BiobedsFive Arable Farm

Case Studies

Prepared byBill Basford

WelcomeEach study comprises five slides

1. About the farm2. Previous practice and risks to water3. Solution4. Costs and Grants5. Farmer FeedbackMore information are contained in the speakers notes version of these case studies. These can be found here

The five arable farms

1Berkshire – Biobed - 1000Ha

2Suffolk – Biofilter – 1700Ha

3 Norfolk – Biobed – 1200Ha

4Essex - Covered Area – 445Ha

5 Norfolk 2 - Biobed - 282Ha

Click this home button to get back to this page

Click each farm to go direct their start (About the farm) page

Or click page down or return on keyboard to scroll through each case study

About The Farm

• Lambourn, Berkshire• 1,000ha arable, combinable crops• Berthoud Self Propelled 30m, 4,200

litres• Sprayer washed down in field and

yard• Annual Washings

– 2,500 – 3,500l internal washing– 1,500l external washing– 21,000l rainwater

11

Berkshire – Biobed - 1000Ha

Water Risks

• Borehole 75m from site. • Porous stoned area, no apparent

drainage route• Possible accumulations over chalk

subsoil• No specific washings disposal plan• Currently no detections in surface

water• Concern at risks to groundwater

(chalk)

1

Solution

• Bunded fill area created,• Gravity feed to pre biobed

holding tank • Pumped to biobed and then to

irrigation area• Dedicated fill area• Treatment capacity• Approx 30,000l washings

and rainwaterBunded fill area, central drain

1

Costs and Grants• Handling area: £9,000• Biobed: £2,200. • Farm labour:

– Biobed hole– Mixing biomix

• Optional extras:– Filter– Pressure gauge

Gravity flow from fill area

Grant Received £1,800 on biobed

cost only

1

Farmer Feedback• No functional

problems• Check all material

specifications• Peace of mind• Liquid fertiliser

scorch Biobed with central pump

1

About The Farm

• Clare, Suffolk• Arable, combinable

crops, 1700 ha.• John Deere 4,000 L,

24m self propelled• Concrete sloping area

with run off• No known pollution

issues

Original fill area

22

Suffolk – Biofilter – 1700Ha

Sprayer filling area, rainwater harvesting and biofilter supported by Essex & Suffolk Water as demonstration site

Water Risks

• Unidentifiable drainage route • Site close to watercourse leading to

River Stour• Sprayer washed down in field and yard• No specific washings disposal plan• Washouts c. 6-7 per year, 2,800 –

3,500l• No problems with surface or ground

water

2

Solution

• Total water volume for filling area and biobed excessive

• New facility with dedicated chemical storage

New sprayer store/fill area with rainwater harvesting

2

• Fill area in new covered sprayer store eliminating rainfall

• Biofilter now sufficient for washing volumes

• Biofilter drainage pumped to final irrigation area in small wood

Costs and Grants

• New sprayer store: £17,000• Fill area/floor to chemical store:

£10,000 • Biofilter £1,200• Optional extras - auto panel door:

£2700• CSF Grant for biofilter + roofed

area: £5,292

2

Farmer Feedback• Used since 2012, no problems,

meets requirements well• Limits washings/ dirty water

produced• Can wash sprayer down

Fill area bunded below access level, building includes and

biofilter & chemical store

Biofilter within sprayer store/fill area.

Influent/effluent sampled by Essex &

Suffolk Water

2

About The Farm

• East Lexham, Norfolk• Arable and root crops 1200 Ha• 36m trailed sprayer, 6000 litre capacity• Most washing done in field• Annual Washings

– 8-10 per year = 6,000 l max– Extra wash down volumes 350 l/washdown =

3,500 l– Rainwater = 24,000 l– Total > 30,000 l

33 Norfolk – Biobed – 1200Ha

Water Risks

• Original site:– concrete yard sloping to yard drain– traffic crossing area– possible yard run-off across road to

watercourse and an SSSI only 104m away!

• Disposal - No arrangements• Ground and Surface Water risks

and local highway could convey to local culvert

3

Solution• Bunded fill area, dedicated

drainage to tank to biobed and then irrigation area

• 3 pump system• 6000 l emergency sized tank for

fill area pre-biobed; operates at 1,500 l by float switch control.

• Handles 35,000 l per year• Biobed and irrigation area

created in unused farm yard area.

Bunded fill area with cross drain

Biobed with central extract pump

3

Costs and Grants

• Handling Area – minimal spend, new bund area created,

farm labour used. – Ground work equipment, concrete,

electrics and drains £3,804 plus farm labour cost.

• Washings Treatment 7 x 6m biobed– Kit: liner £764, 3 pumps and pipework

£675• Extras: 3 pumps. • Grant from Natural England

3

NB Costs from 2008

Farmer Feedback

• Biobed: sound anti-pollution policy

• 3 pump system regretted, would have preferred gravity flow Early view of irrigation area

3

• No problems, irrigation area has good vegetative growth.

• Investment supported sound management avoiding pollution

About The Farm

• Chelmsford, Essex• Combinable crops 445 ha• Knight self propelled 24m 3000L• Sprayer previously filled in

other yard areas• Annual Washings

– 4-6 pa = 2,000 l maximum– 250 l x 4-6 external washdowns =

1,000-1500 l– Rainwater = 21m3 annually– Total > 24,500 l

44

Essex - Covered Area – 445Ha

2010 Original fill area, nil control of discharges

Water Risks• Unknown drainage route from fill area• Fill site in main yard, sloping• Heavy traffic flow from let buildings• Sprayer washed out and down in field • No specific washings disposal plan• No surface problems with surface

water yet• Looking for ecurity in potential

pollution control

Temporary fill area, bunded to control washings/spills 2011

2012 - 3 x rinsed containers now drain to IBC

4

Solution

• Bunded fill area developed first

• New building w fill area, chemical and sprayer store.

• Water volumes minimised • Liquid directed from fill area

to 7000 l holding tank• Less than 1000 l per season• No biobed/filter• Easy to adapt in future

2012 New facility housing

chemical store and fill area

4

Costs and Grants

• Building, w chemical store, general storage area, fill area, apron & all tanks and drainage, 2 x 7000 l water supply tanks also included, approx £72,000,

• Grant – towards concrete fill area for sprayer and roof directly above this £3,434

4

Farmer Feedback

• Secure building • New site isolated

from yard traffic• Self contained

operation• Meets current rules• Adaptable to future

needs

Chemical store under development in new facility

4

About The Farm

• Cawston, Norfolk• 112 + 170 ha arable, combinable crops farm

part of 1200 ha business• 2 x Sands 24m Self Prop. 1 x 3000 l, 1 x 4000

litre • Sprayers filled in other yard; in-field wash

out• Annual Washings

– 8 Washouts pa = 4,500 l max– 8 x 250 l per exterior = 2,000 l– Rainwater = 24m3– Total = 30,500 l

55 Norfolk 2 - Biobed - 282Ha

Water Risks

• Unidentifiable drainage route • Fill site close to watercourse leading

to River Wensum• Sprayers washed out in field with

some pressure washing in yard areas.

• No washings disposal plan• No problems yet but watercourse

within 25m

5

Solution

• Fill area now 10m from liquid fert. store

• A direct biobed due to– limited space – no power: so gravity flow for

direct biobed and solar power to recharge 2 x 12v batteries for pump

• Enough flow and pressure to meet biobed needs

• Pump delivers biobed drainage to final distribution area (40m2)

Solar panel for recharge 12v system

Drive on direct biobed

5

Costs and Grants

• Direct biobed fill area, £5,800, limited farm labour to dig out biobed pit and produce and install drive over grid

• Grant Received £2,700

Solar panel Drive on grid

5

Farmer Feedback

• System in use from 2010• No problems: system works

well, batteries charge and pump actuation good.

• Peace of mind• May develop new roofed fill

area and chemical store at other farms as a result of good performance with this unit.

• Used within contract farm operations, farm owner also appreciates facility.

Secure battery storage

Drip irrigation on nearby bank

5

The End

1Berkshire – Biobed - 1000Ha

2Suffolk – Biofilter – 1700Ha

3Norfolk – Biobed – 122100Ha

4Essex - Covered Area – 445Ha

5 Norfolk 2 - Biobed - 282HaMore information is contained in the speakers notes version of these case studies. These can be found here