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Water... we can't live without it. Fortunately, we have a plentiful supply in most areas of the U.S.A. from streams, lakes, rivers, reservoirs and wells. For rural Americans, wells are the most important source of water for their family, animals and crops. A turn of the tap brings water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, crop irrigation and many other uses.

Because wells are a direct pipeline to the ground water supply they can become seriously contaminated if feedlot runoff, diesel fuel, ag chemicals or other contaminants accidentally enter them. Accordingly, farmers and ranchers should view their wellhead as a vital personal and business asset that needs care and protection.

This fact sheet provides information that will help keep your well water supply and that of your neighbors safe for years to come. As you install a new well, plan the protection of an existing well or seal an abandoned well, keep in mind the following pointers:

Proper Well Location... should be a priority concern. It's been said that in real estate, three things are important - location, location, location. The same is true with wells on farms and ranches. If your well is in the wrong place, you risk contamination of the well water.

Unless otherwise protected, your wellhead should be on the highest ground available, above the flood level of any nearby stream and away from your septic system, barnyard or feed lot, fuel storage tanks and ag chemical transfer or mixing/loading areas. This will help prevent contaminated runoff water or spills from entering the well. Acceptable setback distances will depend on the soil type and relative vulnerability of the ground water on your site.

Well Inspection... begins at the casing. Casing prevents surface water and shallow soil water from entering the well and contaminating the desirable water that is generally found in deeper soil and rock formations. Thus, the depth that the casing extends can be an important safety consideration. Ask your well driller for information about the casing in your well; their original records should prove useful. Otherwise contact a registered or certified well driller. For a list of certified professionals, contact the National Water Well Association at 614-761-1711. To prevent surface water run-in, the casing and locking cap should extend at least a foot above ground level to keep surface water away from the well. Inspect your well for signs of cracking of the casing or the grout which seals the space between the well casing and the borehole walls of the well. A tight, cement-grout or bentonite clay seal around the casing is essential to prevent surface and subsurface contaminants from flowing directly down the outside of the casing and entering the well below the casing. Clay grouts form a low permeability seal which remains flexible and tends to self-seal after settling of the well casing or ground, thus often providing a more permanent seal than cement.

Routine well inspections will help detect problems before theythreaten water supplies.

Maintain Chemigation Equipment... installed on your well to prevent back-siphoning or direct injection of ag chemicals into water sources. Inspect check valves and other system safety components each time they are used.

Store Ag Chemicals... away from your well. Avoid the chance for accidents and spills by keeping chemicals in a secure, weatherproof location, preferably 100 feet or more away from your wellhead. Areas near abandoned wells are especially dangerous locations to store ag chemicals because the casings are generally cracked or broken and allow spilled chemicals to enter easily. Properly seal abandoned wells according to state laws and regulations.

Mix/Load Spray Equipment... as far away from wellheads as possible and watch to prevent tank overflow. You may need to add extra lengths of water hose to move the filling and cleaning operations a safe distance from the well. Rinse empty ag chemical containers during the mixing and loading process and add the rinse water to the spray tank. Prevent back-siphoning by keeping the water supply hose end above the level of the liquid in the tank while filling.

Rinse Spray Equipment... as far from wellheads as possible and on ground that is lower than the wellhead. This prevents any spilled chemical from reaching the well area when it rains. Try not to rinse in the same location each time, unless you have either a portable or permanent rinse pad there. Dispose of the rinsate according to label directions.

Dispose of Empty Containers... away from wells. Rinse properly, follow label instructions for container disposal. Never use an abandoned well (or sinkhole) for a trash dump.

Keeping Your Well Water Safe To protect your well from contamination, you may have to change some old and familiar farming practices. This fact sheet will help you decide which procedures and precautions you should adopt. Although these changes perhaps will be initially inconvenient, you will clearly benefit from the extra precautions. Not only will you protect yourself, your family and your farm, you also will help ensure safe drinking water now and in the future.

Is Your Ground Water Vulnerable?
Chemicals on Hand: If spilled on the soil, would your products leach? If spilled, would your products break down slowly in the soil?	Soil Properties: Is your soil texture porous so large quantities of water move through it rapidly? Is soil organic matter and clay content insufficient to help bind spilled chemicals and slow movement in the soil?
Site Characteristics: Is the water table (ground water) near the surface? Are there abandoned or unsafe wells on your property? If spilled, would your products runoff toward wells or other water supplies?	Management Factors: Are your ag chemical storage, mixing and loading areas properly located away from wells and other water sources? Are you properly rinsing and disposing of containers and rinse water? Have you planned for emergencies and rehearsed your response? Do you inspect your well and test your well water periodically?

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