[USCC] Methods of moisture application at compost facilities

[KPowell@kdhe.state.ks.us]

Paul,

Kansas is in many respects like California in the rainfall area (not in
many other areas).  Almost all of our compost is too dry most of the year.
We have several sites using a tank hooked up to the turner and that seems
to work well for them.  This is probably the best way of incorporating the
moisture throughout the windrow.

One or our larger manure facilities (rainfall is about 10 to 12 inches,
very hot in summer and cold in winter) has developed an attachment to his
boom on the water truck so he can place the water in the windrow and not
just on top.  He uses a lister sweep from a cultivator to open the row and
then the water is flooded behind it.  This allows for a fairly large amount
of water to be added without running off the top.  Then when he turns the
windrow he gets his peak back and the process works well.  He also uses
this same equipment on his windrows with dead animals and has figured
someway of closing the top without turning.


Ken Powell
Environmental Scientist
SW Processing Facilities Unit
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Bureau of Waste Management
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 320
Topeka, KS  66612-1366
Phone: (785) 296-1121
Fax: (785) 296-1592
E-mail  kpowell at kdhe.state.ks.us
www.kdheks.gov/waste