1. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension

2. Maintaining Quality Well Water Prepared by: Frank Hancock Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent Henry County

3. What's in Your Well Water?

4. Is My Water Safe to Drink?

5. How Did We Get Here?

6. Why We Are Here?

7. 52% of wells tested were positive for bacteria

8. Environmental Health Samples 34% positive for coliform bacteria

9. Copper exceeds EPA primary standards in 17% of wells tested

10. Above EPA secondary standards % of wells tested

11. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

12. Level Four Drought

13. Restrictions don’t Bother Me I Have A Well. Stream flows are at an all time low. Stream flows are at an all time low. The water table is likewise low. The water table is likewise low. Well users should be more diligent than anyone to conserve water. Well users should be more diligent than anyone to conserve water.

14. How Do We Use Water?

15. Water Changes During Drought Be aware of any changes in: Be aware of any changes in: Odor Odor Color Color Taste Taste If changes are noted have water tested. If changes are noted have water tested.

16. Who is responsible for the quality of your well water?

17. YOU!

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

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

20. Buffer Zones

21. 50’ Buffer Wood Piles Wood Piles Rock Piles Rock Piles Trash Piles Trash Piles Septic Tank Septic Tank

22. 100’ Buffers Field Lines Field Lines Chicken Coop Chicken Coop Dog Pen Dog Pen Rabbit Cage 250’ Rabbit Cage 250’ Cow Pasture Cow Pasture Manure Pile (250’) Manure Pile (250’) Out House Out House 100’ 100’

23. 100’ Buffers Fertilizer storage Fertilizer storage Petroleum Products Petroleum Products Pesticide mixing Station Pesticide mixing Station Streams Streams Termite treated structures Termite treated structures

24. Don’t put anything around your well that you don’t want to drink.

25. Insects

26. Chemicals/Trash

27. Cracked Top /Rat Droppings

28. Well Checklist

29. Well Head Protection is a Serious Issue