Fertilizer Storage and Handling: Assessing Drinking Water Contamination Risk

For each category listed on the left that is appropriate to your situation, click the box under rank 1-4 that best applies. Your "rank number" will then be genrated on the right.

Glossary for this Fact Worksheet

Information for this Fact Worksheet (PDF)

 

Please Select Your County:

Fertilizer Storage (Addressed in Section 1)
 
Low Risk
(rank 4)
Low-Mod Risk
(rank 3)
Mod-High Risk
(rank 2)
High Risk
(rank 1)
Your Rank

1. Dry formulation

Amount
stored

 None stored at
any time.		 Less than 1 ton stored. Between 1 and 25 tons stored. More than 25 tons stored.

 

 
Storage
site		 Concrete or other
impermeable secondary containment does not allow spill to contaminate soil.		 Covered on clay soil. Spills are collected. Partial cover on loamy soils. No cover on sandy soils. Spills not collected.

 

 

2. Liquid formulation

Amount
stored

 None stored at
any time.		 Less than 55 gallons stored. Between 55 and 500 gallons stored. More than 500 gallons stored.

 

 
Storage
site		 Concrete or other
impermeable secondary containment does not allow spill to contaminate soil.		 Clay-lined secondary containment. Most of spill can be recovered. Moderately permeable soils (loam). No secondary containment. Most of spill cannot be recovered. Highly permeable soil (sand). No secondary containment. Spills
contaminate soil.

 

 
3. Length of storage period Less than 1 month 1 to 3 months 3 to 6 months More than 6 months

 

 
Containment regulations being developed by IDA, regulatory trigger quantities will be determined, contact IDA.
4. Location of storage area in relation to well location 400 feet or more downslope from well. 200 to 400 feet downslope from well. 100 to 200 feet downslope from well. Within 100 feet* or upslope from well.

 

 
5. Containers Original containers clearly labeled. No holes, tears, or weak seams. Lids tight. Containers aging. Poorly labeled or hard to read. Containers patched. Metal containers showing signs of rusting. Labels missing. Containers have holes or tears that allow fertilizers to leak. No labels.

 

 
6. Security Fenced and locked or otherwise secured area separate from all other activities. Locks on valves. Fenced area separate from most other activities. Open to activities that could damage containers or spill fertilizer. Open access to theft, vandalism, and children.

 

 
7. Storage of other products and
materials		 Area dedicated for fertilizer storage. Area shared with
machinery storage.		 Shared area with other farm chemicals. Area of common use for animals and other
chemicals.

 

 

Mixing And Loading Practices (Addressed in Sections 2 and 3)
8. Location of mixing/loading area in relation to well 400 or more feet downslope from well. 200 to 400 feet downslope from well. 100 to 200 feet down-slope from well. Within 100 feet* or upslope from well.

 

 
9. Spill protection for dry materials Protected from wind. Surface impervious with easy cleanup or loading in field of use. Open area with easy cleanup. Open area, cleanup a chore. Graveled surface on sandy soil.

 

 
10. Spill protection for liquids Sealed concrete pad slopes to collection point or sump that allows easy recovery of spill. Loading in field of use. Change location each fill. Spills cleaned up promptly. Flat concrete pad with some cracks. No curb or sump. Spills not cleaned up promptly. No loading pad on porous soil. Same site each load. Spills not cleaned up.

 

 
* This practice represents a high risk choice.

Additional Mixing And Loading Practices For Liquid Fertilizer (continued)
11. Loading/filling supervision Constant by trained individual. Constant by whoever is handy. Periodic. Seldom or never. Occasional spills.

 

 
12. Water source Separate water tank. --- --- Obtained directly from water well, stream, or pond.

 

 

 

 
13. Backflow prevention on water supply Anti-backflow device installed. Six-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank. Anti-backflow device installed. Hose in tank above waterline. No anti-backflow device. Hose in tank above waterline. No anti-backflow device. Hose in tank below water line.

 

 
14. Liquid handling system Closed system for all liquid product transfers. Closed system for most liquids. Some liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port easy to reach. All liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port easy to reach. All liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port hard to reach.

 

 

Cleanup And Disposal Practices (Addressed in Section 4)
15. Container disposal Returned to supplier, or reusable container. Taken to approved landfill. Disposal of empty containers on property. Disposal of partially filled containers on property.

 

 
16.Application
equipment cleaning and rinsate disposal		 Application equipment rinsed in field. Rinsate applied to crop or pasture ground at agronomic rate. Application equipment rinsed on pad at
homestead. Rinsate applied to crop or pasture ground at agronomic rate.		 Application equipment rinsed at homestead. Rinsate applied around yard. Not applied at agronomic rate. Application equipment rinsed at homestead. Rinsate allowed to drain in one spot.

 

 
Boldface type in high risk column: Besides representing a higher-risk choice, this practice also violates Idaho law.