University of Georgia Cooperative Extension

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University of GeorgiaCooperative Extension
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Maintaining Quality Well Water

• Prepared by
• Frank Hancock
• Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent
• Henry County

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What's in Your Well Water?
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Is My Water Safe to Drink?
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How Did We Get Here?
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Why We Are Here?
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52 of wells tested were positive for bacteria
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Environmental Health Samples34 positive for
coliform bacteria
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Copper exceeds EPA primary standards in 17 of
wells tested
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Above EPA secondary standards of wells tested
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RAINFALL TOTALS BY YEAR

• ATL Jan Feb March April May June July Aug
  Sept Oct Nov Dec Total
• 1996 8.26 3.82 6.42 2.91 2.12 1.70 2.14 4.66
  4.32 0.89 3.22 4.14 44.60
• 1997 5.65 7.93 2.18 4.28 3.36 3.91 4.71 1.32
  4.83 5.12 3.34 5.05 51.68
• 1998 5.83 7.10 6.25 5.12 1.23 3.58 2.93 5.54
  4.45 0.26 1.97 1.90 46.16
• 1999 5.34 1.97 3.32 1.14 4.42 5.83 3.43 1.26
  4.19 2.41 3.34 2.21 38.86
• 2000 4.89 1.26 3.63 2.63 1.86 1.11 2.70 4.03
  4.93 0.88 5.02 2.62 35.56
• 2001 2.77 3.61 9.08 3.30 3.31 6.69 2.54 1.03
  2.19 0.79 0.87 2.22 38.40
• 2002 5.35 2.54 5.49 1.83 3.52 2.81 2.59 0.77
  6.39 5.94 5.36 5.23 47.82
• 2003 2.00 3.51 7.08 3.44 9.94 7.34 5.35 3.48
  2.41 1.49 4.17 2.69 52.90
• 2004 2.84 4.60 1.04 2.80 2.58 5.99 2.20 3.63
  13.65 2.19 7.26 4.82 53.60
• 2005 2.57 5.58 7.49 4.36 1.98 2.91 14.63 8.28
  0.07 1.98 2.91 3.67 56.43
• 2006 5.10 5.50 2.93 2.48 2.86 5.80 1.31 8.66
  3.31 3.04 4.39 3.08 48.46
• 2007 3.95 2.63 1.31 1.79 2.05 3.66 1.85 3.48
  1.19 1.83 1.06 4.35 29.15
• 2008 2.61 4.76
• 30yravg 5.03 4.68 5.38 3.62 3.95 3.63 5.12
  3.67 4.09 3.11 4.10 3.82 50.20

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Level Four Drought
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Restrictions dont Bother Me I Have A Well.

• Stream flows are at an all time low.
• The water table is likewise low.
• Well users should be more diligent than anyone to
  conserve water.

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How Do We Use Water?
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Water Changes During Drought

• Be aware of any changes in
• Odor
• Color
• Taste
• If changes are noted have water tested.

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Who is responsible for the quality of your well
water?

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YOU!
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Well House

• Protects Pump, Tank, and Electrical Components.
  It is not a storage area.
• No Pesticides
• No Trash Piles
• No Fertilizer
• No Gasoline
• No Lawnmowers

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Tree Roots

• Can penetrate well casing
• Provide a path for harmful bacteria to enter the
  well.
• Trees should not be planted close to the well.

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Buffer Zones
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50 Buffer

• Wood Piles
• Rock Piles
• Trash Piles
• Septic Tank

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100 Buffers

• Field Lines
• Chicken Coop
• Dog Pen
• Rabbit Cage 250
• Cow Pasture
• Manure Pile (250)
• Out House
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  100

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100 Buffers

• Fertilizer storage
• Petroleum Products
• Pesticide mixing Station
• Streams
• Termite treated structures

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Dont put anything around your well that you
dont want to drink.
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Insects
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Chemicals/Trash
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Cracked Top /Rat Droppings
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Well Checklist
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Well Head Protection is a Serious Issue