International Conference on Agriculture, Food and Environmental Engineering (ICAFEE'2014) Jan.
15-16, 2014 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Environmental Audit for Swine Waste
Management Systems in Lipa City, Philippines
Vivienne Rhea S. Padura, and Antonio J. Alcantara
Abstract An environmental audit of the anaerobic digester -
and lagoon-based swine waste management systems of various scales
of swine production was conducted in Lipa City. This was based on
Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (Ontario Farm Environmental
Coalition, 1996) and Arkansas Farm Assessment System. Swine
farms located less than 30m from the creek; river or waterways have
high risk of surface water contamination. The lagoons of both
anaerobic biodigester- and lagoon-based systems had risk to
overflow due to lack monitoring equipment of the water level. The
freeboard should be 60 cm or more to avoid overflowing during
extreme rainfall events. The structure for solid manure and compost
of the two waste systems was not properly managed and had high
environmental risk. The transfer system of the wastewater had no
overflow alarm. Manure storage capacity is good for less than 3
months and the risk of wastewater over flowing is high. The high risk
of odor emission for about 1/3 of the farms with anaerobic digester-
based system was due to poor ventilation. About of the farms did
have emergency plan for manure spill,50% of the farms had poor
riparian zone to retain the manure in case of accidental overflow and
60% of the respondents produced compost from manure.
Keywords anaerobic digesters, environmental audit, manure,
swine
I. INTRODUCTION
NVIRONMENTAL audit addressing the environmental
E aspects and predisposing factors for water, air and soil
pollution associated with swine manure management will
improve environmental performance, including farm
sanitation and animal and ecosystem health. In addition, it will
address the associated risk for each aspect from defecation of
the animal until utilization through material and energy
cycling.
Canada has Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (Ontario
Farm Environmental Coalition, 1996) and Arkansas Farm
Assessment System (Arkansas University Division of
Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, 2005) for
livestock waste management. They have the set of worksheets
and factsheets on livestock waste management. The
applicability of both systems to all scales of swine production
in Batangas needs to be evaluated and modified, if needed, so
Vivienne Rhea S. Padura is with the De La Salle Lipa , 1962 JP Laurel
National Highway and can be reached at +63 9166881792; correspondence
may be sent to doughn2@yahoo.com.
Antonio J. Alcanatara is with The School of Environmental Science and
Management at the University of the Philippines Los Baos, Laguna
(ajalcantara@yahoo.com).
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that swine raisers can have a guide to identify the priority
issues that must be given immediate attention. The best
practices to reduce the risk may need to be modified to fit the
local situation.
Workability of the adopted environmental audit system will
help swine raisers to be aware of the associated relative risk
with their present waste management practices. The factsheets
will provide management options to reduce the environmental
burdens associated with waste management.
In consonance with the implementation of an
environmental audit is the proper evaluation of swine raisers
perceptions of the different technologies available for proper
waste disposal and utilization. A survey of swine raisers
perceptions towards the technologies will aid technology
developers to improve these technologies to be more socially
appropriate for the users.
The irresponsible dumping of swine wastes in nearby
corridors in Lipa City has led to various environmental
problems, such as groundwater and surface water
contamination, eutrophication of lakes, air pollution,
greenhouse gas emission and public health issues. These
unsound management practices of small and medium scale
farms must be given proper and prompt attention. Thus, this
study examined the ecological role of an environmental audit
system on environmental sustainability of swine production.
In addition, swine raisers perceptions were considered and
evaluated to provide insights on the different economic and
behavioral constraints in adopting best management practices
and technologies. In particular, the study proposed for the
dissemination and demonstration, if necessary, of the
appropriate information about anaerobic lagoon, anaerobic
digester, composting, and use of effluent from anaerobic
digester. An effective and efficient information dissemination
of the best practices will reduce the potential risks and
environmental problems as a result of swine production.
Considering the inadequate facilities and lack of information
on the best waste management practices in Lipa City, Local
Government Units, swine raisers and the community, must
give proper consideration to the management of manure and
its by-product.
The development of an environmental audit system will
guide the farmers to have a sound swine waste management to
minimize adverse environmental effects, such as soil, air and
water pollution and public health problems. This would make
the swine raisers environmentally aware of problems in the
animal farms and encourage them to modify their farm
 International Conference on Agriculture, Food and Environmental Engineering (ICAFEE'2014) Jan. 15-16, 2014 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
management activities to reduce the environmental risks to
owners, farm workers and neighbors.
The result of the study would provide information for farms
using anaerobic lagoons on the production and use compost
and anaerobic digester for production of biogas. The latter
will reduce the utilization of liquefied petroleum gas and
conserve the use of fossil fuel. Hence, it will make the
business economically viable and socially acceptable.
The Waste Management Theory (WMT) under the
paradigm of Industrial Ecology best explains the sound swine
waste management system (Figure 1). It has been introduced
to channel environmental sciences into engineering design [1].
The theory was constructed side by side with other relevant
issues especially the Design Theory. The WMT is a unified
body of knowledge that encompasses issues about waste and
waste management. Although the Design Theory is still on the
process of development.
Waste Management Theory
Environmental Audit
Farmers Perceptions
Compilati
on Alternative Waste
on of Best
Management
Practices
Technologies
Sustainable Waste Management
Practices
Fig. 1 Theoretical framework of the study
The WMT is expected to guide the study in designing a
technology that minimizes pollution problems associated with
swine waste and will be able to recycle the waste as a raw
material for a more profitable production. However, social
acceptability is the most important aspect for an enterprise to
be economically viable. The enterprise sustainability depends
on it. The current waste management technologies should be
socially acceptable to the neighborhood to be economically
and socially sustainable.
The prevention of waste generation is the main priority in
waste management [1]. This priority is in line with the core of
proper management of waste which is conservation of
resources. While optimizing the use of available resources, the
accumulation of wastes should be minimized, as supported by
the principles of Industrial Ecology that industries should
make minimum use of materials and energy in products,
processes and in services.
The theory also supports the conduct of an environmental
audit for swine waste management, which will serve as the
basis for selecting different best management practices for the
benefit of the swine raisers. The farmers perception of and
attitude towards the adoption and use of available
technologies also falls under the umbrella of waste
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management theory. These factors considerably aid the
farmers in making their swine production and manure
management socially sustainable and economically viable.
II. METHODS AND MATERIALS
A. Site Description
The Province of Batangas is known for its livestock
industry. The study focused on the swine waste management
being practiced in the selected small and medium scale farms
particularly in Lipa City. The City of Lipa was considered,
since there are numerous swine raisers within the area that do
not have proper waste management system in their farm
operations. Since Lipa City does not have an environmental
code, no blueprint can be used to aid the farmers in the
adoption of the proposed best management practices and
technologies. If detail ordinance on waste management like in
the Environmental Code of Batangas is enacted; complaints of
nearby residents affected by the odor will be given proper
resolutions.
The worksheets on livestock waste management of Ontario
Environmental Farm Plan were used by the researcher. Other
environmental aspects in the worksheet of Arkansas Farm
Assessment System were also included. In addition, the
environmental aspects with moderate and high risk brought
about the farm operation were identified. The potential of the
farm site to contaminate the surface water and groundwater
was assessed. The design of the lagoon, manure handling,
storage and disposal, noise and odor, water use efficiency,
impact on the environment and record keeping on swine waste
management were examined.
Best swine waste management practices observed in the
study farms were documented and those from literature and
from key informant interview who are experts on swine waste
management were compiled for recommendation to minimize
or eliminate the environmental risk, particularly, for
environmental aspects with risk indices of 3 and 4.
Out of these 20 swine farms, 16 farms have both the
anaerobic lagoon and digester-based swine waste management
system and only four farms have anaerobic lagoon-based
swine waste management system. Appointments were made
with the owner or farm manager regarding on the best day to
come to conduct the environmental audit and interview on his
perception of the existing and alternative developed
technologies. The selected farms were located in different
barangays of Lipa City with swine high population density.
Farmers Perceptions of the Existing and Alternative Swine
Waste Management Technologies
Questionnaire was developed to assess farmers perceptions
of existing and alternative technologies to determine what
necessary modification needs to be done so that these will be
socially and economically acceptable to them. The barriers to
the adoption of the technology were also assessed. There are
lots of technologies but not being adopted by the swine
farmers. The farm owners or managers were the respondents
 International Conference on Agriculture, Food and Environmental Engineering (ICAFEE'2014) Jan. 15-16, 2014 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
of the study. Through this study best practices of the
cooperating farms were documented.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Profile of the Anaerobic and Facultative Lagoons in the
Twenty Farms
Farms with anaerobic digesters had facultative lagoons. The
respondents commonly had three lagoons. These were both
earthen (100%) and cemented lining (50%). About 50 % of
the lagoons are located near the creek or river and some (35%)
of the respondents indicated that the lagoons overflowed
during heavy rainstorm. About 75% of the farms with lagoons
and anaerobic digesters cleaned their lagoon ones a year and
60% of them conducted annual wastewater quality analysis.
Few of their neighbors complained about the odor nuisance.
B. Swine Pen Cleaning Practice
Fig.2 shows that the common cleaning practices of swine
pens. Every morning pens are washed using a power spray.
Some other farms scraped the manure first, then placed in a
sack and set aside (60 %) and then use power sprayer to flush
the remaining manure and bathing the animal. Others use
power sprayer alone (30%). The process is repeated in the
afternooon. However, the scraping of the manure is done only
by the farms using the dung as compost. Animals were given
bath every day, except, during cold days. Scraping and
followed with flushing reduces the amount of water to be
used. This would improve the retention time of the influent in
the biodigester.
Fig. 2 The Cleaning practices in some selected
swine farms in Lipa City
C. Environmental Audit of the Waste Management Practices
The owners or supervisors of the 20 swine farms were also
asked using the adopted worksheets to provide information
regarding the farm and its operation. The different aspects of
the swine waste management practices were assessed using
the worksheets. The level of each practice to reduce associated
waste management risk was ranked from 1 to 4 and the
associated risk is shown below:
Rat Risk Index Management and Environmental
e Risk Level
1 Low Exemplify Best and Low Risk Practices
2 Low- Provides reasonable protection to soil,
Moderate water and air quality
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3 Moderate- Provides possibly inadequate protection
High to the environment
4 High Provides poor and inadequate protection
with very high risk to soil, air, surface
water and groundwater pollution
D. Livestock Yard Location
Farms which have potentials to contaminate surface water
were given rate based on the distance of the livestock yard to
the nearest waterway. In addition, among the seven farms with
ECC only farms C and T observed proper distance of 61
meters to more than 152 meters. Further, surface water could
also be affected by the yard design and management. Indeed,
stabilize surface water diversion channel will ensure that the
area will not erode and wastes will not become sediment.
Thus, decreasing the adverse impacts it may bring to the
ecosystem.
E. Groundwater Contamination
All twenty farms built their well that will not pose threat to
groundwater contamination. All of them have a groundwater
depth of 23 - 91 meters or deeper than 91 meters for their
drilled well. It may be true that compared to surface water,
groundwater is less vulnerable to be contaminated. However,
once become impaired, it could create danger to the wells,
which could deleteriously affect the households. Since there
are several factors that could affect groundwater quality, it is
noteworthy to consider proper management of the manure and
be able to maximize its benefits. In addition, pig pens should
also be maintained well to prevent possible contamination of
surface and groundwater. Wells near animal building and
other heavily manured areas are prone to contamination.
These circumstances could be exacerbated if the type of soil is
sandy where nitrate contamination is high.
F. Animal Waste Storage
Storage of animal waste is very important to prevent any
adverse effects to the environment. Proper storage could
prevent odor nuisance and surface water and groundwater
contamination. It is very important for the swine farm owners
to properly manage manure to prevent degradation of the soil,
water and air quality. Further, cost effective methods could
ensure that lagoons are properly monitored and managed.
G. Manure and Wastewater Management
The transfer system of every farm is very important to
protect the surface water and groundwater. The area where the
manure will be transferred should have a higher slope than the
confinement areas. Thus, problem on runoff could be
prevented.
The amount of water that is used for farm operations is very
significant. Excessive use of water during cleaning
particularly without scraping the manure would generate large
amount of
 International Conference on Agriculture, Food and Environmental Engineering (ICAFEE'2014) Jan. 15-16, 2014 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
TABLE I
MOST IMPORTANT COST CONSIDERATION WHEN COMPARING
ALTERNATIVES TECHNOLOGIES TO BE ADOPTED IN THE FARM
COST ITEM FREQUENCY PERCENT
Operating and maintenance cost 1 5
Initial/Investment cost 15 75
By-product revenues (e.g. Energy or
fertilizer) 4 30
Total 20 100
wastewater and the capacity of the facultative or anaerobic
lagoons will be easily exceeded and overflowing of the
lagoons will occur. Further, minimizing the use of water for
cleaning, the inflow and outflow of wastewater in the lagoon
must be given due attention (Fig 3). Scraping of manure
before flushing reduces water use for cleaning almost by 50%.
More farms with anaerobic digester-based swine waste
management system were to reduce the amount of water than
the anaerobic lagoon-based system. However, the former have
inadequate manure storage capacity and no emergency plan
with manure spills. The farms with anaerobic lagoon system
also have emergency plan with manure spills.
H. Noise and Odor
Unpleasant odor from unacceptable handling and storage of
manure is generated in the course of swine production. The
offensive odor and nearness of residential houses to the farms
means that the existing swine waste management systems with
moderate-high to high risk practices create threats to the
environment and community. In addition, there is high density
of swine houses close to residence or there are more than three
residential houses near the farm boundaries.
Fig. 3 Lettuce garden in a swine farm
I. Farmers Perceptions on Alternative Waste
Management Technologies
Initial investment or sunk cost is the most important
consideration for selecting alternative technologies to be
adopted in the farm according to the respondents. They are
also concerns on value adding to by-products generated in the
farm. The priority factors to be considered in comparing
alternative waste management technologies other than cost are
reduction of odor nuisance, environmental factors other than
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odor nuisance like pollution of the surface water and
groundwater and water and carbon footprints, level of
management/supervision required by owner/operator and
compatibility with existing waste management system.
If the cost is not a constraint, majority of respondents
indicated that they would like the following to be installed to
improve the performance of the anaerobic digester or lagoon
swine waste management system: improvement of methane
recovery, biogas storage, removal of sludge from the digester
or lagoon, improvement of retention time of feedstock of
digester to 20-30 days and removal of stone or coarse fraction
in the influent (Table 2). They also prioritized the diversion of
rain water or runoff away from the digester or lagoon and the
zero discharge of effluent or wastewater in the waterways.
These would minimize greenhouse gas emission and also
improve material and energy recovery from the manure and
water use in the farm. Swine waste management technology
improvement should be in this direction. If biogas is used as
fuel for the generator, removal of moisture and hydrogen
sulfide would be necessary to reduce the maintenance cost and
improve the life of biogas powered generator. H2S is oxidized
into sulfur dioxide, contributes to corrosion of metals in the
farm households. It is also the cause of foul odor in the farm.
TABLE II
PREFERENCE FOR FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN COMPARING ALTERNATIVE
WASTE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES EXCLUDING COST
FACTORS TO BE LEVEL OF PREFERENCE
CONSIDERED IN COMPARING
ALTERNATIVE
TECHNOLOGY
1st 2nd 3rd
Level of Management/Supervision
required by owner/supervisor
Level of Odor
Environmental Impact other than
odor
IV. CONCLUSION
Environmental audit of swine waste management system
can be use to evaluate the environmental performance of
anaerobic digester and lagoon systems of various scales of
swine production in Lipa City. This is based on Ontario
Environmental Farm Plan [2] and the Arkansas Farm
Assessment System [3]. The environmental aspects of the
operation and maintenance of the anaerobic digester system
should be included in the environmental audit system. The
value adding to swine manure to reduce water and carbon
footprints and to increase soil carbon sequestration should
also be included. The environmental audit from swine waste
management can be used by the local government units and
the environmental regulatory agency for monitoring the
compliance of swine farm to environmental permit and
environmental compliance certificate, respectively.
 International Conference on Agriculture, Food and Environmental Engineering (ICAFEE'2014) Jan. 15-16, 2014 Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This paper is the modified version of the authors Masters
thesis . Hence, the author would like to extend the sense of
gratitude to the Department of Science and Technology,
University of the Philippines Los Baos, and De La Salle
Lipa. Moreover, to V. Paduras adviser, Dr. Antonio
Alacantara, for the continuous support and guidance.

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Vivienne Rhea S. Padura. This author was born in the Province of

Batangas, Philippines on February 20,1980. Padura holds a masters degree in
Environmental Science from the University of the Philippines Los Baos,
Laguna since April 2013.
She is working as an academic at De La Salle Lipa for almost seven years.
She is an accredited Pollution Control Officer.
Ms. Padura is an Assistant Professor and currently the Subject Team
Leader for the Environmental Science subject at De La Salle.

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