Protecting farm drinking water
Fall is a good time to take steps for protecting farm drinking water.
“Many wells become contaminated from snowmelt and flood waters in the spring,” says John Nowatzki, a water quality associate with the North Dakota State University extension service.
“Learning to recognize potential sources of ground water contamination on farmsteads is the first step in protecting ground water.”
Nowatzki says people living in areas with sandy soils or where the watertable is within six metres of the surface should be particularly concerned. Those conditions increase the risk of groundwater contamination.
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The first step is to examine the well. It’s condition and the practices around the well have a direct bearing on the risks of contamination.
Driven wells also provide higher risk for contamination because they normally are not sealed with grout around the casing. Older wells can pose a higher risk to ground water because of structural problems such as collapsed casings or casings with holes.
Nowatzki says depressions around well casings should be filled to provide good drainage away from the well. Depressions can provide a place for surface water to accumulate. Contaminants in the surface water can leak down around the casing or penetrate through cracks in the casing.
The well casing needs to project at least 30 centimetres above ground level. In areas subject to flooding, the top of the casing must be at least 60 cm above the highest known flood elevation.
“If you find your well is inadequate in any of these areas, correct the situation now,” Nowatzki advises. “You may not have time next spring.”
In some areas there are specific requirements for distance between wells and potential contaminants.
Of particular concern are septic tanks and drainfields, barnyards, feedlots, lakes, streams, sloughs and ponds. Nowatzki notes abandoned wells are a particularly serious risk to ground water.
“Abandoned wells provide a direct conduit for contaminants to reach the ground water,” he said. “These unused wells need to be properly sealed to eliminate their risk to contamination.”
– N.D. State University Extension Service
