Groundwater:

Groundwater comes from rain, snow, sleet, and hail that soaks into the ground. Nutrients on the surface that disolve in water become part of the groundwater and it's water table. When A water s
http://www.groundwater.org/kc/whatis.html

Protection of groundwater is of extreme importance because once contminated it make take many decades to clear and it will gradually or quickly spread within the watedshed area.  Goundwater (where we have our wells) and surface water (lakes, rivers, streams marshes etc) interact  with each other.

Groundwater and surface water are connected. This type of contamination can occur if a stream, lake, or wetland is higher than an adjacent aquifer to which it "loses" water. Rainfall or snowmelt can also seep through contaminated soil, carrying pollutants to aquifers below.(source:Groundwater: Myths and Facts?)
 

A watershed is a basin-like landform defined by highpoints and ridgelines that descend into lower elevations and stream valleys. A watershed carries water "shed" from the land after rain falls and snow melts. Drop by drop, water is channeled into soils, groundwaters, creeks, and streams, making its way to larger rivers and eventually the sea. Water is a universal solvent, affected by all that it comes in contact with: the land it traverses, and the soils through which it travels. The important thing about watersheds is: what we do on the land affects water quality for all communities living downstream.(source)

The phosphate input recorded at a tributary "brook entering a lake" is 250 lb/day and a reading further down stream is less ( lets say 50 lb/day). Where did the 200 pounds of phosphates go? 
In an aquatic system phosphate  promotes the growth of algae.

*This settles to the bottom of the lake,  some %  is carried down stream into the next lake and eventually some to the ocean.

As the pollutant continues to enter the system all parts of the system are incrementally effected.  Lake bottoms accumulated with algae that die in the fall, decompose using up oxygen and eventually make it impossible for fish to survive there.  This lake now contributes to the future pollution 

1 lb of phosphate can stimulate the growth of 500 pounds of algae.  200 lb of phosphates can generate 100,000 pounds of algae.

Mink manure contains about 50 lb phosphorus in 2000 lb,1 ton of manure (source )
1 million mink produce about 1 million pounds+ of manure a day or 2,500
  If the headwaters of a river system is high and at the exit nearer the ocean is low is this a healthy situation?
The difference between the input and the output nutriant levels of a system is an indication of the magnitude of the biomass ( plant, algae,etc) accumulating in the system.
 
  Does this mean that the ocean is escaping any negative nutriant input?

At first glance one might conclude that their is very little differance. However: the differance is not so much the pile of manure but rather what is done with it.  Each year the cattle farmer returns the manure back to the field to grow the next crop of hay.  This process is ecological sound, the minerals are used over and over with no build upof chemicals and very little pollution has to take place.  It is basically a closed system. 

Mink manure is not recycled day after day the pile grows even if it decays the minerals do not.  The concentration of phosphates , nitrates and dozens of other chemicals, other compounds and unknown food additatives accumulate in the soil.  The pile can be barried, left to rot or even burned but the chemicals will still go in the ground and into the water table.  It is impossible for this type of farm manure management to be environmentalaly friendly.  It will always be a toxic hazzard.

Cow manure is recycled factory farm manure often just accumulates. 

1. Element or material causing problem
Their are many minerals that can cause problems in aquatic systems. The most important is the one that is in the least supply, this is referred to as the limiting factor.  Since blue-green algae are nitrogen fixing organisms, phosphorus is their limiting factor, and it is an element that they need for growth. 
  

2. Type of  waste compost.  Cattle, Pigs, Chicken, Mink.....Diet of live stock determines the type of waste and there are difference in the same species in different locations. .  Phosphorus is a principal element that results in algae growth.  It is a limiting factor that once added to the system can result in algae growth 500*1 times it's own weight. Manure Nutrient Content*2 for Various Livestock Species Pounds per ton of phosphorus.  *Based on averages form a variety of sources. Actual farm values may vary greatly. Mp= Factor related to amount P in manure  Let's say Range 0 to 10 with mink at range of 5 cows at 0.4 Therefore the distance removed from water source depends to some extent on the type of manure.	*1source http://www.serc.com/phosphorus/fact.html Phosphorus is the nutrient that “limits” (is most essential to) aquatic plant growth. This means that, if aquatic plants, such as algae, have excess phosphorus to adsorb, they can grow out of control. * One pound of phosphorus can result in the growth 350-700 lbs. of green algae. * Algal blooms and excessive submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) growth can lead to the biological death, or eutrophication, of a body of fresh water. * Blooms of blue-green algae produce neurotoxins (affecting the nervous system) and hepatoxins (affecting the liver), and can cause a serious public health problem as well as damage aquatic habitats. * On the economic side, excessive SAV and algal growth due to phosphorus pollution increases water treatment costs, degrades fishing and boating activities, and impacts tourism and property values.(1) * Phosphorus pollution needs to be remediated 70-90% before a lake can recover from eutrophication.(2) *2  http://gis.lrs.uoguelph.ca/AgriEnvArchives/bioenergy/facts.html#Composition Phosphorus is expressed as phosphate equivalent in lbs/ton (kg/tonne)
3. Amount of waste compost. (X Bomb) If a meteorite hits the earth, the point source, or impact point is more or less the centre of  the creator left behind.   When an pollution hits the earth a similar crater is created.  A meteor leaves a physical hole while an X Bomb creates and *ecological hole(EH) not just a foot print but rather an **ecological stomp.   The magnitude on the impact is a factor related to the amount of waste, type of waste, accumulation over time.  The effect of the stomp is determined by of the ability of the ecosystem to absorb the impact, which in turn is dependent on a multitude of factors of which setback distance is one. The ability of "Spaceship Earth" to repair this ecological hole  is determined by of the ability of that ecosystem to process the impact (ecological resistance ER), which in turn is dependent on a multitude of factors including human intervention . Some areas have a high  The ER of an aquatic system to phosphorus impact is low, that is the system has a difficult time to safely incorporate it, while grassy meadows ability to utilize the mineral in a safe way is relatively high.   Hypothetical scale for an ecosystem to absorb phosphorus (ecological resistance or ability to utilize phosphates ERP) The following formula  ( EH = (MP x MX)/ERP  )  can be used to compare the effect manure on an ecosystem .  We see (calculations in right column) that aquatic systems are much more sensitive to pollution from mink manure than cow manure, at least with respect to phosphorus levels. The pollution units (Pu) of 500 for mink and 40 for cow  We also see that mink manure is a much more valuable a commodity as a fertilizer.   Providing more  phosphorus than cow manure.  Terms * Ecological Hole:  When a section of the biosphere is no longer able to live up to it's ecological potential.  **Ecological Stomp:  Footprint is a measure of demand we place on the biosphere  while stomp represents a serious blow to it's survival.   X Bomb = The collision of  substance X (chemical, biological etc.) with an ecosystem.   P Bomb = Phosphors  S=Manure  X=whatever and so on.	Causes of Non-Point Source Water Pollution in BC http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/bmps/npsaction.html#causes The more contaminants in water, the greater the risk to humans, fish, and animals. Even small amounts of contaminants in small amounts of runoff result in cumulative effects over an entire watershed and, building up over time, can have a significant impact. Locating the sources of pollution and removing contaminants before they reach the water provides the best assurance of clean water in the future. There are no ecosystems just one biosphere Canadian Water Advisory Map - 9/5/09 Boil Water Advisories http://www.water.ca/wkd-91209.asp Water can process the impact of a meteorite much more easily then a hit from an Poo Bomb.   Hypothetical formula EH = (MP x MX)/ERP The following are some possible comparisons. Mink Manure in grassland ecosystem  EH = (50lb/ton x 20tons) /8 = 125  Mink Manure in Aquatic ecosystem EH = (50lb/ton x 20tons) /2 = 500  Cow Manure in grassland ecosystem  EH = (4lb/ton x 20tons) /8 = 10 Cow Manure in aquatic ecosystem  EH = (4lb/ton x 20tons) /2 = 40   Must visit site for information  on Canadian Pollution Policies Environment Canada Site Map "Sometimes nature itself can produce these imbalances.  Often our waterways are being polluted by municipal, agricultural and industrial wastes, including many toxic synthetic chemicals which cannot be broken down at all by natural processes. Even in tiny amounts, some of these substances can cause serious harm."
Setback distance Area for absorption on compost nutrients into soil It is obvious that the greater the setback distance the less likely material will enter water systems.  What may not be as obvious is that a doubling of distance results in a quadrupling of area from the centre to the perimeter.  We are not just dealing with surface are but depth of soil.  See calculations to the right.  Go to link for making more calculations.   Conclusion:   The greater the setback distance the greater the ability of the substrate to absorb nutrients.   However the storage area is finite and eventually even under ideal conditions the limits will exceed the holding capacity and leaching into aquatic ecosystem will occur. In the real world runoff, streams and subterranean water movement will greatly effect the rate at which nutrients are transferred to aquatic systems.  So ultimately we are faced with determining how much nutrients a system can process before these nutrients become pollutants. Ecosystems need nutrients and can process within limits, but there comes a point (Tipping Point ) where we get to much of a good thing and the effects can be far reaching and long lived. ***Very Important Document*** WATER QUALITY SURVEY OF NINE LAKES (Copy Pdf Format)	Area in relations to setback distance (area of circle) Answer: 1 acre = 0.404685 hec Answer: 1 hec = 2.47105 acre http://www.metric-conversions.org/area/acres-to-hectares.htm volume = (Pi * h2 * r) - (Pi * h3 / 3)  (source + calculator)  If we assume that the soil depth is30 feet Volume of  100 foot circle   =     254,469  cubic feet Volume of  325 foot circle   =     890,641  cubic feet Volume of  500 foot circle   =   1,385,442 cubic feet  Volume of  5000 foot circle = 14,108,892  cubic feet ***Very Important Document*** A WATER QUALITY SURVEY OF NINE LAKES IN THE CARLETON RIVER WATERSHED AREA YARMOUTH COUNTY, NOVA SCOTIA The Carleton River is in the Southern Upland region of the province, draining approximately 200 km 2 of watershed, and contains nearly 100 lakes. Prepared by Water & Wastewater Branch Nova Scotia Environment  Darrell Taylor Project Lead March 18, 2009  (Copy Pdf Format)

Plant eaters excrete a different type of waste than meat eaters.   Birds are not mammals and the waste they produce is radically different in it's composition and eventual environmental impact.
4. Rate of  biological conversion of waste to plant material.

5. What effects does it have on the quality of life of the community it is in.

Topic  Settling ponds  vs  semi isolated spring fed ponds vs moving water vs salt water vs contained and controlled dispersal
6. Spring fed lack as a settling pond.
Settling ponds are often constructed to retard the migration on environmental pollutants but what happens when a natural water way becomes a settling pond. 
 

12  Manure is a valuable source of nutrients for plants growth and to simply bury it is a waste of resources.
Theoretically the manure should be to valuable to have leach away.

What next?
disclosure  of  construction before construction begins

Should not allow the construction of more farms until it has been demonstrated that the operations can function with minimal environmental impact, and with respect to air and water quality.