The officers visited 10 farms and issued one official warning, but in most cases, gave compliance advice to help farmers to keep their dairy effluent management systems up to standard.
EPA Gippsland regional manager, Jessica Bandiera, said last year’s wet spring and flooding in parts of the state were reminders of the hazards of an overgrown or backed-up dairy effluent system.
“The threat from a neglected dairy effluent management system is in overflows and leaks, and any rainy weather can send backed-up effluent pouring over the edge,” Ms Bandiera said.
“Dairy farmers need to get some maintenance done on their dairy effluent ponds, pumps and pipes as soon as they can. It’s the most effective way to make sure dairy effluent is a fertiliser that’s good for your farm, not a pollutant that threatens waterways and neighbouring properties.”
The pollutants can include nutrients, pesticides, fertilisers, milk from washdown, spillage and waste milk, and contaminated soil washed away by heavy rain.
Letting those pollutants escape into channels, drains and waterways can reduce oxygen levels, kill aquatic life, encourage toxic algae and create the danger of disease.
“Dairy farmers can prevent effluent ponds from overflowing by de-sludging, controlling weeds and irrigating the water component to pasture when weather conditions are appropriate,” Ms Bandiera said.
“The end of summer is the best time to clean out ponds ahead of winter wet weather, while keeping effluent irrigation equipment in good condition and preparing to deal with any pipe or pump failures.”
