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Protecting Our Shared Water Resources. Is an educational tool Promotes water quality awareness Can recognize environmentally courteous farmers. MANAGEMENT OF SITE CONDITIONS 4 3 2 1 RANK Best Good Fair Poor (up to 3 wells)
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Protecting Our Shared Water Resources
Is an educational tool • Promotes water quality awareness • Can recognize environmentally courteous farmers
MANAGEMENT OF SITE CONDITIONS 4 3 2 1 RANK Best Good Fair Poor (up to 3 wells) Site IdentificationLOCATION OF WELL #1 #2 #3 1. Type of well Off-site private or Drilled well. Driven well. Dug well (has the municipal source potential for the (therefore site most pollutants conditions or manage- to enter into the ment practices do not water flow). affect your well quality). 2. Position ofUpslope from all Downhill from sources Downslope from Well is located in a water well in sources of contam- of contamination, most sources of depression. Ponding relation to ination, and all surface and surface water contamination, and occurs around the potential sources water is diverted away runoff is diverted some surface water well during storms.of contamination from well.a from casing. runoff reaches well. 3. Distance More than 300 feet 150-300 feet from a 75-150 feet from a Less than 75 feet between well and from a contamination contamination contamination from a contaminationpotential sources source. source. source. source. of contamination a Sources of contamination include septic system absorption areas, pesticide and fertilizer handling areas, barnyards, and other similar areas. Site Identification #1.
A cooperative effort among: • Penn State Cooperative Extension • Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts • Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture • Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
System Includes: • Introduction • PreliminaryScreening Quiz • Farmstead Map • Worksheets • Wrap-up Activities
Preliminary Screening Quiz: • Short series of questions for each worksheet category • Quickly target most appropriate worksheets for a specific situation
Farmstead Map: • Sketch of farmstead/farm to locate significant features related to water quality • Source of useful information for completing worksheets
Farmstead Map Pasture Direction of surface water flow Stream Absorption field Exercisearea Pesticidestorage area Driveway & parking area Septic tank Barn Abandonedwell Heifer barn House Well Highway
Worksheets: • 1. Water Well Condition and Construction • 2. Pesticide and Fertilizer Storage and Handling • 3. Household Wastewater Treatment System • 4. Barnyard Conditions and Management • 5. Milkhouse Waste Management • Stream and Drainageway Management • Petroleum Storage and Handling • Silage Storage Management • Animal Waste Storage and Management • Animal Waste Land Application Management
Worksheet Contents: • Why be concerned? • How to rank groundwater and surface water protection using this worksheet • How to complete the worksheet • Ranking matrix • How to use these ranks • Glossary • Acknowledgements
Wrap-up Activities: • Overall Farmstead Ranking — evaluation of conditions and options for improvement • Post-Evaluation Survey — to be used as part of an educational program
Septic Tanks 50 feet Septic Leach Fields 100 feet Barnyards 300 feet Separation Distances Well
Casing Height 1 foot
Well Condition and Construction • Type of well • Age of well • Position • Separation distances • Condition of casing and cap • Well sealing • Casing depth • Casing height • Backflow • Abandoned wells
Water well 300 feet minimum separation distance Storage & Handling Area
Pesticide and Fertilizer Storage and Handling • Containers • Mixing areas • Water source • Backflow prevention • Supervision • Container disposal • Clean-up • Location • Geologic materials • Amounts and types • Length of storage • Clean-up • Security of storage
Wellhead 100 feet separation distance Septic system drain field
Household Wastewater • Age of system • Separation distances • Quality and quantity • Treatment system • Septic tank pumping • Disposal of septage
Barnyard 100 feet minimum separation distance Water well
BarnyardManagement • Separation distances • Clean water management • Runoff control • Scraping practices • Vegetative cover • Animal access • Animal density/size