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 FULL REPORT IN PDF Adobe Acrobat file (size: 638k) Click here if you need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) 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