Virginia Farmstead Assessment System Overview

Introduction

Water wells and springs are the most common sources of private household water for rural homesites and farmsteads in Virginia. However, activities related to these environments may contribute to contamination of the groundwater which so many rural residents depend upon for household water. For example, farm facilities such as chemical and fuel storage tanks, livestock and poultry holding areas, irrigation systems, and septic systems are sometimes located near the farmstead well or spring. Retail agribusinesses and enterprises such as nurseries, greenhouses and direct farm markets are unique operations that may have production, storage, and sales areas close to a water well which may be also exposed to the general public. Inadequate maintenance of well-head and farmstead facilities and/or poor farmstead management practices can contribute to contamination of groundwater and water supplies. Rural residents need to be aware of threats to water quality and of measures that will reduce or eliminate contamination of household water supplies.

To meet these challenges, as a part of a nationwide effort, the Virginia Farmstead Assessment System (Virginia Farm * A * Syst) was developed. This voluntary, educational/technical program is mainly a preventive program designed to: (1) provide safe drinking water and thereby protect the health of Virginiašs rural residents; (2) reduce potential land owner liability due to groundwater contamination which may result from farmstead or retail agribusiness activities; and (3) maintain or enhance farm property values throughout Virginia.

The Farm * A * Syst program is designed to guide an individual through a step-by-step evaluation of factors such as soils and geologic properties of the site, well-head or spring condition, and farmstead management practices that may impact the quality of his/her groundwater/drinking water supply. The program participant can identify potential pollution sources, and make an assessment of pollution risks to existing water supplies. Based on identified risks, corrective measures and/or management practices can be selected to reduce the likelihood of contamination.

This assessment is conducted by using a series of fact sheets and worksheets (see inside back cover). A fact sheet /worksheet set deals with a specific pollution factor or source such as household wastewater, chemical storage, etc. Fact sheets are explanatory materials that contain background information on factors that affect groundwater quality, and legal requirements which address water quality and environmental protection. Worksheets are provided to determine ranking of potential pollution risks for each problem described in the fact sheets.

Each worksheet consists of a series of questions related to a specific farmstead feature or management practice such as well-head condition, fertilizer/chemical use, soils and geology of the site, etc. Based on the response to each question, a numerical ranking which indicates relative groundwater pollution risks is calculated. These rankings can then be used as a guideline to identify and prioritize corrective measures that will reduce or eliminate the potential for groundwater/drinking water pollution.

The Virginia Farm * A * Syst package also contains a comprehensive resource directory. The directory provides emergency contacts, a list of agencies where educational/technical and best management practice (BMP) cost-share program information can be obtained, and a list of educational material for further reading.

Users of this package need only to select those fact sheets/worksheets which are applicable to his/her activities or specific situations. For example, those evaluating rural, non-farm, homesite water supplies may select Fact sheets/ Worksheets No.1-No.4. Fact sheets/worksheets that will be important to many agribusinesses are No.1-No. 7. Some farming operations may relate to all worksheets. It is strongly recommended that the fact sheet corresponding to each worksheet be reviewed before using the worksheet itself. To accomplish the task one needs only a pencil and a simple calculator. Each worksheet provides directions for completing the task. In addition, all users will need Worksheet No. 13 (Overall Risk Assessment).

After developing a good understanding of each fact sheet, it will take about 15-30 minutes to complete each worksheet except for Worksheet No. 1 (Soils and Geology). It is recommended that information regarding a specific site be obtained in advance from local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) and/or Cooperative Extension Offices to complete Worksheet No. 1.

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Fact Sheets and Worksheets

The Virginia Farm * A * Syst package contains the following Fact Sheets and Worksheets:

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 1 - Site Evaluation: Groundwater, Soils & Geology

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 2 - Well and Spring Management

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 3 - Household Wastewater Treatment and Septic Systems

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 4 - Hazardous Waste Management

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 5 - Petroleum Products Storage

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 6 - Fertilizer Storage, Handling, and Management

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 7 - Pesticide Storage, Handling, and Management

Fact Sheet/Worksheet 8 - Livestock and Poultry Yard Management

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 9 - Livestock Manure Storage and Treatment Facilities

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 10 - Poultry Litter Management and Carcass Disposal

Fact Sheet/Worksheet No. 11- Milking Center Wastewater Treatment and Management

Worksheet No. 13 - Overall Risk Assessment

Resource Directory

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Acknowledgements

Material for the Virginia Farm*A*Syst package was developed by revision of Farm*A*Syst material from the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service, University of Minnesota Extension Service and the National Farmstead Assessment System Program . The format and style for the Virginia package was based on TEX * A * Syst published by Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A & M University System.

Funding for the development of the Virginia Farm * A * Syst package was provided by the EPA 319 Program, through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation-Division of Soil and Water Conservation (DCR-DSWC).

Project Investigators: B.B. Ross (Project Director), T. Younos (Project Coordinator), and E.R. Collins, Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech; J. Hunnings, Virginia Cooperative Extension-Montgomery County; E. Daniel, Virginia Cooperative Extension-Gloucester County.

Advisory Committee: C. Lunsford (Project Liaison), Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation-Division of Soil and Water Conservation; K. Carter, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service; K. Dictor, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services-Office of Pesticide Management; J. Johnson, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Editorial Assistants: D. Reeder and T. Fleet, Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech.

Editorial and Publication Staff: Beverly Brinlee, Editor Extension Communications; Tim FisherPoff, Graphic Artist, Extension Communications.

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