Lawn and Garden Management: 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:

Well Location (Addressed in Sections 1 and 2)
 
Low Risk
(rank 4)
Low-Mod Risk
(rank 3)
Mod-High Risk
(rank 2)
High Risk
(rank 1)
Your Rank
1. Location of well in relation to area of application Most of area is down gradient from well. Surface water is diverted from well. Area is at grade or down gradient from well. Surface water is diverted from well. Area is at grade or up gradient from well. Surface water runoff may reach well. Area is up gradient from well. Surface water runoff reaches well.

 

 
2. Use of chemicals
to control pests		 No application of
chemicals. Use non-toxic solutions to problems.		 Use mostly non-toxic solutions to problems.
Some careful spot use of chemicals.		 Limited use of chemicals, but more than spot use. Use of chemicals on large areas.

 

 
3. Relative leachability
of pesticide		 Low Low-Medium Medium-High High

 

 
4. Storage of
pesticides		 Storage of pesticides in a secured area away from the well. --- --- Storage of pesticides in close vicinity to the well.

 

 

 

 
5. Disposal of
pesticides		 Disposal through a local household hazardous waste collection or other appropiate means. --- --- Disposal on property in close vicinity to the well.

 

 

 

 

Fertilizer Management (Addressed in Sections 1 and 2)
6. Location of
application		 Most of area is down gradient from well. Surface water is diverted from well. Area is at grade or down gradient from well. Surface water is diverted from well. Area is at grade or up gradient from well. Surface water runoff may reach well. Area is up gradient from welll. Surface water runoff reaches well.

 

 
7. Solubilty of fertilizer Low solubility: Use of organic fertilizer. Low-Med solubility. Use of predominately synthetic fertilizers, but some organic fertilizers. Med-High solubility. Use of predominately synthetic fertilizers, but some organic fertilizers. High solubility. Use of synthetic fertilizers.

 

 
8. Amount of fertilizer application Application rates based on soil tests. Recommended amount calculated, measured, and applied. Application rate based on soil tests. Recommended amount estimated,
measured, and applied.		 No soil tests. Plant needs estimated, then
measured and applied.		 No soil tests. Application of fertilizers at unknown rate.

 

 
9. Timing of fertilizer application Calculated total plant needs. Made several applications during the growing season, according to plant requirements. Calculated total plant needs. Entire amount applied in one single application during the growing season. Plant needs not
determined, and entire amount applied in one single application during the growing season.		 Plant needs not determined; fertilizer applied during the non-growing season.

 

 
10. Storage of fertilizers Storage of fertilizers in a secured area away from the well. --- --- Storage of fertilizers in a non-secured area in close proximity to the well.

 

 

 

 

Irrigation Water Management (Addressed in Sections 1 and 2)

11. Amount of water application Measured application based on the plants' consumption use requirements (in./day) and the soils' available water capacity. Measured applications based on filling the soil to field capacity within the plants' effective root zone. Non-measured
applications based on estimates of the plants' needs.		 Non-measured heavy applications based on neither the plants' needs or the soils' moisture levels.

 

 
12. Timing of water application Application of water based on the plants' needs and soil moisture levels. Application of water based on plants' needs, but prior to the plants' wilting point. Application of water based on convenience or when irrigation water is
available.		 Heavy application of water soon after use of pesticides and fertilizers.

 

 
*Use the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Information.