FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE    

Springfield  Plastics,  Inc.  Announces  Preliminary  Findings    from  Saturated  Buffer  System  Water  Quality  Results  

 SPRINGFIELD,  Illinois  (February  25,  2015)  –  Springfield  Plastics,  Inc.,  in  conjunction  with  the  Agricultural  Drainage  Management  Coalition  (ADMC),  has  released  preliminary  water  quality  results  for  2014  from  their  saturated  buffer  systems,  which  remove  nitrate  from  water  flowing  in  underground  field  drainage  tiles  before  it  reaches  streams,  rivers  and  other  waterways.  Springfield  Plastics  has  been  working  with  the  Agricultural  Drainage  Management  Coalition  on  a  project  spanning  15  sites  across  Illinois,  Iowa,  Indiana  and  Minnesota  to  study  how  saturated  buffers  work  under  different  conditions  and  other  conservation  practices.    Saturated  buffer  systems  have  a  control  structure  that  diverts  the  flow  from  the  tile  outlet  to  a  lateral  distribution  line  in  a  buffer  strip.  The  lateral  distribution  line  runs  parallel  to  the  buffer,  and  as  the  water  is  diverted  to  this  line,  saturation  occurs.  As  this  saturation,  or  lateral  water  movement  through  the  buffer  occurs,  the  vegetation,  soil  organisms  and  denitrification  naturally  removes  nutrients  like  nitrate  that  are  in  the  water,  thus  reducing  the  nitrates  discharged  to  the  streams.    The  preliminary  2014  findings  show  the  nitrate  concentrations  in  the  streamside  inspections  are  lower  than  the  levels  in  the  field  tile  prior  to  being  diverted  to  the  buffer.  These  findings  were  consistent  across  all  15  sites.      Dr.  Dan  B.  Jaynes,  a  Soil  Scientist  with  the  US  Department  of  Agriculture  commented,  “I  am  pleased  to  see  that  these  initial  results  show  that  saturated  buffers  have  the  potential  to  remove  nitrate  from  tile  drainage  across  the  Midwest.    Continued  research  and  demonstration  of  this  easy  to  install  practice  will  help  identify  the  best  soils  and  landscapes  for  this  practice.”          Research  will  continue  and  further  findings  will  be  reported.  For  additional  information  please  contact  Steve  Baker  with  Springfield  Plastics  at  (217)  438-­‐6167.                                

                                               Springfield  Plastics,  Inc.,  based  in  Auburn,  Illinois,  is  a  Midwest  manufacturer  that  has  created  plastic  pipe  solutions  in  the  agricultural,  residential,  building,  commercial  and  highway  markets  since  1978.  Springfield  Plastics,  Inc.  is  the  only  U.S.  manufacturer  certified  to  use  only  100%  virgin  resin  in  all  products  that  provide  peace  of  mind  through  the  highest  quality  and  consistency  available  in  today’s  drainage  market.    For  more  information,  visit  www.spipipe.com.      Media Contact: Steve Baker, President, Springfield Plastics, Inc. Phone: (217) 438-6167 Email: sbaker@spipipe.com  

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DRAINAGE OUTLET OR SUMP

NON-PERFORATEDTILE MAIN

BUFFER STRIPWATERLEVEL

CONTROLSTRUCTURE

BUFFER STRIP

PERFORATED LATERALS EXTENDING ON BOTH

SIDES OF MAIN

Saturated Buffers Water Quality Results for 2014Nitrate Level

Before Buffer Strip:Nitrate Level

After Buffer Strip:

11.0 2.0MILLIGRAMSPER LITER

MILLIGRAMSPER LITER

Source: Preliminary data from 2014 Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition research sites. Average of nine sites in four states.