Wisconsin’s dairy industry is the largest in the United States — and Wisconsin’s NR 243 livestock facility regulations are among the most comprehensive in the country for manure storage system design requirements. Dairy lagoon liner installation and replacement is the dominant agricultural liner project type in Wisconsin, driven by NR 243 compliance for CAFO operations and the environmental imperative of protecting Great Lakes tributaries from nutrient loading. Alongside dairy, Wisconsin faces significant PFAS contamination at military and fire training sites, maintains a large paper and pulp mill industry with wastewater containment needs, and operates landfill systems under WDNR solid waste regulations. International Cover Systems (ICS) brings dairy lagoon liner expertise, PFAS containment capability, and full CQA documentation to Wisconsin project sites, supported by its Midwest regional office in Traverse City, Michigan.
Dairy Lagoon Liner Systems Under Wisconsin NR 243 Requirements
Wisconsin’s NR 243 Administrative Code governs manure management for large and medium livestock operations, establishing design, construction, and liner standards for manure storage facilities serving operations with 1,000 or more animal units. NR 243-compliant manure storage systems must incorporate liner systems meeting NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 360 requirements — typically HDPE or RPP geomembrane with specified minimum thickness based on the site’s hydraulic conductivity analysis and storage volume. Wisconsin’s dairy operations are heavily concentrated in the western counties (Buffalo, Trempealeau, Vernon, Crawford) and the lakeshore counties (Manitowoc, Calumet, Fond du Lac), and ICS brings dairy lagoon liner installation experience appropriate for Wisconsin’s dominant agricultural compliance requirement. Replacement of aging liner systems at established dairy operations — where original earthen liners or thin geomembrane systems have reached the end of their service life — is a consistent project type.
PFAS Remediation and Paper Mill Wastewater Containment
PFAS contamination at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison — where AFFF use at the airfield contaminated drinking water wells in surrounding neighborhoods — is one of Wisconsin’s highest-profile environmental compliance stories. Active remediation programs at Truax and other fire training sites require engineered containment systems for source areas and leachate management. ICS installs HDPE and LLDPE liner systems for PFAS remediation containment with the CQA documentation standards that WDNR-overseen remediation projects require.
Wisconsin’s paper and pulp industry — with active mills in Green Bay, Wisconsin Rapids, Neenah, Appleton, Eau Claire, and Park Falls — generates large-scale industrial wastewater lagoon liner requirements. Aerated stabilization basins and settling ponds at paper mills hold millions of gallons of treated process effluent, and liner integrity is critical to preventing WDNR water quality permit violations from lagoon seepage. WDNR solid waste regulations govern landfill liner and cap systems at the state’s municipal solid waste facilities, and Great Lakes shoreline stormwater management projects require liner systems that comply with WDNR Part 31 water resources protection requirements.
Geomembrane Liner Services in Wisconsin
- HDPE, LLDPE, RPP, PVC, XR-5, and Dura-Skrim geomembrane liner supply and installation
- Dairy lagoon liner installation and replacement — NR 243 and NRCS standard compliant
- PFAS remediation containment at military and fire training sites — WDNR compliant
- Paper and pulp mill aerated stabilization basin and lagoon liner systems
- Great Lakes tributary stormwater management basin liners
- Municipal landfill liner and cap systems — WDNR solid waste compliant
- Secondary containment for industrial facilities — SPCC compliant
- Hot wedge and extrusion welding with destructive and non-destructive testing
- CQA documentation, ASTM testing, GRI standard compliance
- Custom fabrication and AutoCAD design assistance
- Liner inspection and repair for existing installations
Areas Served in Wisconsin
ICS serves project sites throughout Wisconsin including Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Rapids, La Crosse, Sheboygan, and agricultural, industrial, and municipal sites across Dane, Milwaukee, Brown, Waukesha, Manitowoc, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Vernon, Marathon, and other Wisconsin counties.
Frequently Asked Questions — Wisconsin Geomembrane Liner Installation
What liner specifications does Wisconsin NR 243 require for dairy manure storage lagoons?
Wisconsin NR 243 requires that manure storage facilities serving regulated operations meet design and construction standards consistent with NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 360. Liner specifications — including material type and minimum thickness — are determined by the design engineer based on site-specific soil conductivity testing, storage volume, and hydraulic head conditions. HDPE and RPP geomembrane liners are most commonly specified for Wisconsin dairy lagoon applications. ICS installs liner systems to NRCS standard specifications and provides material certifications and installation documentation for WDNR compliance files and NRCS engineer review.
Does ICS provide dairy lagoon liner replacement services for aging Wisconsin installations?
Yes. Dairy lagoon liner replacement — removing and disposing of deteriorated existing liner and installing a new geomembrane system — is a common project type for established Wisconsin dairy operations whose original liner systems have reached the end of service life. ICS can assess existing liner condition prior to planning replacement work, and coordinate replacement installation with farm operational schedules to minimize interruption to manure management systems. Contact ICS at 667-290-4153 to discuss inspection and replacement scope.
What WDNR requirements govern PFAS remediation liner systems at Wisconsin military installations?
PFAS remediation at Wisconsin military sites — including Truax Field — operates under WDNR’s NR 700 series remediation rules and, for federal facilities, USACE or service branch quality assurance requirements. Engineered containment systems are documented in the project’s remedial action plan, and liner installation documentation must meet both WDNR program requirements and federal agency quality assurance standards. ICS provides CQA documentation appropriate for dual regulatory submittal requirements on federal facility remediation projects.
Can ICS install liner systems for paper mill wastewater lagoons in Wisconsin’s Fox Valley and Wisconsin Rapids paper clusters?
Yes. Paper mill aerated stabilization basin and settling pond liner installation and repair is within ICS’s industrial liner service capability. Large-format liner installation for paper mill lagoons — which can span multiple acres — requires efficient panel layout and weld production to manage installation cost and schedule. ICS provides liner inspection services for existing paper mill lagoon liner systems, assessing condition and recommending repair or replacement based on inspection findings.
How does ICS coordinate Wisconsin dairy lagoon liner projects with NRCS EQIP cost-share funding?
Many Wisconsin dairy operations access NRCS EQIP cost-share funding for manure storage system improvements under Practice Standard 360. EQIP-funded projects must follow NRCS engineering standards for liner specifications and installation quality, and documentation of material certifications and installation quality is required for EQIP payment eligibility. ICS is familiar with NRCS Practice Standard requirements and can provide documentation in formats appropriate for NRCS district engineer review. Contact ICS at 667-290-4153 to discuss your project’s EQIP requirements.