poor structure. Adding bulking agent is
the remedy for this condition.

Check for low pile temperature and high compaction. The remedy for this
condition is to remix the pile and add bulking agent.

Check for low pile temperature and insufficient aeration. Turning pile and
increasing air flow are the options for improving this condition.

Check for low pile temperature and too large a pile. The pile size should
be decreased to correct this problem.

Check for falling temperature and insufficient aeration. Turning the pile
more frequently should improve this condition.

Flies or mosquitoes Look for fresh manure or food material at pile surface and flies hovering
around pile. Files or mosquito problems can be reduced by turning the pile
every 4 to 7 days and by covering a static pile with a 6-inch layer of compost.

Look for wet materials stored onsite for more than 4 days. Handling raw
materials more promptly should reduce this problem.

Look for nearby standing puddles or nutrient-rich pond. Grade site to drain
puddles and maintain pond in an aerobic condition.

(210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996) 13D–5

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

Treatment Function—Continued

Observed problem Recommended actions

Composting (Continued)

Compost contains clumps of Check for discernible raw materials in compost. Screening compost and
materials and larger particles, and improving initial mixing achieve more complete composting.
texture is not uniform
Check for wet clumps of compost. Remedy is to screen or shred compost
and improve air distribution.

Look for large, often woody particles in compost. Screening, grinding, and
sorting of raw materials initially improve composting.

If composted materials heat or develop odors, lengthen composting time or

improve composting conditions.

Transfer Function

Observed problem Recommended actions

Reception pits

Foreign material in pit Check for excessive debris, which will impair function of pit. Remove
debris remotely from outside the pit.

Gravity pipelines

Plugging Longer agitation, dilution, liquid/solid separation prior to transfer, and

clean water flushes after transfer help reduce the potential of plugging.
Installing cleanouts at locations of frequent plugging can be considered for
ease of unplugging.

13D–6 (210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996)

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

Utilization Function

Observed problem Recommended actions

Land application

Crops are scum covered following Use a clean-water rinse following application to clean plants.
application

Soil is sealed following application Reduce potential by lengthening drying cycle between applications,
physically disturbing soil surface, or injecting waste.

Applied nutrients are excessive as Change to a crop that uses a greater amount of nutrients. Use double
determined by observed conditions, cropping if appropriate.
such as soil and leaf testing.
Increase crop yield with improved management by such things as
pretreating with lime, practicing water management, managing pests,
splitting waste applications, and making timely harvest.

Take an action that would reduce the amount of nutrients produced.

Treat the waste or a portion of the waste before land application to reduce
its nutrient content and to prepare if for refeeding or for use as bedding.

Locate an off-farm use for the waste.

Enlarge area on which waste is applied.

Health hazards Isolate and treat infected animals to reduce the potential for high levels of
pathogenic bacteria in waste material.

Apply waste on sunny days when temperatures are above 40 °F, ideally at
higher temperatures, when bacterial and virus die-off is maximized.

Apply wastes to crops that will not be eaten raw or directly grazed unless
adequate time is allowed for bacterial and virus die-off on the produce.

Apply wastes away from high density population area to reduce the
possibility of disease transmittal by such factors as wind, insects, rodents,
or flowing water.

Limit amount of waste applied to a single site to reduce the possibility of

pathogenic bacterial build-up.

Apply waste when soil is not saturated and when rain is not forecast.

Runoff during or soon after Consider reducing rate at which waste is applied, applying waste only when
application rain is not forecast, not applying waste to snow or frozen ground, installing
measures to capture runoff and return to AWMS for storage or treatment, and
improving soil internal drainage by installing subsurface drainage.

(210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996) 13D–7

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

13D–8 (210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996)

Chapter 13 Operation, Maintenance, and Safety Part 651
Agricultural Waste Management
Field Handbook

13D–10 (210-vi-AWMFH, May 1996)