Liners can greatly reduce the chance of nutrients leaching into frozen soil because they form a continuous barrier that stops liquid from moving downward, even when the ground is cracked or uneven from freezing. Frozen soil often behaves unpredictably, with ice layers blocking absorption one day and thawed pockets opening pathways the next.
An unlined basin can lose nutrients through these shifting gaps without any outward signs. A synthetic liner keeps the stored material contained regardless of what the soil is doing beneath it, limiting contact between manure or wastewater and the ground. This helps protect both groundwater and nearby wells and preserves nutrient value for use once conditions are suitable for land application.
