Why must livestock manure and wastewater be managed carefully?

In the context of livestock farming, particularly within large-scale operations like confined feeding operations (CFOs) and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), manure and wastewater must be managed carefully to mitigate significant environmental and public health risks.12

Careful management is essential for the following reasons:

• Water Quality Protection: If left unmanaged, waste can run off into storm sewers and surface waters. As this organic matter degrades, it depletes the water of oxygen, which is detrimental to aquatic wildlife. Contamination of local waterways with feces and urine is a common consequence of inadequate containment.12
• Air Quality and Public Health: Intensive farms generate noxious odors and air pollution, which have been linked to respiratory issues in nearby human communities. This creates significant environmental justice concerns. Additionally, in dry climates, manure can dry out and produce dust that blows freely, further degrading air quality.2
• Climate Change Mitigation: Livestock operations are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, including methane and nitrous oxide, which drive the climate crisis.2

Techniques such as anaerobic digestion can help by reducing waste volume, capturing methane for use as a renewable energy source, and producing by-products that serve as fertilizer.1