The Rural Voice, 1998-11, Page 28ECL
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24 THE RURAL VOICE
dome he plans to pump out the tank
twice a ycar and thinks the process
will be easier with a cover.
Isaac begins the pumping process
by putting a pipe in through the 4' by
5' door in the dome. He then turns
off the 12" fan which keeps the dome
inflated. It takes just over 20 minutes
to deflate. The domes are made of
high-density polyethylene that is kept
elevated by a 1/6 hp blower. The
estimated costs of operating are
between $80 - $90 per year.
A precast concrete column is
placed in the centre of the tank using
a crane. From the column, straps
radiate out and are attached to the
outside of the tank wall. The fabric is
then spread over the supporting
straps and secured to the outside of
the tank wall with an aluminum
channel and anchor system.
Summergreen prices the dome at
$80 - $90 per diameter foot with
additionalinstallation costs at $7 - $8
per diameter foot.
Dan Lambert came up with the
idea of a dome after visiting
Holland three years ago. In
order to accommodate large snow
falls in Canada, Lambert realized the
domes would have to be built steeper
than the ones he saw in Holland.
"The dome has to be high and
steep so the snow falls off and there
is no wind damage," said Lambert.
For farmers who might be worried
about repairing rips or tears that
could develop in the dome, Lambert
is reassuring. He said if the dome
remains inflated it will reduce the
possibility of wind damage.
However, he also said if damage does
occur the dome can be mended, like
any tennis or golf dome by sewing or
welding the material back together.
Franklin Kaines, swine housing
specialist with OMAFRA, said while
the domes have been slow to take off,
they are ideal for some small to
medium-sized operations.
"If you put a dome over a tank
you will get more storage. It works
out to about a foot and a half, 10 - 12
per cent more storage," he said. On
the other hand, Kaines said, "If you
don't have odour or neighbours close
by then you will have no need to put
it in."
According to Kaines the Geo Air -
Dome is one visible way a farmer can
show his neighbours that he is doing