ISSUE 9: Do lagoons ever leak ?
RESPONSE: All lagoons, storage ponds, or holding tanks leak to some extent. The extent of the leakage from earthen lagoons is highly dependent on the foundation soil materials. Fine-textured soils such as clay tend to leak less than coarse-textured soils. Liners are required in coarse-textured soils to minimize leakage. Manure solids covering the bottom and sidewalls tend to reduce the leakage but do not form a complete seal. Lagoons when first built may leak more than they do after these manure solids begin to plug the soil pores. Properly installed liners required during the 1990s reduce this leakage to a level considered to prevent contamination of the groundwater. Membrane or synthetic liners and tanks constructed of concrete or steel are not leak-proof. Geomembranes on a soil base can leak at the seams or at punctures during or after installation. Concrete tanks are subject to cracks. Metal tanks are subject to corrosion.
