Virginia Farmstead Assessment System: Pesticide Storage, Handling, and Management

Virginia Farmstead Assessment System*

Fact Sheet No. 7 Pesticide Storage, Handling, and Management

Fact Sheet and Worksheet No. 7 were modified by Tamim Younos and Blake Ross (Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech).

Technical Reviewers: Kathy Dictor, Donald R. Delorme and William E. Walls (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consusmer Services, Richmond, Virginia).

Publication Number 442-907, June 1996

*Overview of the Virginia Farm Assessment System

Read Fact Sheet No. 7

How will this worksheet help you protect your drinking water?

It will take you step by step through your hazardous waste management practices.
It will rank your activities according to how they might affect the groundwater that provides your drinking water.
It will provide you with easy-to-understand rankings that will help you analyze the "relative risk level" of your hazardous waste management practices.
It will help you determine which of your practices are reasonably safe and effective, and which practices might require modification to better protect your drinking water.

Follow the directions below. Focus on the well or spring that provides drinking water for your home or farm. If you have more than one drinking water supply on your farmstead, take the time to fill out a worksheet for each one.

Note: You will probably want to make a print-out of this worksheet to complete it.

Use a pencil. You may want to make changes.
For each category listed on the left that is appropriate to your farmstead, read across to the right and circle the statement that best describes conditions on your farmstead. (Skip and leave blank any categories that don't apply.)
Then look above the description you circled to find your "rank number" (4, 3, 2, or 1) and enter that number in the blank under "your rank."
Directions on overall scoring appear at the end of the worksheet.
Allow about 15-30 minutes to complete the worksheet and figure out your risk rank.

Pesticide Storage

(See Fact Sheet No. 7, Section I)

LOW RISK
(rank 4) LOW-MOD RISK
(rank 3) MOD-HIGH RISK
(rank 2) HIGH RISK
(rank 1) RANK NUMBER

Amount Stored For More Than One Season No pesticides stored. Less than 1 gallon or less than 10 pounds of each pesticide. More than 1 gallon or more than 10 pounds of each pesticide. More than 55 gallons or more than 550 pounds of each pesticide. _______

Amount Stored For Less Than One Season No pesticides stored. Less than 10 gallons or less than 100 pounds of each pesticide. More than 10 gallons or more than 100 pounds of each pesticide. More than 55 gallons or more than 550 pounds of each pesticide. _______

Types stored: Leachability* No pesticides stored. Low leaching potential. Medium leaching potential. High leaching potential or leachability unknown. _______

Liquid or dry formulation No liquid. All dry. Some liquid. Mostly dry. Mostly liquid. Some dry. All liquid. No dry. _______

Spill or leak control in storage area Impermeable surface (such as concrete) does not allow spills to soak into soil. Curb installed on floor to contain leaks and spills. Impermeable surface with curb installed has some cracks, allowing spills to get to soil or impermeable surface without cracks has no curb installed. Permeable surface (wooden floor) has some cracks. Spills could contaminate wood or soil. Permeable surface (gravel or dirt floor). Spills could contaminate a floor. _______

Containers Original containers clearly labeled. No holes, tears or weld seems. Original containers old. Labels partially missing or hard to read. Containers old, but patched. Metal containers show signs of rusting. Containers have holes or tears that allow chemicals to leak. No labels. _______

Security Fenced or locked area separate from all other activities. Fenced area separate from most other activities. Open to activities that could damage containers or spill chemicals. Open access to theft, vandalism and children. _______

	LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	RANK NUMBER
Amount Stored For More Than One Season	No pesticides stored.	Less than 1 gallon or less than 10 pounds of each pesticide.	More than 1 gallon or more than 10 pounds of each pesticide.	More than 55 gallons or more than 550 pounds of each pesticide.	_______
Amount Stored For Less Than One Season	No pesticides stored.	Less than 10 gallons or less than 100 pounds of each pesticide.	More than 10 gallons or more than 100 pounds of each pesticide.	More than 55 gallons or more than 550 pounds of each pesticide.	_______
Types stored: Leachability*	No pesticides stored.	Low leaching potential.	Medium leaching potential.	High leaching potential or leachability unknown.	_______
Liquid or dry formulation	No liquid. All dry.	Some liquid. Mostly dry.	Mostly liquid. Some dry.	All liquid. No dry.	_______
Spill or leak control in storage area	Impermeable surface (such as concrete) does not allow spills to soak into soil. Curb installed on floor to contain leaks and spills.	Impermeable surface with curb installed has some cracks, allowing spills to get to soil or impermeable surface without cracks has no curb installed.	Permeable surface (wooden floor) has some cracks. Spills could contaminate wood or soil.	Permeable surface (gravel or dirt floor). Spills could contaminate a floor.	_______
Containers	Original containers clearly labeled. No holes, tears or weld seems.	Original containers old. Labels partially missing or hard to read.	Containers old, but patched. Metal containers show signs of rusting.	Containers have holes or tears that allow chemicals to leak. No labels.	_______
Security	Fenced or locked area separate from all other activities.	Fenced area separate from most other activities.	Open to activities that could damage containers or spill chemicals.	Open access to theft, vandalism and children.	_______

See Pesticide Leachability Table ( Fact Sheet No. 7, Appendix A)

Mixing and Loading Practices

(See Fact Sheet No. 7, Section II)

LOW RISK
(rank 4) LOW-MOD RISK
(rank 3) MOD-HIGH RISK
(rank 2) HIGH RISK
(rank 1) RANK NUMBER

Location of well or spring in relation to mixing/loading 100 or more feet downslope from well. 50 to 100 feet downslope from well. 10 to 50 feet downslope, or 100 to 500 feet upslope from well. Within 10 feet downslope or within 100 feet upslope from well. _______

Mixing and loading pad (spill containment) Concrete pad with curb keeps spills contained. Sump allows collection and transfer to storage. Concrete pad with curb keeps spills contained. Sump allows collection and transfer to storage. Concrete pad with some cracks keeps some spills contained. No curb or sump. Mixing/loading done on permeable soil (sand). Spills soak into ground. _______

Water source Separate water tank (nurse tank). Separate water tank (nurse tank). Hydrant 50-100 feet from well or spring. Obtained directly at well or spring. _______

Backflow prevention on water supply Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank. Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank. Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank. Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank. _______

Filling supervision Constant. Frequent. Seldom. Seldom.
_______

Handling system Closed systems 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 easy to reach _______

	LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	RANK NUMBER
Location of well or spring in relation to mixing/loading	100 or more feet downslope from well.	50 to 100 feet downslope from well.	10 to 50 feet downslope, or 100 to 500 feet upslope from well.	Within 10 feet downslope or within 100 feet upslope from well.	_______
Mixing and loading pad (spill containment)	Concrete pad with curb keeps spills contained. Sump allows collection and transfer to storage.	Concrete pad with curb keeps spills contained. Sump allows collection and transfer to storage.	Concrete pad with some cracks keeps some spills contained. No curb or sump.	Mixing/loading done on permeable soil (sand). Spills soak into ground.	_______
Water source	Separate water tank (nurse tank).	Separate water tank (nurse tank).	Hydrant 50-100 feet from well or spring.	Obtained directly at well or spring.	_______
Backflow prevention on water supply	Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank.	Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank.	Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank.	Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank.	_______
Filling supervision	Constant.	Frequent.	Seldom.	Seldom.	_______
Handling system	Closed systems 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 easy to reach	_______

Cleanup Practices

(See Fact Sheet No. 7, Section III)

LOW RISK
(rank 4) LOW-MOD RISK
(rank 3) MOD-HIGH RISK
(rank 2) HIGH RISK
(rank 1) RANK NUMBER

Sprayer cleaning and rinsate (rinse water) disposal Sprayer washed out in field away from water source. Rinsate used in next load and applied to crop. Sprayer washed out on pad. Rinsate used in next load and applied to crop. Sprayer washed out at farmstead. Rinsate sprayed less than 100 feet from well. Sprayer washed out at farmstead. Rinsate dumped on farmstead or in nearby field. _______

	LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	RANK NUMBER
Sprayer cleaning and rinsate (rinse water) disposal	Sprayer washed out in field away from water source. Rinsate used in next load and applied to crop.	Sprayer washed out on pad. Rinsate used in next load and applied to crop.	Sprayer washed out at farmstead. Rinsate sprayed less than 100 feet from well.	Sprayer washed out at farmstead. Rinsate dumped on farmstead or in nearby field.	_______

Unwanted Pesticide and Container Disposal

(See Fact Sheet No. 7, Section IV)

LOW RISK
(rank 4) LOW-MOD RISK
(rank 3) MOD-HIGH RISK
(rank 2) HIGH RISK
(rank 1) RANK NUMBER

Unwanted or Banned Pesticides Participation in EPA cancelled (banned) pesticide buy-back program if available. Unused pesticides returned to dealer or retailer. Waste pesticide collection, hazardous waste collection service or approved incinerator is used. Pesticides sold for restricted or general purposes, used up or taken to a licensed landfill. Disposal of unused pesticides at a non-licensed landfill. Disposal of unused pesticides on the farmstead. _______

Pesticide Container (Plastic, Metal or Bag) disposal Returnable containers or refillable mini-bulks are returned to the dealer. Triple-rinsed un-refillable containers are offered for recycling, or taken to licensed landfill. Rinsate applied to appropiate crop. Bags taken to a licensed landfill. Un-rinsed coontainers or empty bags sent to a non-licensed landfill, municipal incinerator or dump. Disposal of rinsed or un-rinsed containers, or empty bags on the farmstead. Disposal of partially filled containers on the farmstead. _______

	LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	RANK NUMBER
Unwanted or Banned Pesticides	Participation in EPA cancelled (banned) pesticide buy-back program if available. Unused pesticides returned to dealer or retailer. Waste pesticide collection, hazardous waste collection service or approved incinerator is used.	Pesticides sold for restricted or general purposes, used up or taken to a licensed landfill.	Disposal of unused pesticides at a non-licensed landfill.	Disposal of unused pesticides on the farmstead.	_______
Pesticide Container (Plastic, Metal or Bag) disposal	Returnable containers or refillable mini-bulks are returned to the dealer. Triple-rinsed un-refillable containers are offered for recycling, or taken to licensed landfill. Rinsate applied to appropiate crop. Bags taken to a licensed landfill.	Un-rinsed coontainers or empty bags sent to a non-licensed landfill, municipal incinerator or dump.	Disposal of rinsed or un-rinsed containers, or empty bags on the farmstead.	Disposal of partially filled containers on the farmstead.	_______

Field Pest Management

(See Fact Sheet No. 7, Section V)

LOW RISK
(rank 4) LOW-MOD RISK
(rank 3) MOD-HIGH RISK
(rank 2) HIGH RISK
(rank 1) RANK NUMBER

Pest management Pest management plan, e.g., IPM, is followed. -- -- Pest management plan not established. _______

	LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	RANK NUMBER
Pest management	Pest management plan, e.g., IPM, is followed.	--	--	Pest management plan not established.	_______

Use this total to calculate risk rank: Rank Number Total
_______

Use this total to calculate risk rank:		Rank Number Total	_______

Calculate Risk Rank.

Step 1:

Sum up the rankings for the categories you completed and divide by the total number of categories ranked. Carry your answer out to one decimal point.

Rank Number Total

_______ divided by No. of categories ranked

_______ equals Risk Rank

_______

Risk Categories

3.6-4.0 = low risk

2.6-3.5 = low to moderate risk

1.6-2.5 = moderate to high risk

1.0-1.5 = high risk

This ranking gives you an idea of how your well or spring management practices as a whole might be affecting your drinking water. Later you will combine this risk ranking with other farmstead management rankings in Worksheet No. 13, "Overall Risk Assessment." This ranking should serve only as a very general guide, not a definitive indicator of contamination. Because it represents an averaging of many individual rankings, it can mask any individual rankings (such as 1's or 2's) that should be of concern (see Step 2.).

Step 2:

Look over your ranking for each category:

Low-risk practices (4's): ideal; should be your goal despite cost and effort.
Low-to-moderate risk practices (3's): provide reasonable groundwater protection.
Moderate-to-high-risk practices (2's): inadequate protection in many circumstances.
High-risk practices (1's): inadequate; pose a high risk of polluting groundwater.

Any individual rankings of "1" require immediate attention. Some concerns you can take care of right away; others could be a major-or costly-project, requiring planning and prioritizing before you take action. Note the activities that you identified as 1's to be listed later under "High-Risk Activities" in Worksheet No. 13.

Glossary No. 7

Return to Fact Sheet No. 7

View a list of the Virginia Farmstead Assessment System publications