Low Cost Buildings

Approved building specifications urgently needed

By Peter Young

June 7 2003: Approved building specifications are urgently needed for wintering pads, constructed wetlands and earthen bank tanks.

Farmers and farm organisation should be calling on the Department of Agriculture to get the specifications drawn up that will allow farmers to make use of these low cost options.

Research is showing that they work. If approved they have the potential to allow people to comply with environmental regulations, reduce pollution and also expand at low capital cost.

There are a growing number of the different options being built across the country. The county councils, in charge of policing water quality, are aware that it's happening.

A dangerous situation is developing. The county councils who have examined the research are generally positive about the new low cost alternatives. They see a role for them in farmyards to control dirty water and pollution.

Their main concern is the risk to ground water when they are not built properly. They envisage the need for planning permission as they feel that with no guidelines the structures will be poorly planned and built.

For this they need guidance and specifications. The danger for farmers is that they will take the easy option and just say no to everything.

Noel Culleton, Teagasc Johnstown castle is convinced that if constructed right, wetlands have a major role to play in reducing pollution from Agricultures biggest source, dirty farm water.

A committee was set up to bring out specifications for constructed wetlands. After nearly a year there is no sign of these specifications.

Grange now has three years of trials with outwintering pads, under their belt. They are happy that the system has major benefits for animal performance, animal health and does not damage the environment. They are actively working to develop the specifications that are needed to get them accepted for wide scale use.

Earthen bank tanks, by their nature, will receive the most opposition. Tim Gleeson and Heather Scully Teagasc are putting the science behind them and pioneering the detailed engineering specifications needed to build them.

We are at the stage where a final push is needed to bring all the system from the research stage to full acceptance. Farm organisations and farmers need to put pressure on the Government to make this a priority.

The Nitrate Directive is about to be implement. Action is needed to make improvements in water quality otherwise we could see the level drop to a restrictive 170kgN/ha in four years time.

With profits under pressure the low cost options will help farmers to make the needed investments in storage and pollution control. For this to happen, specifications need to be quickly in place.

As more is learned, slight alternations can be made to improve the design and specifications. The cost of taking a cautious approach could be much more expensive for everyone.