MANURE MANAGEMENT
PIH-21
pork industry handbook
PURDUE UNIVERSITY • COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Systems of Runoff Control
Authors
James A. Moore, Oregon State University
Vernon M. Meyer, Iowa State University
Alan L. Sutton, Purdue University
Reviewers
Clyde and Connie Fischer, Optima, Oklahoma
Leonard R. Massie, University of Wisconsin
Roland Mote, University of Tennessee
Brent and Connie Sandidge, Marshall, Missouri
Runoff from open feedlots contains animal manure and spilled feed and other materials which should not be allowed to enter streams or other surface waters. Runoff control is mandatory in most states, and satisfactory methods of control are available for almost every situation. These may be simple or elaborate, and they can range from relatively low cost to quite expensive. Almost every system is different. Each system requires individual planning to account for physical variations in lot size, rainfall, configuration, topography, soil types and other factors. Proper design should reflect differences in such factors as lot management and local regulations.

The basic principles of controlling runoff are very similar throughout the country. They require you to keep the clean water clean and to minimize, collect, store and apply contaminated runoff water to the land.

This publication provides guidelines for planning runoff control systems. Names of system components tend to vary
from state to state, so more than one name for the same component may be used. A common configuration for runoff control systems is illustrated in Figure 1.

Rainfall and snowmelt are major sources of runoff; urine and leakage from waterers create runoff in some situations. Design flow and storage capacities are based on rainfall intensities and amounts, and the surface area producing runoff. Research has shown it is seldom practical to treat runoff for discharge to surface waters. In the systems to be discussed, land application is the only disposal method considered.

Runoff Control System Components
Clean Water Diversion
To minimize the amount of water handled through a runoff control system, unpolluted outside surface water should be prevented from entering the lot. This includes runoff from building rooftops. Use roof gutters and downspouts for roof water, and terraces and channels for surface drainage. Diversion channels and terraces may be either earthen or paved, with earthen used most commonly because of the low cost.

Runoff Collection
Lot runoff is collected and directed to the settling and storage components of the runoff control system. Some lots may have a single outlet point, making collection simple. Others with slopes in more than one direction or with multiple outlet points may require complex collection systems or more than one settling-storage system. Curbs, terraces, channels, dikes, pipes and culverts are examples of components used to collect and direct lot runoff to settling facilities and/or to storage and application.

Settling Basins (Debris Basins)
Settling basins are commonly used to remove solids from the lot runoff before they enter holding ponds or infiltration