Is there a simplified treatment for small AFOs?
Operators of small AFOs may take advantage of a recently developed approach to treat these operations with low cost, yet effective practices to reduce potential runoff to waterways. As appropriate, installations using a combination of clean water diversions, roof gutters, berms, sediment traps, fencing, vegetative filter strips, and shaping and grading can keep clean water separated from dirty water, and eliminate concentrated flow paths for runoff. Properly sized and installed vegetative filter strips in conjunction with other practices to reduce waste loads and runoff volume are very effective at trapping and detaining sediment and attached nutrients and pathogens. Removal rates can approach 90 percent. Good management and maintenance are also needed to retain these potential pollutants onsite and out of waterways. Animal health is also a beneficiary of good water management and water quality protection. Providing a clean water source instead of surface water removes the potential fo
