Farm * A * Syst Program Description, State Modification and Delivery Options
Title: Purpose of Farm*A*Syst "A Voluntary Farmstead Groundwater Pollution Risk Assessment Program"
Process Goals:
Farm*A*Syst is designed to help farmers:
Farm*A*Syst provides:
A relative risk ranking for all potential pollution sources
Information on sources of
The Farm*A*Syst process:
"A coordinated interagency effort to assist farmers in taking voluntary actions to reduce groundwater pollution risks and correct groundwater pollution problems.:
Farm*A*Syst creates an awareness and understanding:
Farm*A*Syst fact sheets provide:
Combines information from all completed worksheets
Aids in ranking contamination risks
Allows action to reduce contamination risks to be identified
Provides information on support available to help reduce high contamination
risks
Implementation support systems:
Petroleum handling, storage and disposal systems
-- Overflow protection
-- Automatic shut-off nozzles
-- Meters
-- Corrosion protection
-- Tank removal
-- Tank maintenance
-- Recycling locations and programs
-- Record systems
Pesticide handling, storage and disposal systems
-- Container rinsing, pressure nozzles
-- Backflow preventers
-- Container reuse or recycling
-- Sprayer calibration kit
-- Prefabricated storage facilities
-- Personal safety equipment kits
-- Signs
-- Containment systems
-- Record systems
Considerations regarding wells
-- Location - separation distances from storage tanks, septic systems,
chemical mixing areas
-- Construction - casing and well cap, casing depth and height, age,
type (dug, driven, drilled), and depth
-- Managing and maintaining existing wells
-- Backflow prevention
-- Water testing
-- Abandonment procedures
Hazardous waste management
--Farm and household trash (ash and sludge, plastic wraps and containers,
hobby products, home cleaning and repair products, farm business hazardous
wastes)
-- Building and wood maintenance cleaners and chemicals (solvent-based
building and wood cleaners, equipment maintenance products, etc.)
-- Leftover or unusable pesticides and container disposal
-- Vehicle maintenance chemicals (antifreeze, oil, grease, solvents
for oil and grease removal and disposal, engine parts and equipment cleaners,
lubricants, rust removers, paints and paint preparation products, brush
or spray cleaners, and lead acid battery replacement)
Household wastewater treatment
-- Minimize the volume of household wastewater (eliminate non-functional
uses, low flow fixtures and appliances, water softeners)
-- Periodic septic tank pumping
Livestock waste storage
-- Long term storage (>90 or <= 180 days)
-- Short term storage (30-90 days)
-- Waste storage location (isolation from wells, 250 feet, optimum,
minimum 100 feet)
-- Abandoned storage pits (proper abandonment procedures to minimize
pollution risks)
Livestock yards management
-- Distance from wells
-- Site characteristics
-- Clean water diversion (roof gutters and spouting, dikes, diversions,
terraces, etc.)
-- Yard cleaning and scraping
-- Concentration of animals and type of yard surface (recommendations
- Concrete - 75 square feet per cow and curbed; Earthen - 400 square feet
per cow, 2000 square feet of exercise area pave if bedrock or water table
is close to the surface)
-- Livestock storage and waste use (crop rotations, adjust application
rates, incorporation, apply at agronomic rates, assess site vulnerability
for runoff or leaching potential to minimize pollution risk)
-- Silage storage (consider silage moisture content, silo location,
silo design and construction, leachate collection and disposal)
-- Milking center wastewater treatment (consider minimizing discharge
alternatives, field application, surface flow, slow surface infiltration,
below ground absorption field, rapid surface infiltration, etc.)
Farm*A*Syst in your state:
Program development process
-- Project coordinator
-- Coordinating committee
++ agencies with related authorities and responsibilities
++ organizations with related interests and concerns
++ industries that would be involved or affected
++ farm owners and operators
-- Work groups
++ Material adoption
++ demonstration
++ pilot programs
Product implementation
-- Staff training
-- Referred support networks
-- Marketing
-- Delivery approaches
++ group planning education programs
++ one-on-one on-farm assistance
++ self assessment - mailed
++ self assessment - media
-- Follow-up systems
++ mail reminders
++ special offers on equipment and implementation support
Material modification and development
-- Modification steps
++ obtain Wisconsin or Minnesota or some other state's worksheets or
fact sheets as an example
++ identify lead authors and specialist/staff support
++ establish interagency review process
-- Modification decisions
++ maintain or modify numerical ranking system
++ modify soil, geologic, hydrologic ranking system
++ add or delete topics
++ how to address regulated activities
++ field testing or focus group evaluation
Delivery approaches
-- One-on-one
++ agencies
++ private sector
-- Group planning
-- Incorporation into existing programs
Other delivery options
-- Computerization
-- Secondary education classes
-- 4-H, FFA, youth groups
-- Volunteers
-- Environmental groups
-- State vocational and technical adult education farm management programs
Protecting Rural America's Water FARM*A*SYST
Pollution prevention in rural America
There are many state and federal agencies, and units within these agencies, that are working towards cleaner water in rural America. Farmers and rural residents are usually willing to work with these various programs in reducing pollution risks, but can become frustrated by the sheer number and variety of agencies out there, each with a specialized service or area of expertise.
USDA and EPA have recognized this problem and are jointly supporting a program that is designed to bring all of the pieces of the pollution prevention puzzle together. The program is a coordinated, practical initiative that helps farmers and rural residents identify pollution risks on their properties. These results are then used to formulate a personalized, voluntary action plan to lower those pollution risks. The national program is called Farm*A*Syst, the Farmstead Assessment System. Some states have modified the name, but all have maintained the functional risk assessment framework. Although the program was developed to address groundwater pollution, efforts are now underway to expand the program to include surface water and other environmental concerns.
At the federal level, the program is funded by the Extension Service, Soil Conservation Service and Environmental Protection Agency. Pilot Farm*A*Syst projects have worked well in lowering pollution risks when coordinated with state programs. States must establish their own funding mechanisms for program development and implementation.
Farm*A*Syst Programs Across America
There's a new program that is preventing water pollution in rural America. It's called Farm*A*Syst, a voluntary farmstead or rural resident pollution risk assessment. It's designed to help the average resident become knowledgeable about water pollution risks. This assessment also adds another important step - it helps users develop an action plan to reduce risks identified.
Now located in almost every state in the nation, the program allows local water quality staff to adapt the prototype materials to local standards and regulations. It also paves the way to better coordination between state and local agencies affiliated with groundwater protection. And it helps forge new links with non-profit organizations and private businesses.
But most importantly, it helps bring groundwater protection to the level it should be: right at home.
The three major rural pollutants: nitrate, microorganisms and toxicants
To illustrate the pollution potential of farmstead activities and structures, Ag experts have developed a hypothetical farmstead model using typical characteristics. This farmstead is located on two acres of a 200-acre farm. There are 100 dairy animals (50 milk cows and 50 replacement heifers), supplies and equipment to farm 200 acres, and a family of five. The aquifer under the farmstead is 100 feet thick and the material has 30% porosity, with about 19.5 million gallons of groundwater under the two acre farmstead. Estimates contained in this publication are based on assumptions made about this site.
Nitrogen (N) is one of the most difficult elements to trace through the environment. Numerous factors affect its conversion to nitrate, which is the form that contaminates groundwater. Nitrate is water soluble and very mobile. It can be lost to the air as a result of denitrification, to surface water in runoff, or to groundwater through leaching or direct run-in through open channels such as unused or improperly designed wells, sink holes, root channels and other channels in soils and bedrock.
Well Design and Location. In addition to the amount of nitrogen available and how it is managed at a farmstead, the well itself is an important factor influencing groundwater contamination risk. Wells are often located close to livestock for convenient livestock watering. Many old farmstead wells are no longer used, but have not been properly sealed. Improperly abandoned, poorly designed and poorly located wells greatly increase groundwater nitrate contamination risks.
How does water flow influence pollution potential? Simply stated, surface water percolates through the soil and subsurface materials to the water table where it becomes groundwater. Usually, water in the upper portion of an aquifer comes from local recharge. Deeper water usually comes from water recharge that occurred some distance upgrading from the well. Land-use activities in the recharge area (where the water originates) influence the quality of water at different depths in the aquifer. Many factors influence the mixing or distribution of groundwater at different depths in an aquifer.
More than 60,000 pounds of nitrogen in various forms may be handled at a typical farmstead in a year. Only 1,650 pounds of nitrate-nitrogen are needed to contaminate the entire 19.5 million gallons of groundwater under the two-acre farmstead. Most nitrate from local recharge areas will be in the upper 10 feet of the aquifer. Only about 165 pounds of nitrate leaching to groundwater would cause the nitrate-nitrogen standard of 10 PPM to be exceeded in the aquifer upper 10 feet.
Livestock and Manure Storage. About 1,700 tons of manure are produced per year from a 100-animal diary herd. This manure contains about 17,000 pounds of nitrogen. Improper storage and handling of this manure results in high pollution risks. Proper storage facilities and good management systems minimize pollution potential. With good management, most of the 17,000 pounds of nitrogen in manure can be recycled to cropland.
Milking Center Wastewater. Dairy operations with 50 milking cows will produce 100 to 1,000 gallons of milking center wastewater per day. This wastewater volume contains approximately 150 pounds of nitrogen per year. Poorly designed or mismanaged wastewater disposal systems can contaminate groundwater. Systems that leak directly into used or unused wells, sinkholes or other channels present the highest risk.
Septic System. A family of five without a garbage disposal unit introduces approximately 50 pounds of nitrogen to the drainage field each year. Poorly designed or mismanaged wastewater disposal systems can contaminate groundwater. Systems that cause direct run-in into used or unused wells, sinkholes, or other channels present the highest risk.
Fertilizer Storage. Approximately 15,000 pounds of commercial nitrogen fertilizer is applied to 100 acres of corn each year. Most of this fertilizer is usually applied directly to cropland. However, long-term farmstead storage in an improperly designed facility presents high pollution risks. When nitrogen from manure and legumes is properly credited, little or no commercial nitrogen fertilizer may need to be purchased.
Silage Storage. Approximately 600 tons (dry matter weight) of silage is stored for a 100-animal dairy herd each year. This silage contains approximately 30,000 pounds of nitrogen. Harvesting at the correct moisture, proper storage and use reduces silage pollution potential. Storage of high-moisture silage can result in large volumes of silage juices (effluent), which is high in nitrogen. Improper storage can also result in feed spoilage. If not properly disposed, spoiled feed can become a source of nitrate contamination.
Dead Stock. If dead stock are disposed of properly through incineration or rendering, the pollution potential will be negligible. If buried, some nitrate will be available to leach. The larger the volume buried, and the closer the burial site is to the well, the greater the risk.
Many every-day activities involve toxic chemicals that could cause groundwater contamination. Routine use of these necessary farm chemicals sometimes makes it easy to forget the potential impact they could be having on rural groundwater. But proper handling, storage and disposal techniques can reduce or eliminate the risk of groundwater contamination.
Pesticide Storage.
If atrazine is used on 100 acres of corn at two pounds per acre, about 200 pounds of active ingredients may be handled and stored at the farmstead in a typical year.
A "small spill" of two pounds can concentrate the active ingredient on a small area. This amount is normally applied to an entire acre (43,560 square feet). If this area is close to the well, it would cause direct contamination of the well. This same two pounds can cause 80 million gallons of water to exceed drinking water national health advisory level of three parts per billion.
Most farmers who apply their own pesticides will use several types of herbicides and insecticides to effectively control pest problems. When pesticides are custom-applied or mixed and loaded in the field, little or no pesticides are handled around the farmstead, thus eliminating this risk.
For convenience, pesticide mixing and loading areas are often in close proximity to farm wells. In many cases, no designed backflow or anti-siphon devices are used. Both situations present significant groundwater and drinking water pollution risk, but can be easily avoided.
Pesticide storage areas can be the site of major contamination problems from accidental spills or during catastrophic events such as fires. If fire departments are unaware of where hazardous materials are stored, they might use volumes of water to control a fire. This action will result in significant contamination problems, requiring extensive cleanup costs. Proper identification of storage areas can prevent this problem.
Petroleum Storage
At the same hypothetical farmstead, about 1,200 gallons of gasoline, 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel and 600 gallons of fuel oil are used in a year. Storage tanks for these substances can be significant sources of groundwater contamination. Underground storage tanks, in particular, are of concern - especially if they are older than 15-20 years. And since these tanks are underground, leaks are often undetected until the petroleum product contaminates the groundwater.
Toluene, xylene and benzene found in petroleum products may pose significant health risks. The groundwater standard for benzene is five parts per billion (PPB), so one gallon of gasoline containing about 1 percent benzene can contaminate about two million gallons of groundwater.
<<One part per billion is the same as eight drops of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Although such numbers may seem quite insignificant, even one part per billion of certain chemicals can be dangerous to your health.>>
Household and Farmstead Hazardous Waste
Studies have shown that the average household produces about seven pounds of hazardous waste per year. Little research has been done to quantify groundwater problems caused by the wide range of toxic chemicals used in homes. As with pesticides, very small amounts of household chemicals can contaminate large volumes of groundwater. Some building and vehicle maintenance products containing organic solvents can, if improperly disposed, contaminate groundwater. These products may contain toluene, xylene, benzene and trichloroethane, or "petroleum distillates."
Household and Farmstead Waste Disposal
Many areas of the country are closing local dumps or landfills because of improper design and management causing groundwater contamination. This has spawned another dilemma. Many rural landowners have resorted to home waste disposal sites, sometimes located dangerously close to wells. Disposal of toxic compounds in septic systems can also result in groundwater contamination.
Some states, including Wisconsin, classify agricultural waste as industrial waste, making it illegal to bury these wastes on the property. Well-engineered landfill sites and effective collection systems that adequately serve the rural community can reduce inappropriate waste disposal.
Well Vulnerability to Toxic Contamination
Numerous factors influence a well's vulnerability to toxic contamination. These factors include the distance between the well and the source or sources of contamination which has been dumped, spilled or improperly disposed; the design of the well including the age, depth of casing and integrity of the grout seal around the well casing; the pollution vulnerability of the soil and bedrock at the well site; and the presence of direct channels of flow from the contamination source to groundwater (such as abandoned wells and sink holes).
Once most contaminants have moved below the normal rooting zone of plants, they will usually break down quite slowly because of the reduction in microbial organisms, cooler soil and water temperatures, and the absence of light.
Even if wells currently test as contaminant-free, spills that occurred a long time ago could eventually show up in these wells. In other words, we may not know for many years the full impact of contamination we may have caused.
Microorganism contamination of wellwater
Although Typhoid Mary is long gone, the threat of infection by microorganisms is not. Well water is a likely vehicle of transmission for disease-causing microorganisms, so vigilance is still called for in guarding our wells and groundwater.
Improved, modern well construction and more sanitary sewer systems have greatly reduced the number of wells contaminated with human or animal fecal waste microorganisms. These invisible little critters - bacteria, viruses and protozoa - have sent a lot of people to the hospital with serious illnesses like dysentery, hepatitis, gastroenteritis and even typhoid in former times.
But wells still can and do become contaminated under certain conditions. Surface water contaminated with fecal waste can enter groundwater directly through several channels: improperly abandoned wells, sink holes or other openings - thereby bypassing the soil's natural filtering system. Active wells with cracks or other flaws in the casing are at risk for contamination.
Sources of potentially harmful microorganisms include septic systems, livestock yards and manure storage areas and facilities, pet wastes, and a wastewater disposal systems. The design and management of these potential contamination sources, in conjunction with the location and/or design of current or abandoned wells, are the primary factors which influence contamination risks.
Microorganism contamination of well water can occur when:
1. Contamination sources are too close to the well;
2. Water is pumped from a contaminated fractured rock aquifer;
3. Backsiphoning of contaminated water through plumbing system down
the well;
4. Wells are improperly constructed and/or maintained. For example:
Surface water enters the well because the casing does not extend far
enough above the ground.
Well casing is not deep enough to ensure adequate filtration of recharge
water.
Watertight seals are not installed or maintained at the base of hand
pumps.
Well casings are cracked or perforated (may be plastic or steel), allowing
poorly filtered surface water to enter through holes.
Casing is not properly sealed.
Drilling equipment, pipes and pumps are not disinfected during new
well construction.
Testing a water supply for specific disease-causing organisms is seldom done due to the large number of possible organisms and the difficulty in deciding which to test for. Instead, water supplies are tested for total coliforms originating from the feces of warm-blooded animals.
Because there is little data available on safe levels of microorganisms and because testing for specific infectious organisms is generally not feasible, the detection of any coliform bacteria in a water sample is reported as "bacteriologically unsafe."
When bacteria are detected in drinking water wells, the water should be boiled before use and the water retested to confirm results. If results are confirmed, the source or cause of the contamination should be corrected and the well should be disinfected, usually through chlorination, before using the water again. Farm wells used for cleaning dairy equipment are required to be tested for coliform bacteria every two or three years. If bacteria are detected, corrective actions must be taken or producers may not be allowed to ship milk.
Protecting the farmstead well
Once farmers are familiar with common sources of nitrate, toxicants, and microorganisms, they can implement pollution prevention strategies that protect their drinking water. Here are the basic principles that should be followed for all sources of pollutants:
• Maintain safe distances between potential pollution sources and wells.
• Design and maintain storage and handling facilities properly.
• Keep clean water from contamination sources.
• Prevent contaminated water from leaching into groundwater via wells
or other conduits.
• Maintain the integrity of active wells and properly abandon unused
wells.
Nitrate Pollution Prevention
• Maintain adequate separation distances between sources and wells.
• Use properly designed manure storage facilities.
• Design and manage livestock holding area to prevent leaching.
• Prevent and clean up fertilizer spills. Dispose wastes properly.
• Reduce or eliminate storage of commercial fertilizers; or
• -- store dry fertilizer in a secure, dry location with an impermeable
floor and use pallets to keep bags off the floor.
• -- store liquid fertilizer bulk tanks on an impermeable curbed floor.
• Harvest and store silage properly.
Toxicants: what to do
• Minimize use of toxic cleaners and solvents.
• Store labeled toxicants/pesticides in a secure, dry location with
impermeable, curbed floor.
• Use returnable containers and triple-rinse pesticide containers.
• Remove old (more than 20 years old) underground fuel storage tanks,
replace with fiberglass or above-ground tanks.
• Maintain inventory of fuel purchased and used.
• Recycle unused chemicals/toxicants when possible.
• Take advantage of household and farm hazardous waste collection days.
• Don't dispose of toxic materials in septic systems, sink holes or
farm dumps.
Microorganisms: what to do
• test the quality of your drinking water annually.
• Properly handle/dispose of a waste.
• Properly design and maintain manure storage facilities.
• Maintain adequate separation distance between the well and sources
of microorganisms. Septic tank should be at least 25 feet from well, soil-adsorption
area should be at least 50 feet from well.
• Design and manage livestock holding areas to prevent contamination.
Protecting Against Nitrate
The seven potential sources of nitrate are: (1) barnyards, feedlots and other livestock holding areas, (2) livestock waste handling and storage facilities, (3) a waste handling systems, (4) household septic systems, or other waste handling systems, (5) fertilizer storage and management systems, (6) silage and other organic feed storage facilities, and (7) dead stock disposal. How farms manage these sources can have significant impacts on groundwater for years to come.
A partial list of pollution prevention recommendations for specific nitrate sources follows:
Livestock Holding Areas - If livestock yards or holding areas are used, they should be located at least 100 feet from wells; ideally, greater than 200 feet. Consider the feasibility of a roof over the yard. Use downspouts, tile drains, and diversions to prevent rainfall from washing manure off the yard. Soil should be at least 30-40 inches deep with medium-to-low permeability or the yard should be covered with concrete or other impermeable material. Stormwater runoff should be diverted away from the livestock area, with yard runoff diverted to properly constructed filter strips. Clean areas at least weekly. Maintain livestock density at or below recommended levels.
Livestock Waste Storage - Locate storage appropriate distance from wells. These minimum distances vary, depending on the type of storage - usually 250 feet for earthen pits and 200 feet for liquid-tight systems. Store wastes on an impervious surface designed to retain liquids or direct them to collection or filter areas. Direct storage runoff away from a storage facility, unless additional water is needed in liquid storage. Inspect impervious surfaces after emptying and repair cracks or faults. Empty and properly abandon systems that will no longer be used.
Milkhouse Waste Handling Systems - Relative to other sources, milkhouse waste does not contain high amounts of nitrate. The greatest pollution risk from milkhouse waters, however, is associated with the proximity to groundwater via direct channels, such as improperly abandoned wells.
In general, delivering all milkhouse wastewater directly to a liquid tight manure storage facility or holding tank can reduce pollution risks. However, if this is not feasible, nitrogen can be reduced by collecting the first flush of pipeline rinse water and feeding it to calves or mixing it with manure. At the same time, a drain trap or filter should be used to catch any solids or organic waste. Then, if waste water is discharged to the land surface, the areas should be at least 250 feet from the well, preferably downhill.
Household Wastewater Handling Systems - Conventional septic systems were not designed as nitrate treatment systems. They work by infiltrating wastewater into the soil profile so that humans and animals do not come into contact with surface discharges and the potentially harmful microorganisms. Water soluble materials like nitrate move with the septic wastewater. In most cases, it will infiltrate and leach to groundwater and significant well water contamination can result from poorly designed or managed systems. To avoid this problem, sub-surface disposal should be 50 feet or further downhill from the well. Surface discharges, illegal in most states, should be more than 200 feet from the well. There should be at least six feet of soil above saturated soil or bedrock. Septic tanks should be pumped regularly (usually every two to three years) to prevent system failure and surface ponding. Garbage disposal units should not be used and cooking oil and grease should not be disposed of in these systems to avoid septic system failure and surface ponding of waste water. Properly installed holding tanks, that are pumped regularly with proper disposal of waste, present the lowest pollution risk. Holding tanks should be at least 50 feet (preferably downslope) from the well.
Fertilizer Handling and storage - To minimize pollution risks, all nitrogen fertilizers should be stored at least 100 feet from wells. If dry fertilizer is stored, it should be in an enclosed facility over impermeable floors away from any sources of moisture, or in wagons that are designed to protect fertilizers from moisture. Long-term storage should be in enclosed facilities with a water-tight floor and containment walls. Liquid 28% nitrogen is very corrosive. To prevent pollution, these tanks should be located in a secondary containment structure designed to hold 125% of the tank's capacity. The valves and tank's integrity and fittings must be checked routinely. Timely clean-up of all fertilizer spills and careful spreading will also prevent groundwater pollution. Larger spills should be reported to the appropriate spill-response agency.
Silage - When properly harvested and stored, silage poses little or no nitrate pollution risk. Proper storing conditions include: keeping the moisture content at 65% or below at harvest. Water-tight silos should also be at least 50 feet downslope from the well. Earthen trench silos need to be at least 250 feet from the well. If canning company waste or other feed sources that have high moisture content are used for silage, designed leachate collection systems should be installed. Water-tight covers should prevent additional water from entering all silage storage structures.
Dead Stock Disposal - Dead stock disposal is not covered in the existing Farm*A*Syst worksheet series. However, improper dead stock disposal can cause well water and groundwater pollution. Many states have laws that require specific disposal practices. Rendering companies that pick up dead stock remove contamination risks, but other measures can also reduce the risk. The poultry industry has evaluated composting dead birds, which looks promising as a way to handle disposal for that industry. The greatest pollution risk from dead stock comes from a large-volume burial. If burial is required, it is essential that the site be evaluated for pollution risks.
Protecting the farmstead well from microorganisms
Disease-causing microorganisms can inhabit household and a wastewater disposal systems, barnyard and feedlot areas, and livestock waste storage and handling systems. Soils are normally very effective at filtering out microorganisms, but the soil's texture, geologic conditions and the design and location of operational and unused wells all influence wellwater and groundwater pollution risks.
Several basic actions can reduce pollution risk at most sites. They include: maintaining adequate separation distances between contamination sources and wells - both used and unused; diverting contaminated surface water runoff away from the well area; properly collecting, using and/or disposing of contaminated waste materials; and, preventing contaminated waste water from flowing directly to groundwater through sink holes, crevices in bedrock, unused wells or poorly designed and located wells. A partial list of recommendations for the design and management of facilities to prevent contamination follows:
Household Wastewater Systems
Conventional septic systems were designed to prevent surface ponding of wastewater and to provide an adequate soil filter between the bottom of the adsorption field and the groundwater or bedrock. When these systems are properly installed and maintained, microorganisms are filtered and trapped in this protective layer, where they eventually die.
Despite efforts to regulate their design, placement and use, septic systems are still the largest reported cause of groundwater contamination resulting in disease outbreaks in the U.S. Owners are ultimately responsible for their systems and any damage a poorly functioning system might cause. As a threat to human health, septic system failures should not be taken lightly. To prevent problems: septic systems should be pumped every three years; and a separation distance of at least six feet should be maintained between the bottom of the septic system drain field and bedrock or the watertable. Subsurface disposal of septic system effluent should be at least 50 feet from a well. Surface disposal (illegal in most states) should be at least 200 feet from wells. The lowest pollution risk occurs when at least six feet of medium-to-fine textured soil is maintained between the potential pollution source and the water table or bedrock (more on coarse soils).
A Waste Handling Systems
A wastes are usually handled in septic systems, direct surface discharge, or mixed with livestock wastes. If septic systems are used, following the design and maintenance requirements and minimizing the amount of milk disposed in the system will reduce pollution risks. Pumping waste water to properly designed and managed liquid livestock waste storage facilities is probably safest. If surface discharges are made, the point of discharge should be at least 200 feet from the well, preferably downslope on medium-to-fine-textured soils.
Livestock Waste Storage
Several types of systems are used for long-term and temporary storage of livestock wastes. Liquid-tight systems, if properly maintained, present the lowest risk to groundwater contamination. Earthen storage pits present a greater risk. Earthen (clay) liners of properly designed in-ground storage facilities can be damaged or broken down by natural processes. Caution must be exercised to prevent damaging earthen storage liners during emptying and filling. Liners should be inspected whenever possible.
Temporary manure stacks can pose significant risk if the stacks are on coarse-textured soils, or thin soils over bedrock. The risk is increased if the depth to the water table is shallower than 40 feet. The risk from temporary storage is significantly reduced if concrete slabs with curbs or walls to contain liquids are used.
Livestock Holding Areas
Runoff from livestock holding areas should be diverted away from wells and allowed to filter through medium-to-fine-textured soils. Flow of contaminated water to groundwater through abandoned wells, sinkholes and other openings should be prevented.
Improperly abandoned/constructed wells
Under certain conditions, wells can be conduits for microorganisms entering groundwater. For example, wells with corroded or cracked casings or wells with casings that have not been adequately sealed allow surface pollutants to enter. To prevent contamination, wells that are suspected to have corroded or ruptured casings should be repaired. If unused wells exist, they should be properly abandoned.
Soil and Geological Factors
The effectiveness of microorganism filtration by soils depend on:
• The number of open channels through the soil,
• The amount of time it takes for the water to filter through the soil,
and
• The depth of groundwater or bedrock.
When soil and geologic factors limit filtering of contaminated water, increased management is necessary to prevent problems.
Protecting the well from sources of toxicants
Many toxic materials that are handled and stored around the farmstead also pose risks to groundwater. But proper handling, storage, use and disposal of toxic materials will significantly reduce the risk of water contamination.
Petroleum Product Management
The most common environmental problem requiring cleanup during property transfers involves petroleum products. The type of storage system, the location of the storage tanks in proximity to the well, the existence of containment structures to collect spills and overflow, and taking precautions to ensure that the tank does not leak all influence the potential for contamination. Recommendations that reduce pollution risk from petroleum storage include:
• Install meters on all underground petroleum tanks so that an accurate
inventory can be maintained.
• Unprotected steel underground storage tanks that are more than 15
years old should be leak-tested and removed, if necessary.
• Install pressure shutoff nozzles where possible and catchment basins
around tanks.
• Locate above-ground storage tanks on an impervious surface. When
possible, install secondary containment that holds 125% of a tank's capacity.
• Maintain at least 100 feet of separation between the storage area
and the farm well.
• Promptly clean up spills to avoid infiltration to groundwater.
• Properly label the tank to prevent accidental mixing of fuels.
• Maintain tank security with fences and/or locks.
• Spills should be reported to emergency government or environmental
agencies for proper cleanup advice.
Pesticide Storage and Handling
Five general pesticide handling and storage practices influence groundwater pollution risk at farmsteads. These include: pesticide storage practices, mixing and loading, spill cleanup, container rinsing and disposal, rinse water disposal, and equipment storage and calibration procedures.
Storage recommendations to minimize pollution risk include:
• Storing materials over an impermeable surface so that if spills do
occur, they can be thoroughly cleaned up.
• Constructing concrete curbs around the storage area to protect from
larger spills.
• Using pesticide storage area signs on storage buildings.
• Locking storage areas to prevent unauthorized entry.
• Minimizing the amount stored and time stored.
Mixing and Loading Practices
Groundwater contamination can result from even small spills or leaks in loading areas. By mixing and loading on an impermeable surface, spills can be contained, collected, reused or properly disposed. Mixing and loading pads should be located next to storage areas for convenience. These areas should also be designed so that water from the mixing and handling area flows away from the well. In some cases, a water diversion structure may be necessary to insure that runoff flows away from the well. Even if there isn't an impermeable mixing and loading pad, pollution risk can be minimized by following these basic guidelines:
• Do not mix and load pesticides within 100 feet of the well.
• Avoid mixing and loading on porous surfaces.
• Install anti-backflow devices on the well or hydrants used.
• Always supervise filling of application equipment.
• Use rinsate for mixing subsequent loads of spray on crop.
Spill Cleanup Procedures
For dry spills, promptly sweeping up and reusing the pesticide is the most appropriate approach. Liquid spills are often more difficult to clean up. If possible, collect the material and reuse as intended. It may be necessary, however, to remove some soil and apply the soil on appropriate fields. Most states have an emergency spill law and an emergency hotline for technical help. A prompt call to a hotline is the best advice in these situations.
Container Disposal
Proper rinsing, disposal and/or recycling of containers can prevent groundwater contamination. Reduce pollution risk by using returnable containers and mini-bulk containers as often as possible; pressure-rinse or triple-rinse all containers immediately after use, pour rinse water into the spray tank, puncture the containers and take them to permitted landfills. Do not bury or burn pesticide containers or bags on the farm.
Household and Shop Hazardous Waste
The most basic recommendations to reduce well water contamination risk from hazardous waste are to minimize the amount of waste generated and to recycle potential hazardous materials whenever possible. Any remaining hazardous materials should be disposed of properly at hazardous waste landfills. The Farmstead Assessment Worksheet No.5 has a list of some hazardous substances.
Basic management principles which should be followed when dealing with hazardous materials include keeping then at least 100 feet from your well and using materials in a way that will allow spills and drips to be collected and reused if possible. Unusable waste should be collected for appropriate disposal.
Burning hazardous materials is usually prohibited by law. Petroleum products, however, can be burned in appropriately designed furnaces. Store hazardous waste in areas that are protected from moisture and can be secured so that children and livestock do not have access to them. Watch for hazardous waste collection programs which may be sponsored by local communities or farm cooperatives. When these programs are available, take these hazardous materials to them for proper disposal.
Development and implementation of effective Farm*A*Syst programs requires building partnerships between numerous agencies, farm organizations, conservation organizations, and the businesses and industries that provide products and services necessary to prevent pollution. Programs must be tailored to accurately reflect the policies and programs of state and local organizations that work directly with farmers and rural residents. These cooperative efforts result in organizing water quality protection policies and programs into one practical system that aids farmers and rural residents in:
• understanding and identifying pollution risks associated with their
farm or residence;
• identifying site specific actions that will reduce pollution risks;
• understanding how existing programs and policies can help prevent
pollution;
• obtaining technical, financial and educational assistance to prevent
pollution; and,
• taking voluntary actions to reduce pollution risks.
Pilot implementation of Farm*A*Syst has shown that it is effective in improving knowledge of factors that increase pollution risks. More importantly, this program results in significant increased voluntary use of practices to prevent pollution.
The South Jersey RC&D Council is offering this overview of Farm*A*Syst
program to you, the user of R.I.S.E., to gain a feel on whether we should
pursue development of the total program. Please leave us an E-mail message,
FAX (609-561-2765) or call us at 609-561-3223 with your opinion. For more
information on FARM*A*SYST, contact the National Farm*A*Syst
staff, B142 Steenbock, 550 Babcock Dr., University of Wisconsin, Madison,
WI 53706 (608) 262-0024.