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Issues: Water

Cesspools of Shame
How Factory Farm Lagoons and Sprayfields Threaten Environmental and Public Health

This July 2001 report from NRDC and the Clean Water Network documents how animal waste from factory farms threatens human health and our nation's rivers. Most factory farms store animal waste in open lagoons as large as several football fields. Lagoons routinely burst, sending millions of gallons of manure into waterways and spreading microbes that can cause gastroenteritis, fevers, kidney failure, and death. This report lists the track records of the largest polluters and recommends existing technology that is safer and more sustainable.


	For printed copies of this report, see our Publications List.

OVERVIEW & QUICK REFERENCE
Press Release
Brief summary
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FULL REPORT IN PDF
Adobe Acrobat file (size: 638k)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Links indicate sections available as individual webpages)
Executive Summary
Factory Farm Pollution is a Growing Problem
The Lagoons and Sprayfields of the Largest Corporations
Health Effects of Lagoons and Sprayfields
Water Quality Impacts of the Lagoon and Sprayfield System
Alternative Approaches to the Lagoon and Sprayfield System
Policy Recommendations