Test and treat waste water advised for poultry farmers

Taking an “audit, capture and treat” approach to waste water could allow poultry farmers to change the default perception that they are the “villains” when it comes to the health of the UK’s rivers and waterways.

Raising a broiler from chick to slaughter consumes 6,000 litres of water, compared with the estimated 13,000 litres of water a mobile phone consumes during its lifespan.

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However, while telecommunications and other industries recycle water, that is not happening in the poultry industry, according to water treatment specialist Al Sayed.

Waste water containing the toxic chemicals used in poultry production, such as glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde, do not easily biodegrade and are very damaging to waterways.

And discharges are not only bad for the environment but also for the reputation of farming.

“The farming industry is always being portrayed as villains in this story,” suggested Al, of International Water Solutions, speaking at Poultry Network Live.

Three actions

He urged farmers to rewrite the narrative by taking three simple steps.

“Capture your water to see what’s in it; contain and treat it; and test before and after to see what the difference is,” he said.

More regulation around waste water is almost certain to be introduced further down the line.

By taking action now, Al said he believed the industry could be one step ahead of regulators.

He recommended a series of actions on waste water:

• Use digital aids to record volume, flow and frequency
• Separate clean and dirty drainage
• Use the option of less harmful chemicals where appropriate
• Install on-site treatment systems
• Recycle wash water, and test pre- and post-treatment
• Make waste water storage a standard feature in new builds
• Build a water management programme for influent and effluent.

Al Sayed was speaking at the recent Poultry Network Live conference at Harper Adams University.