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Abstract.

This study characterized the solution chemistry found in seven swine manure storages in Saskatchewan, Canada in regard to the solution as a source term for potential contaminant transport study and modeling. The species of most concern in EMS seepage is nitrogen. Ammonium nitrogen is the most abundant form of nitrogen and one of the most abundant ions in the EMS effluent studied. Potassium and sodium may be cations of concern as they will likely compete with ammonium for soil exchange sites, which in turn will affect attenuation of ammonium. Bicarbonate and chloride are the most abundant anions (bicarbonate >> chloride). High concentrations of bicarbonate will likely affect precipitation of carbonaceous minerals and may affect solution pH.

EMS ponds contain a solution composed of, as a percentage of total molal concentration, 36% ammonium, 36% bicarbonate, 8% potassium, 6% chloride, 5% sodium plus sulphate, calcium, magnesium and other nutrients. Additionally, the solution also contains approximately 6,000 mg/L organic and 9,000 mg/L inorganic carbon and has a near neutral pH. As a result, the solution has a low Eh resulting in nitrogen remaining in the ammonium-N form.