Closed Effluent Storage Solution
If you are in a high rainfall area, this is a bit of a no-brainer. An open pond is a large catchment area, if you can close that off, you will reduce your storage needs. With a bladder tank, there is no chance of overflows from heavy rain, and your effluent will not be diluted from rainwater, so you can reduce your storage capacity.
Bladder tanks are also very popular in areas with a high-water table when it is difficult to dig an effluent pond. Soil type also plays a role because that affects your drainage, which directly affects your ability to irrigate. If you need to wait longer for the ground to dry out, you might need more storage, and that is when a bladder tank comes in handy.
Location, location, location
What kind of site do you have? Bladder tanks are very easy to set-up. You don’t need any special consents, as bladder tanks are technically considered temporary storage, you just need a bit flat land. A 22,000L bladder tank can be situated 10 metres from the cowshed, so you don’t have to run power to it, saving you money there.
If you are collecting your effluent in a sump , many farmers will choose a bladder tank for their deferred storage. We’d situate the tank above the sump and pump the effluent into it and let gravity move it back to the sump when needed.
Versatility
One of the great features of a bladder tank is safety, you can’t fall in. They are also friendlier to have around as there is much less odour, so they are easier to locate if you are close to a road or have neighbours close by.
Effluent stored in a bladder tank is more nutrient-rich as it will not be diluted by rainwater or lost to evaporation.
It is still important to keep the solution mixed, as it is much more difficult to remove a build up of solids from an enclosed tank than a pond.
Efficiency
There are lots of reasons to invest in a bladder tank for your storage, it is very efficient use of your space. The tipping point is size. As size requirements increase, an HDPE-lined pond tends to be more cost-effective, a bigger farm will get better value from a pond. Having said that, your initial outlay for a bladder tank might be higher but the set-up cost is lower and at the end of the day, if you need to move, you can take your bladder tank with you.
