Virginia Farmstead Assessment System*

Fact Sheet No. 6 Fertilizer Storage, Handling, and Management

Technical Reviewers: Kathy Dictor, Jonathan (Jay) R. Crane and Nancy K. Cook, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Richmond, Virginia.

Publication Number 442-906, June 1996

*Overview of the Virginia Farm Assessment System

These terms may help you make more accurate assessments when completing Worksheet No. 6. They may also help clarify some of the terms used in Fact Sheet No. 6

Air gap:

An air space (open space) between the hose or faucet and water level, representing one way to prevent backflow into a well or other water supply.

Anti-backflow (anti-back siphonign) device:

A check valve or other mechanical device to prevent unwanted reverse flow of liquids back down a water supply pipe into a well or other water supply.

Backflow:

The unwanted reverse flow of liquids in a piping system.

Backflow prevention device:

(See anti-backflow device.)

Back siphonage:

Backflow caused by formation of a vacuum in a water supply pipe.

Closed handling system:

A system for transferring pesticides or fertilizers directly from storage container to applicator equipment (through a hose, for example), so that humans and the environment are never inadvertently exposed to the chemicals.

Cross-connection:

A link or channel between pipes, well, fixtures or tanks carrying contaminated water and those carrying potable (safe for drinking) water. Contaminated water, if at higher pressure, enters the potable water system.

Fertigation:

The process of injecting fertilizer to irrigation system water.

Milligrams per liter (mg/l):

The weight of a substance measured in milligrams contained in one liter. One mg/l is equivalent to 1 part per million in water measure.

Parts per million (ppm):

A measurement of concentration of one unit of material dispersed in one million units of another.

Rinsate:

Rinse water from pesticide or fertilizer tank cleaning.

Secondary containment:

Any structure used to contain product spills from bulk storage containers and prevent runoff or leaching.

Return to FACT SHEET No. 6 Fertilizer Storage, Handling, and Management.

Return to WORKSHEET No. 6 Fertilizer Storage, Handling, and Management.

View a list of the Virginia Farmstead Assessment System publications