IOIA Technical Advisory Panel

RESOURCES ON WATER SUPPLY, WATER QUALITY, AND RELATED TOPICS

• You can learn a great deal about the water resources of an area before you arrive. Go to the website of the nearest town or city that has a public water supply, and read the consumer confidence report. It will tell you what the source water is, the kinds of contaminants commonly found in the area, what their sources typically are, and what the test results are for the public supply. This can be helpful background info when you visit an operation in the area served by a private water supply. State environmental or water agency websites can also provide some really useful information about an area. Background information is important if you are going to an operation that has documented or suspected water quality problems. It is essential that the right decisions be made regarding what parameters are tested for. A well may be contaminated by trichloroethylene from a nearby factory, which would not be apparent from a coliform test.
• The US EPA website is one of the better ones around. It contains a huge amount of practical, background information on water quality and many other environmental topics that may be germane to organic inspecting. The water quality part of the site is: www.epa.gov/safewater. The Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Standards are also posted on this site.
• County soil surveys by the SCS provide a wealth of environmental information, including the permeability of specific soil types, what the underlying geologic parent material is, and the normal range of soil organic matter content, among many other things. Soil surveys are available from the local FSA office or library, or in some cases, the operator may have a copy.
• For regional geology, the Geological Highway Maps published by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists can=t be beat. They show the kinds of rocks or sediment at the land surface, and give a brief description. Try http://bookstore.aapg.org. You can also get good background geology information from state geological surveys, who may have state or regional maps available. Almost all of these agencies have websites, where you may find the information online.
• Home*A*Syst and Farm*A*Syst are environmental risk self-assessment guides put out by the extension service. They focus on water quality and are conceptually easy to use yet very comprehensive and informative. Highly recommended as general background for inspectors, and as a self assessment for the farm you are inspecting. Available from local or state extension offices.
• Many states are now implementing an EPA requirement for nutrient management plans (NMP) for livestock operations or any other operation where large amounts of manure or other nutrients are applied. Review the inspected operator=s NMP. If they don=t have one, and you are unsure about whether manure or other application rates are justifiable, visit the state=s agriculture department website and find out what the nutrient management plan guidelines call for.
• SDWA: AHistory of the Safe Drinking Water Act@, Frederick Pontius, Journal of the New England Water Works Association, vol. CXIII, December, 1999, pages 257-281. An excellent summary of the evolution of clean-water regulations in the United States, from day one to the present.
• Well codes: nearly every state has some type of regulations governing the construction and siting of water wells. The code requirements may differ depending on whether it is a domestic well, PWS well, or other high-capacity well (e.g., manufacturing). Such codes often have specific requirements regarding the abandonment of old, non-functional wells. Well codes are usually administered by the state water/natural resources agency.
• General hydrogeology. Many states put out informational bulletins aimed at a general audience that describe the water resources and issues facing the state. These are often a great background primer on the mechanics of surface and ground-water behavior. Usually available from water or natural resources agencies, and sometimes through county extension offices. For a more in-depth discussion, try Applied Hydrogeology by C.W. Fetter, 1992, Merrill Publishing, Columbus, OH