Update - Solid Nutrient (Manure) Storages

Table of Contents

1. Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Solid Manure Storages
2. Interpreting the Regulation on Solid Storages that Contain Liquid Materials

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are not regulatory, but are recommended. The remaining sections indicate how the Approvals Unit, Environmental Management Branch, and OMAFRA interpret the NMA regulation with respect to solid nutrient storages.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Solid Manure Storages

The following items are not part of the NMA regulation. However, they are suggested as BMPs that will result in environmentally sustainable solid nutrient storages.

• Three of four sides of 75% of the perimeter of solid storages should be walled; concrete is the material of choice for its strength and durability; and
• Walls encourage a flat-topped pile, which absorbs more rainfall than a conical pile and therefore reduces runoff from the storage.

Runoff management options for solid storages include:

• A storage cover (e.g. roof)
• An external runoff tank (may be an existing liquid manure storage with sufficient additional capacity to store the runoff)
• A flow path if the dry matter content of the manure is 30% or greater, floor area no greater than 300 square metres and upslope water must be diverted away from the structure
• Engineered Vegetative Filter Strip System.

Interpreting the Regulation on Solid Storages that Contain Liquid Materials

If liquid prescribed materials (e.g. runoff, wash water or rainfall) are to be stored in a solid manure structure, the structure will be considered a permanent liquid nutrient storage. As a result, it will have to be designed and meet all of the requirements for a permanent liquid nutrient storage facility.

The following OMAFRA Factsheets provide more information:

• Nutrient Management Act 2002: Building a Permanent Storage for Solid Manure or Prescribed Materials over 18% Dry Matter (Order no. 05-039)
• Constructing a Permanent Solid Nutrient Storage Facility (Order no. 06-003)
• Constructing a Permanent Concrete or Steel Nutrient Storage Facility or Runoff Storage Facility (Order no. 06-001)