Going deep solution to difficult site

A difficult site and a Waikato farmer’s very specific requirements has led Presco Environmental Infrastructure to add an even deeper option for its concrete Prosump effluent holding ponds, says general manager Oliver Prestidge.

“We had a request from the farmer in the Waikato, who wanted to build a pond in the side of a hill, on a site where he could gravity-feed effluent from the dairy.

“He had large storage requirements, but space was very tight. We had been developing the deeper pond option for a while, but this really pushed us to get it off the ground.”

Oliver says the client came to Presco after researching and exhausting all other possible options for the site and size of storage pond he required.

“No other systems suited his specific needs. The Prosump’s durable and efficient design really appealed, so he approached us to see what we could do. Although the original 3m Prosump wouldn’t fit, the 3.6m Prosump was perfect.”

Prosump’s durable and efficient design plus its appearance are among the reasons farmers are choosing this system for effluent storage.

The site has been excavated so part of the Prosump is beneath ground level. Its extra depth also means less catchment area and more efficiency in irrigating the effluent onto pasture.

In meeting this client’s needs, Presco designed and produced deeper side panels meaning other farmers who install Prosumps can now increase their storage, without the need for a bigger site or pond.

Fieldays innovation

The 3.6m Prosump was included in the innovation awards at this year’s Fieldays. Although they didn’t get a podium finish, Oliver says the response was overwhelmingly positive with a lot of famers liking the potential savings that come with the 3.6m Prosump and wanting to ‘do it once and do it right’ when it comes to effluent storage.

Prosumps can be constructed to any size or capacity to meet a clients need, from 58,000 litres to 8,000,000-plus litres.

“Each design is client specific and based on visits to the farm to look at the site options, assess soil types and discuss with the client the requirements of their farm now and also any plans for the future,” says Oliver.

Attractive appearance

“Many of our clients have thoroughly researched the options before deciding on a Prosump and as well as the long life time and efficient design of the ponds, their appearance is also a factor in deciding to install one. Our farmers say they like the look of their Prosump which fits into the landscape well.”

Presco is a Hawera family business founded by Steve Prestidge and are NZ leaders in sustainable dairy farm infrastructure, specialist industrial cleaning services to the food processing industry, and general and access equipment hire.

The company developed the Prosump for dairy farmers when it realised conventional lined effluent ponds were not working well in locations with high water tables, were not efficient and sustainable and that a concrete construction would be a better option.


0 Comments

There are no comments on this article.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to make a comment. Login Now
Opinion Poll

We're not running a poll right now. Check back soon!