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Defining Strategies to Control Storm Water Runoff from Poultry Processing Facilities

IN THIS ISSUE Gaining New Ground on Biodiesel Conversion Efficiency The Economics of Biofuels Georgia Tech Students Study Biodiesel Production Using Algae High School Student Produces Homemade Biodiesel Using Restaurant Fryer Oil Defining Strategies to Control Storm Water Runoff from Poultry Processing Facilities Researchers Develop Process to Recover Eggshell Waste for Alternative Uses A Look at the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard and Its Impact on Poultry Processors and Growers Changing Environmental and Energy Climate Creates New Opportunities for Electric Boilers and Water Heaters Bringing the Research Lab to the Classroom

Working with poultry processors, Georgia Tech researchers are seeking to help establish a strategy for easily measuring the cleanliness of impervious surfaces in containment areas to allow facilities to more readily establish compliance with storm water runoff fecal contamination limits. Specifically, the researchers are trying to help the industry understand how to decide which best management practices (BMPs) or combination of BMPs (whether operational, structural, Tier I, Tier II, or Tier III) are most appropriate to achieve the surrogate benchmark for fecal coliform (FC), which has been set at 100 mg/L total suspended solids (TSS).

5 Strategies to Control Storm Water Runoff Researchers have noted that facilities should: Develop cleaning strategies (e.g., dry sweep or washdown) that prevent poultry manure from being tracked out of containment areas Ensure containment areas and “hot spots” are cleaned in advance of predicted storms During typical summers with afternoon thunderstorms, more aggressive and frequent washdowns may be needed Keep trenches around containment areas and “hot spots” associated with transfer trucks clean and sanitized Keep grassy areas well maintained to take advantage of sunlight – it kills fecal coliform

Work to date has focused on reviewing storm water pollution prevention plans (SWP3) at several facilities with a goal of identifying consensus BMPs in place. “Consensus BMPs accurately track the practices facilities follow, with Tier I operational practices such as containment areas and dry cleaning comprising the major activities. While it does not appear that there is one standardized way facilities measure cleanliness, some facilities clean the containment areas more often than others,” says John Pierson, project director.

According to Pierson, the surrogate benchmark was derived by looking at the correlation between fecal coliform levels and total suspended solids using data taken from 30 different facilities. In concept, he explains, results will fall into one of four areas: Low TSS/Low FC, Low TSS/High FC, High TSS/Low FC, or High TSS/High FC.

“Ideally, facilities will have TSS levels below 100 mg/L and acceptable fecal counts. These locations provide the best BMP knowledge for transfer. The facilities with high fecal counts and high TSS levels will benefit from that technology transfer. The big challenge is to understand why a low TSS levels facility would have high fecal counts. Conversely, while high TSS with low fecal is problematic for the correlation, we think it is most likely tied to construction sediment-type runoff,” notes Pierson.

The common sources of TSS on plant lots are poultry manure from cages, feathers, and erosion/sediment from exposed soil. Best practices to manage TSS can be grouped by one of six actions: cover, contain, control, capture, protect, and remove.

Researchers have studied containment area activities and the “hot spots” created by the movement of poultry manure via truck tires into and out of live storage and receiving areas. Pierson says controlling TSS can and should be a facility’s primary focus.

“Just 100 milligrams per liter of fresh poultry manure contains fecal levels well above that allowable by the permit. Obviously, a facility must take steps to ensure fresh manure is captured in containment areas and is picked up at whatever frequency is needed to prevent it from being carried back out on truck tires. You can wash manure into the trenches if the trenches are cleaned. I have seen facilities where a heavy thunderstorm can flood the trenches and discharge high TSS storm water,” notes Pierson.

Industrial Storm Water Permit Reminder Facilities sampling under the special conditions associated with impaired streams section of the GAR000000 permit (Part III.C) must submit the Annual Report no later than December 31, 2007 (and annually thereafter). All other facilities must submit the Annual Report no later than October 31, 2008 (and on an annual basis thereafter). If you are unsure or have any questions, contact John Pierson at (404) 407-8839 or john.pierson@gtri.gatech.edu or Mike Giles at (770) 532-0473 or mike@gafp.org.