Steve says the system will cost little more than constructing a conventional effluent pond but will give farmers more control and more options over the use of the effluent, as well as reducing water use.

“The costs of pond construction are basically machinery time, labour and the liners, which will be about the same for one large pond as for three smaller ones.”

Steve says because of the filtration process, nutrients in the effluent will be more consistent than that in conventional ponds, so farmers will be able to accurately assess what they are spreading onto their pasture.

The level of treatment in the final pond can be tailored to what farmers require. It could be suitable for yard washdown, or pasture irrigation, or clean enough to fill animal drinking troughs.

Providing three levels of storage also means in the event a pond has to be spilled, such as a result of extremely high rainfall, then only the cleanest water will be released.

Steve says dairy farmers need to be seeking more innovative ways of maximising the nutrient benefits of effluent, but also limiting the potentially adverse environmental impacts of spreading effluent on pasture.

The system the two companies are offering will also give farmers the option of having solids removed from the first pond and taken away for further processing into compost or fertiliser, leaving just the liquid on-farm. “In future we may be able to offer farmers systems to process the solids on-farm if they wish,” says Steve.

Steve says water makes the headlines every week and farmers are being spotlighted as a major contributor to the issues. “What we offer is an economically viable way to mitigate some of those risks today and reduce the exposure that a farmer may have with fines and other restrictions Government and council are likely to impose in the not distant future, over and above what is already regulated.”