POSTED: APR 22, 2015
ZILLAH, WASHINGTON
How
farms manage their animal manure is a hot button issue, after studies found
manure can contaminate water we use to drink.
The State Department of Ecology held a meeting in Zillah Tuesday night to chat with people in the Yakima Valley about their concerns.
For farms that house large numbers of livestock, poultry and other animals, disposing of waste properly and safely doesn't always happen, and in recent years people across the state have seen nitrate levels in manure contaminate drinking water.
Gary Newman knows something about contaminated water, his personal well and property are near a dairy farm in Zillah and his well has been contaminated for more than 10 years.
"It's an inconvenience we've learned to live with but you shouldn't have to; I'm thankful at least our children are all grown so we don't have to worry about them and the contamination from nitrates."
For Gary it's more than upsetting, to know his drinking water isn't safe. Others like Gary made their feelings known and the Department of Ecology told us they want to hear the public's feedback. The department wants clean drinking water and a healthy agricultural industry.
"What we're trying to do is protect the streams, creeks, and groundwater from the manure that is not managed properly or in a way that protects water quality,” Department Spokesperson Sandy Howard explained.
The department says the next step is to update the state animal feeding operations permit, they're hoping to have an updated proposal with stricter guidelines for waste management by the end of this year.
But for people like Gary it's just too little too late, he says the damage done to his property isn't a quick fix.
"The damage is done we can't reverse that. The only thing we could do is drill a new well, but if you do and you end up getting the same contaminated water you haven't accomplished anything you just spent a lot of money."
The State Department of Ecology held a meeting in Zillah Tuesday night to chat with people in the Yakima Valley about their concerns.
For farms that house large numbers of livestock, poultry and other animals, disposing of waste properly and safely doesn't always happen, and in recent years people across the state have seen nitrate levels in manure contaminate drinking water.
Gary Newman knows something about contaminated water, his personal well and property are near a dairy farm in Zillah and his well has been contaminated for more than 10 years.
"It's an inconvenience we've learned to live with but you shouldn't have to; I'm thankful at least our children are all grown so we don't have to worry about them and the contamination from nitrates."
For Gary it's more than upsetting, to know his drinking water isn't safe. Others like Gary made their feelings known and the Department of Ecology told us they want to hear the public's feedback. The department wants clean drinking water and a healthy agricultural industry.
"What we're trying to do is protect the streams, creeks, and groundwater from the manure that is not managed properly or in a way that protects water quality,” Department Spokesperson Sandy Howard explained.
The department says the next step is to update the state animal feeding operations permit, they're hoping to have an updated proposal with stricter guidelines for waste management by the end of this year.
But for people like Gary it's just too little too late, he says the damage done to his property isn't a quick fix.
"The damage is done we can't reverse that. The only thing we could do is drill a new well, but if you do and you end up getting the same contaminated water you haven't accomplished anything you just spent a lot of money."