Liquid Fert tank bunding

Jimbo26

Member
Hello

I am making the move the liquid fert this year and understand that any new tanks that are put in have to be bunded. I have no problem with this, but I was just wondering the most economical way of bunding?

Thanks
 

Jimbo26

Member
Yes, the thought of 50+ cube of fert running down the field is enough to make anyone cry.

Brisel did you bund them with block work or pre cast panels like grain walling?
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
2 x 50m3 tanks we put in at a remote estate recently

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Jimbo26

Member
@Clive how come you went for the horizontal tanks instead of the vertical? Surely they are more expensive in terms of concrete?

Did you do the block work or did you get someone in?

If you don’t mind me asking roughly how much did it cost?
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
@Clive how come you went for the horizontal tanks instead of the vertical? Surely they are more expensive in terms of concrete?

Did you do the block work or did you get someone in?

If you don’t mind me asking roughly how much did it cost?

Horizontal because the landowners of that contract farmed estate did not want the view from their house spoiling ! We have vertical and horizontal at our home farm

Local builder did the blocks - we don’t have time to do in house our labour profile is tight

Not sure on cost - landowner picked up the bill !
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
How do you stop the bund from filling up with water throughout the year?

Do you have extensions on the outlet taps over the bund wall for easy filling?

I have a submersible pump I put in the sump occasionally to clean it out. I thought about putting a drain valve in but thought if a malicious spill occurred it would also be broken, negating the wall in the first place.

Yes, priming a centrifugal pump is a pain when the tanks run low but with planning and a rinse tank filled with water or fert to help prime the pump it’s doable.
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Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
I have a submersible pump I put in the sump occasionally to clean it out. I thought about putting a drain valve in but thought if a malicious spill occurred it would also be broken, negating the wall in the first place.

Yes, priming a centrifugal pump is a pain when the tanks run low but with planning and a rinse tank filled with water or fert to help prime the pump it’s doable.
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Hate to be negative, but do you think that wall would stand if you had a full tank discharge?
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
Hate to be negative, but do you think that wall would stand if you had a full tank discharge?

It's reinforced with rebar every other block. The bar is drilled into the concrete underneath too. It wouldn't stop a tsunami but ought to contain the dead weight of a slower discharge.
 

BFSfertilisers

Member
BASIS
Location
Essex
I was told they don’t need to be bunded just last month. Confused

You must bund liquid fertiliser tanks. To be told otherwise is irresponsible.
Your fuel tanks are bunded for a very good reason. Fertiliser is as much, if not more, of an environmental hazard if it you lose a tank full.
It will be only a matter of time before it is a legal requirement.
 

DieselRob

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
North Yorkshire
I have the same tank as @Clive on my farm and I chose to use concrete panels 1.2m tall as a bund, 6 panels, 10 legs and a couple of load of concrete, total cost under £2k.

We made a sump in 1 corner to drop a submersible pump in to pump it out, currently sat with 8" of water in the bottom so at least I know its water tight. Just have some breeze block steps up and over the wall at the moment but winter job is to make some steel steps and galv them
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
You must bund liquid fertiliser tanks. To be told otherwise is irresponsible.
Your fuel tanks are bunded for a very good reason. Fertiliser is as much, if not more, of an environmental hazard if it you lose a tank full.
It will be only a matter of time before it is a legal requirement.

Irresponsible - yes.
Legal requirement - no. These weren't covered by the revised SAFFO regulations unlike fuel, silage effluent, manure/slurry etc
Future legal requirement - likely.
 

Renaultman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Darlington
What are posters thoughts on a bunded fill area, with the feet tank incorporated? Obviously bigger catchment area so more waste water but would it tick all the boxes? If so would you be able to wash off into a bio bed. I don't have a bund yet but am very aware of the potential risks
 

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