[USCC] Ponds are stinking up the town ...

[Steve Diver]

Sabino Cortez with Erath Earth had his hydrocyclone
vortex aerators on display at the Texas Organic Farming
and Gardeners Association (TOFGA) meetings last January.  

The Erath Earth web site emphasize how these
aerators are used in compost teas and liquid
compost extracts, but his business has grown from
sales to management of dairy lagoons and so forth.

http://www.erathearth.com

You can hook these up in a manifold series.  I seem
to recall one dairy lagoon had ten aerators hooked
up to one lagoon system.

Secondly, the EM microbial system is used in hog and dairy
lagoons around the country.  The phototrophic bacteria turns
the lagoon a red colour.  The EM microbes view a hog lagoon
as a microbial playground. They use putrefactive causing
compounds like ammonia, mercaptans, H-disulfides etc
as a substrate and convert them to other compounds
and molecules.   Having EM on hand around a facility
that you describe is a microbial assurance strategy.  They
promote a probiotic environment and prevent putrefactive
and pathogenic anaerobics.

There are only two EM manufacturers/brewers in the U.S,
Sustainable Community Development in KC, MO
and EM America in TX.

http://www.scdworld.com
http://www.emamerica.com/data/

Good luck,
Steve Diver



Dean Arrington wrote:

>Dear ladies and composting gents,
>
>I have a real life situation at our yard waste composting facility
>located in Virginia Beach, VA.
>
>We have two large retention ponds (zero discharge) that are causing
>serious odor issues. Pond #1 consist of 8 million gallons and Pond #2
>consist of 18 million gallons.
>
>A little back ground:
>
>Back in early September, we had Tropical Storm Ernesto visit us and
>deliver 10+ inches of rain on our site. In the previous week we had
>already received another 3-5 inches of rain. Bottom line is that we
>received a 100 year rain event on the site that caused our ponds to over
>flow - and even worse, cause them to go anaerobic. The odor is better
>today, but still persist especially in the smaller pond. We are getting
>pounded by the local neighbors, press and politicians.
>
>We are in contact with a micro-biologist and working with them on a
>short and long term solution.
>
>I am looking for others that have gone through similar odor issues
>associated with retention ponds at a compost facility. If you have gone
>through this nightmare - could you share your solutions with me and the
>rest of the compost world.
>
>I have talked with dozens of people ... But can't seem to get a common
>answer. So I am asking the expertise of the composting discussion list
>for their thoughts.
>
>You can email the discussion group or email me directly.
>
>Dean "Stinky" Arrington
>SPSA Composting Facility
>darrington at spsa.com
>  
>