Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 10/9/18


Swine lagoons in North Carolina still are showing signs of damage or are at risk nearly a month after Hurricane Florence made landfall, according to the latest survey by state environmental officials.

The North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reported that six facilities with a total of six lagoons suffered actual structural damage, which may or may not have led to hog waste being released, as of Oct. 6. Another 28 facilities with 32 lagoons had waste discharges – known as overtopping – while seven facilities with nine lagoons were labeled inundated or surrounded by surface water that may be flowing into the lagoons.

DEQ added that eight facilities with 10 lagoons have no room for new material, and 29 facilities with 37 lagoons have between zero and three inches of depth available for any liquid. The updated DEQ report includes 78 facilities covering 94 lagoons that are in some sort of damaged or distressed condition.

The situation has worsened since the North Carolina Pork Council reported on Sept. 19that four swine lagoons suffered structural damage and 55 the state’s 3,300 lagoons were between zero and three inches from overtopping their barriers.

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