CONTENTS

Effluent Management

Dairy Effluent Guidelines

EPA Code of Practice for Milking Shed Effluent

SA Dairy farmers share in $37,000 for achieving BMP in dairy shed effluent management.

Eight South Australian dairy producers have been successful in sharing $37,000 in funding as part of the 2008 round of the On-ground works program.  The 2008 scheme funded by the National Landcare Programme and DairySA, awarded producers who had implemented on-ground works relating to best management practices for effluent management.

Ben McHugh, third generation dairy farmer from Mt Jagged was a successful applicant in the 2008 program.  His old dairy effluent management system consisted of a single pond system that was compliant with EPA regulations, but a recent increase in cow numbers to 230 meant that the current system was no longer as efficient as it could be.  Click here to read the full story.

Posters showcasing effluent management infrastructure as SA BMP Dairying properties

The following posters show photographic sequences of recently installed effluent management systems, along with a brief explanation of the type of infrastructure installed.  The posters showcase the following farms:
Donovans Dairying
Carilla Dairies - Lomaria Pty Ltd
HJ & HJ Fox - Kurleah
Kongorong Dairies
Port MacDonnell Dairying Pty Ltd
MK Seeliger
BK & HM McHugh & Sons
Donnybrook Farms Pty Ltd
Melchris Pty Ltd
RJ & MT Pearson - Burrungule Forrest 

Effluent Guidelines for the South East of South Australia

These guidelines have been updated from the first edition of 1995 by a committee which
included dairy farmers, dairy companies, the Department of Primary Industries and Resources,
the South East Catchment Water Management Board and the Environment Protection
Authority. They include updated information on changes to State legislation, as well as
effluent management systems and technologies which improve the ease of management and
reduce the environmental impact of dairy effluent.

Download the whole set of guidelines (PDF 4.3MB)

Alternatively, you can view individual guidelines as listed below:

Foreward - letter to South East dairy farmers re the effluent guidelines

Choosing an effluent system - flowchart

Guideline 1. Why should I install an Effluent Management System? (237KB)

Guideline 2. The purpose of the guidelines (104KB)

Guideline 3. Requirements of an Effluent Management System (305KB)

Guideline 4. Choosing an Effluent Management System (511KB)

Guideline 5. Climate and Soils (945KB)

Guideline 6. Rainfall and Evaporation (320KB)

Guideline 7. Temperature and Pasture Growth (318KB)

Guideline 8. Solids Separation Systems (969KB)

Guideline 9. Environmental Guidelines for Ponds (761KB)

Guideline 10. Effluent Pond Construction (612KB)

Guideline 11. Equipment (718KB)

Guideline 12. Irrigation Management Plans (311KB)

Guideline 13. Management of Intensive Use Areas (557KB)

Guideline 14. Management of the Effluent Spreading Area (469KB)

Guideline 15. Management of Solids (443KB)

Guideline 16. Nitrogen Budgeting for Land Spreading (606KB)

Guideline 17. Effluent Management for Large Herds (440KB)

Guideline 18. Emergency Backup Planning (330KB)

Guideline 19. Monitoring the Effluent Management System (441KB)

Guideline 20. Costs (473KB)

Guideline 21. Legal Requirements and Constraints (483KB)

Guideline 22. Taxation Benefits (524KB)

Guideline 23. Sources of information (921KB)

Soil map - Lower South East (233KB)

Soil map - Mid South East (310KB)

Soil map - Upper South East (310KB)

 

Effluent Guidelines for the Mt Lofty Ranges & Greater Adelaide NRM Region

Download the whole set of guidelines (PDF 5MB)

Alternatively, you can view individual guidelines as listed below:

Choosing your system flow chart

Guideline 1.  Why should I install an effluent management system? (113KB)

Guideline 2.  The purpose of the guidelines (97KB)

Guideline 3.  Requirements of an effluent management system (115KB)

Guideline 4.  Emergency backup planning (196KB)

Guideline 5.  Choosing an effluent management system (191KB) 

Guideline 6.  Climate and soils (396KB)

Guideline 7.  Solids separation systems (787KB)

Guideline 8.  Effluent pond construction (112KB)

Guideline 9.  Equipment (213KB)

Guideline 10.  Management of intensive use areas (171KB)

Guideline 11.  Management of the effluent spreading area (117KB)

Guideline 12.  Management of solids (197KB)

Guideline 13.  Nutrient budgeting for land spreading (219KB)

Guideline 14.  Effluent management for large herds (332KB)

Guideline 15.  Monitoring the effluent management system (105KB)

Guideline 16.  Taxation benefits (86KB)

Guideline 17.  Legal requirements and constraints (106KB)

Guideline 18.  Costs (150KB)

Guideline 19.  Sources of information (128KB)

 

Effluent Guidelines for the Northern & Yorke NRM Region

Download the whole set of guidelines (PDF 4.8MB)

Alternatively, you can view individual guidelines as listed below:

Choosing your system flow chart

Guideline 1.  Why should I install an effluent management system? (112KB)

Guideline 2.  The purpose of the guidelines (103KB)

Guideline 3.  Requirements of an effluent management system (114KB)

Guideline 4.  Emergency backup planning (195KB)

Guideline 5.  Choosing an effluent management system (183KB)

Guideline 6.  Climate and soils (368KB)

Guideline 7.  Solids separation systems (786KB)

Guideline 8.  Effluent pond construction (110KB)

Guideline 9.  Equipment (211KB)

Guideline 10.  Management of intensive use areas (168KB)

Guideline 11.  Management of the effluent spreading area (114KB)

Guideline 12.  Management of solids (195KB)

Guideline 13.  Nutrient budgeting for land spreading (218KB)

Guideline 14.  Effluent management for large herds  (330KB)

Guideline 15.  Monitoring the effluent management system (103KB)

Guideline 16.  Taxation benefits (85KB)

Guideline 17.  Legal requirements and constraints (105KB)

Guideline 18.  Costs (150KB)

Guideline 19.  Sources of information (128KB)

 

Effluent Guidelines for the SA Murray Darling Basin NRM Region

Download the whole set of guidelines (PDF 5.1MB)

Alternatively, you can view individual guidelines as listed below:

Choosing your system flow chart

Guideline 1.  Why should I install an effluent management system? (117KB)

Guideline 2.  The purpose of guidelines (118KB)

Guideline 3.  Requirements of an effluent management system (119KB)

Guideline 4.  Emergency backup planning (201KB)

Guideline 5.  Choosing an effluent management system (196KB)

Guideline 6.  Climate and soils (405KB)

Guideline 7.  Solids separation systems (792KB)

Guideline 8.  Effluent pond construction (116KB)

Guideline 9.  Equipment (217KB)

Guideline 10.  Management of intensive use areas (176KB)

Guideline 11.  Management of the effluent spreading area (122KB)

Guideline 12.  Management of solids (210KB)

Guideline 13.  Nutrient budgeting for land spreading (224KB)

Guideline 14.  Effluent management for large herds (336KB)

Guideline 15.  Monitoring the effluent management system (119KB)

Guideline 16.  Taxation benefits (91KB)

Guideline 17.  Legal requirements and constraints (111KB)

Guideline 18.  Costs (155KB)

Guideline 19.  Sources of information (132KB)

 

Manual for Spreading Nutrient Rich Wastes on Agricultural Land

This provides information for anyone who runs an enterprise that produces organic waste and wishes to utilise that waste on agricultural land, or anyone who approves or advises on agricultural waste disposal. Retail price $55. To find out more or purchase a CD contact https://pirsa.on.net/resources/BookShop or your local PIRSA or Rural Solutions SA office

Extension services

Rural Solutions SA offers a comprehensive range of services in effluent management including:

• Design and management of effluent management systems for dairies, feedlots and feed pads to meet effluent guideline standards for small to large herds (over 1000 head)
• Consultation and development of Environmental Management Plans
• Development and use of software products waste management and environmental monitoring
• For further information, please contact Michael O'Keefe, ph 8842 6272