Earthen basins should also be lined on the inside walls to prevent leaching through the wall when the liquid level changes. Otherwise, the soil on the walls can dry and crack as the level drops. Leaching then occurs through the walls as the level rises. Old tile lines must be completely sealed at the location of the earthen basin to avoid drainage to waterways. Holding Ponds Used for short-term storage of feedlot runoff, holding ponds are smaller than lagoons.
Little decomposition occurs in holding ponds.
The runoff is held in the pond until application to crop land through irrigation systems. The same considerations of sealing lagoons against leaching also apply to holding ponds. Uncontaminated runoff from shelter roofs should be kept out of the waste facilities and diverted to a separate drainage system. With a settling basin, the holding pond can be a smaller size and will produce fewer odors. The life of the holding pond will also be extended.