Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

The study must be completed and reported prior to the construction or expansion of any of the following permanent manure storage facilities:

• permanent liquid manure storage for any livestock operation greater than five nutrient units, including liquid earthen storage facilities
• permanent solid manure storage without a concrete floor located on a farm unit that generates 300 or more nutrient units

The study must be conducted by a professional engineer or a professional geoscientist. To find a professional engineer or a professional geoscientist in your area use the yellow pages. Keep in mind that the structural engineer will need the site characterization report before designing the storage.

The site characterization study determines the proximity from the bottom of the storage to bedrock and water table. It also determines, to a specific depth below the structure, whether the native soil is capable of acting as a second line of protection against seepage, or if an artificial liner will be required. A site characterization study is required under the Nutrient Management Act.

Site characterization studies take time to complete and should be scheduled along with other required tasks. If a study is done before the Nutrient Management Strategy is completed, any problems encountered can be addressed and options evaluated.

Figure 1 is an example of a liquid manure storage that would require a site characterization prior to construction.

For more information about site characterization studies, see Ontario Regulation 267/03, section 64.

For more information about Nutrient Management, see the OMAFRA website or call the Nutrient Management Information Line at 1-866-242-4460.