Introduction

Manure, urine and uneaten feed in horse floats and trucks contains nutrients and pathogens. There is the risk of polluting water resources if horse floats and trucks are cleaned out where the runoff could enter stormwater drains (e.g. on footpaths, streets or drains) or watercourses.
 

Property owners also have responsibilities under legislation (Environmental Protection Authority's Environmental Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2003) to avoid discharging or depositing waste or pollutants into any waters, bores or on to land where it might enter the water.
 

Suggested actions are:-

• Clean out horse trucks and floats by sweeping initially, then using a minimal amount of water if they need to be washed clean.
• Commercial transport operators or private vehicles which carry stock from a range of properties or a number of species should consider additional cleaning options to minimise the spread of disease.
• Dispose of the collected residues appropriately. For example dry waste could be:
  • sold in bags,
  • removed by a waste disposal company or by Council arrangement,
  • composted on-site for sale or re-use on the property,
  • collected to be composted by a composting company or community organisation who may want horse manure, e.g. community gardens, or
  • removed via horse SA "poo pile online" (see links)
• Wastewater should be either directed to a suitable surface soakage area, to a trade waste connection, or collected and taken away by a licensed liquid waste contractor.

 

 
Clean out horse trucks and floats by sweeping initially, then using a minimal amount of water if they need to be washed clean.

Links

• Land Management Program advisers: www.amlrnrm.sa.gov.au/services.html
• Horse SA: www.horsesa.asn.au
• Hoofprints - A manual for Horse Property Management - J. Foyel, Primary Industries SA. Agdex 461/10
• A Legal guide for South Australian primary producers - SA Law Society, available from PIRSA offices, Natural Resource Centres (but note some legislation referred to is now superseded)
• Managing Horses on Small Properties - by Jane Myers. Landlinks Press available through CSIRO publishing or Horse SA: www.horsesa.asn.au
• Horse Sense - Landlinks Press or from Horse SA www.horsesa.asn.au
• Check the websites from your State department of agriculture for additional books and fact sheets