Agricultural Runoff
Agricultural Runoff | Water Purification | Plumbing | Mountain City
In Mountain City’s rugged farm country, HEP designs smart plumbing systems that intercept agricultural runoff before it reaches sensitive creeks and reservoirs. Our technicians install underground channels, sediment traps, and biologically active filters that strip away nitrates, phosphates, and pathogens right at the source. The result is cleaner irrigation loops for your fields and crystal-clear streams for the community—all engineered to withstand harsh mountain weather and heavy equipment traffic.
Every installation is paired with continuous monitoring and remote alerts, so you’ll know the moment flow rates shift or filter media need a swap. From permitting assistance to emergency repairs, we keep you in full compliance with local regulations while saving thousands in wasted water and fertilizers. Choose HEP for dependable water purification that protects your crops, your neighbors, and the breathtaking landscape we all share.
FAQs
Why is agricultural runoff a particular concern in Mountain City?
Mountain City’s farms sit on sloped terrain that receives heavy seasonal rains. Water easily carries excess fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste downhill into streams that feed the city’s drinking-water reservoirs. Because our watershed is relatively small and closed, even moderate nutrient and pathogen loading can quickly degrade water quality, raise treatment costs, and trigger regulatory fines. Managing runoff at the source is therefore critical for protecting local water supplies and maintaining farm sustainability.
What contaminants does your purification and runoff-capture system remove?
Our multi-stage treatment train addresses the full range of pollutants commonly found in Mountain City’s agricultural runoff: • Nutrients – nitrate, nitrite, and orthophosphate are stripped by ion-exchange resins and vegetated biofilters. • Pesticides & herbicides – activated carbon and advanced oxidation (AOP) neutralize most organic compounds, including 2,4-D and glyphosate. • Pathogens – UV-C disinfection and optional chlorination achieve 4-log (99.99 %) removal of E. coli, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. • Sediments – hydrodynamic separators and membrane ultrafiltration capture silt, clay, and microplastics down to 0.02 µm. • Heavy metals – proprietary chelating media targets zinc, copper, and cadmium often associated with fertilizer blends.
How does the runoff plumbing and purification system actually work on my farm?
1. Contour-graded PVC or HDPE collector lines intercept runoff at the field edge and convey it by gravity to a central sump. 2. A variable-speed lift pump meters flow into the pre-filter, which settles grit and gross solids. 3. Water passes through a modular treatment skid (sediment filter → carbon/AOP reactor → ion-exchange column → UF membrane → UV chamber). 4. Treated water is automatically sampled; if it meets the quality set-point, it is discharged to a storage pond for irrigation reuse or safely released to the nearest drainage ditch. 5. The PLC control panel uploads performance data to our cloud dashboard so you and local regulators can verify compliance in real time.
Is the system compliant with Tennessee and federal water-quality regulations?
Yes. The design adheres to: • Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) General NPDES Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). • EPA Clean Water Act § 402 numeric effluent limits for nitrogen (10 mg/L) and phosphorus (1 mg/L) where applicable. • NSF/ANSI 61 standards for potable-contact materials. We provide stamped engineering drawings and third-party lab reports, and we assist with filing Notice of Intent (NOI) and annual discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), ensuring full regulatory coverage for Mountain City producers.
What maintenance does the system require, and can my farm staff handle it?
Routine upkeep is designed to be farm-friendly: • Pre-filter basket cleaning: 5-minute rinse every 1–2 weeks during rainy season. • Media changeouts: carbon and ion-exchange cartridges last 12–18 months, swapped with quick-connect unions. • Membrane backwash: automated; only periodic acid/alk flush (2 hours quarterly) is manual. • UV lamp replacement: once per year and takes <15 minutes. We offer a service plan, but most Mountain City farms opt for in-house maintenance after a single on-site training session.
What is the typical cost and return on investment (ROI) for farms in the Mountain City area?
Capital costs average $14,000–$22,000 for a 200-acre row-crop operation and $28,000–$35,000 for a similar-sized dairy farm. Operational costs run $0.0015–$0.003 per gallon treated. ROI is typically 3–5 years, driven by: • Reduced commercial fertilizer purchases (20–30 % savings) when treated runoff is reused for irrigation. • Avoided fines—up to $10,000 per violation under TDEC enforcement. • Improved crop yields linked to better soil moisture management. Our team can provide a customized payback analysis based on your acreage, crop type, and rainfall patterns.