Abstract
With the economic development of many communities and the growing human population more food is needed. The livestock industry is one of the fastest growing industries in developing countries. The development of the livestock industry and the increase of livestock waste happens as a result of the growth in food production. The wastes are stored in a way that contamination of groundwater and surface water pollution in the environment has a significant impact on environment. This study analyses the environmental impact of livestock facilities and nitrate leaching in groundwater. After site sampling and libratory analysis, calibration of a simulation model with observed data was done to show nitrate contamination in “Rey” groundwater. The movement of nitrate into soil and groundwater was simulated by LEACHN. By defining various scenarios and performing sensitivity analysis, we examined precisely the factors affecting ground water contaminations. Along together with the analysis of different scenarios and comparing them with the measured values, seasonal rainfall conditions have greatest impact on the rate of recharge of nitrate to groundwater. Therefore soil with low rainfall shows 44% reduction of nitrate leakage at a depth of 30 cm of soil conditions. Finally, the modeling results and graphs from different scenarios for purpose of nitrate reduction in groundwater were presented. The good match between model results and observed data showed that the model is calibrated to this area and can be used for prediction purposes and further studies.
Highlights
During past decades, the building of livestock centers, especially in developing countries, has increased
By defining various scenarios and performing sensitivity analysis, we examined precisely the factors affecting ground water contaminations
One of the most important pollutants is considered “leakage of nitrogen into ground waters” which is threatening the quality of drinking waters
Summary
The building of livestock centers, especially in developing countries, has increased. When the lagoon overflows or leaks out or when the operation level exceeds, waste would flow and penetrate to surface water or groundwater. According to US EPA standard, more than 10 mg of nitrate in drinking water can cause serious health risks in humans, especially in children younger than 5 years old, seniors and people with weakened immune systems. Those children who have drunk from water polluted to nitrate are at risk of motemo-globinmia or Blue-Baby Syndrome, which causes weakness of human and even could cause death.
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