Wood chip storage near water courses

[rupert]

Before I get in contact with one of the government bodies, I'd like to know if anyone knows the laws/legislation on the storage of wood chip near water courses. My main concern is water runoff from the chip pile contaminating the water course.

[treequip]

Before I get in contact with one of the government bodies, I'd like to know if anyone knows the laws/legislation on the storage of wood chip near water courses. My main concern is water runoff from the chip pile contaminating the water course.

 

The powers that be came down hard on a local autority near me for just that reason a couple of yers ago. Tey had to shift a huge pile and store it elsewhere.

[SWC]

Maybe a stupid question but what would run off a pile of Chip to contaminate a watercourse?

[Treegeek]

Couple of years ago we tipped about 6tons near a cress bed for the owners the ea turned up took samples sure enough thay had to move it asap

[Matthew Arnold]

Maybe a stupid question but what would run off a pile of Chip to contaminate a watercourse?

 

Leachate from the woodchip. If it is green wood then the leachate is much more potent and concentrated. At our council yard all of the loading bays are angled forward except the woodchip bay which is angled back to the rear wall to contain the leachate. Farmers are not allowed (yet still do) to have silage clamps within 100 metres of a watercourse unless there is sufficient procedures to stop the leachate from entering a watercourse.

[farmer rod]

the bacteria in a composting heap are very oxygen hungry and if washed out into a watercourse can starve the residents there of oxygen

[Matthew Arnold]

the bacteria in a composting heap are very oxygen hungry and if washed out into a watercourse can starve the residents there of oxygen

 

Am i right in thinking that woodchip leachate is on par with Milk for its water polluting properties and high B.O.D?

[renewablejohn]

Was going to use woodchip on our public footpath which runs at the side of our field drain only to be advised I would need to use stone rather than woodchip. Needless to say the footpath is still a muddy track.