V.I. Home & Farm Water Quality Assessment

Protecting Your Water Quality
Through a Home Farm Assessment

About 50-60 percent of Virgin Islands' residents use ground water or a rain water collection system (cistern) to supply their drinking water needs. These systems should be designed to provide clean, safe water. If water supply equipment or storage facilities are not built and/ or maintained properly, they can allow bacteria, fertilizer, pesticides, animal manure, petroleum products, or other pollutants to contaminate drinking water. These contaminants can put your family's health at risk.

Pollution is a serious threat to scarce fresh water supplies. You can help protect your drinking water by learning to recognize potential sources of pollution and by working to reduce or eliminate them.

This Assessment has been designed to make you aware of conditions or practices on your property that increase the risk of contamination to your drinking water. It is divided into eight sections so you can easily identify particular situations on your property that may be putting your drinking water at risk.

If you answer Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in a specific section of this Assessment, you will be directed to a factsheet in this bulletin that will provide more information on that topic. These factsheets will help you to develop an Action Plan to establish practices that reduce contamination risks to your drinking water supply.

UVI Cooperative Extension Service

VI Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

I. Assessing the Condition and Location of Your Water Supply System

If your drinking water comes from the V.I. Water and Power Authority (WAPA), continue to Section II. Assessing Your Site.

Is your water supply from a domestic well? If yes, continue with the questions below. If no, go on to B. Rainwater Collection Systems.

YES	NO
		1.	Do you have a well less than 50 feet deep?
		2.	Do you have a dug well or driven well, rather than a drilled well?
		3.	Was your well built more than 50 years ago?
		4.	Has it been longer than three years since you had your well water tested or did your water test positive for nitrate and/or bacteria the last time it was tested?
		5.	Does your well casing (well pipe) extend less than 18 inches above the ground level?
		6.	Is there a hole or depression around your well casing?
		7.	Can you see any cracks or holes in your well casing?
		8.	Is your well downhill from any potential contamination sources (septic system; pesticide, fertilizer, manure, or petroleum product storage area; or other pollution sources)?
		9.	Is your well located closer to potential pollution sources than Virgin Islands code allows?
		10.	Are there abandoned wells on your property that have not been properly plugged?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing the Condition and Location of Your Drinking Water Well. This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

Is your drinking water supply from a rain water collection system (cistern)? If YES, continue with questions below. If no, continue to Section II. Assessing Your Site.

YES	NO
		1.	Has it been over three (3) years since your cistern was emptied and cleaned?
		2.	Has it been over one month since you treated your cistern water with chlorine?
		3.	Has it been longer than one month since you cleaned debris from your roof and/or collection system (gutters, pipes, cistern)?
		4.	Is your roof made of or coated with toxic materials (i.e., asbestos, lead paint, zinc, etc.)?
		5.	Are there places on your roof, collection area, or in your gutter system where water stands instead of flowing into your cistern?
		6.	Can animals or debris enter through the screen(s) on your rainwater collection system?
		7.	Has it been longer than two (2) years since you inspected your cistern for cracks or leaks?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing the Condition of Your Rain Water Collection System (Cistern). This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

YES	NO
		1.	Has it been longer than five (5) years since you updated or reviewed your resource conservation plan?
		2.	Is your soil sandy or gravelly (does your soil drain quickly)?
		3.	Is your soil less than three feet deep (to rock or caliche)?
		4.	Is your water table less than ten feet from the soil surface ?
		5.	Are you losing your valuable topsoil to erosion?
		6.	Does stormwater runoff from your property reach surface waters (guts, ponds, coastal waters)?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing Your Site. This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

YES	NO
		1.	Do you have an on-site waste water disposal system (septic tank with drainfield or seepage pit)? *(If you DO NOT have an onsite wastewater system, continue on to next page )*
		2.	Is your on-site waste water disposal system less than 50 feet from any water supply system (well or cistern)?
		3.	Is your on-site waste water disposal system less than 25 feet from a surface water body (guts, ponds, or coastal waters)?
		4.	Has it been over three (3) years since you had your septic tank cleaned out?
		5.	Do you regularly use chlorine or chlorine-based products for cleaning (for example, daily application in the toilet bowl)?
		6.	Do you dump grease, oil, or leftover household chemicals down your drain?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing Your Household Waste Water Disposal System. This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

YES	NO
		1.	Do you dispose of household products such as furniture polish, paints, stains, and cleaners and/or their containers on your property (including down the drain)?
		2.	Do you dispose of used petroleum products, anti-freeze, or batteries on your property?
		3.	Do you dispose of leftover or banned pesticides and/or pesticide containers on your property?
		4.	Are there any these hazardous products stored near your cistern well and/or pump room, or accessible to children and/or pets?
		5.	Has it been longer than one (1) year since you reviewed or updated your emergency response plan (emergency phone numbers, escape routes, poisoning information)?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing Your Household Hazardous Waste Management Practices. This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

YES	NO
		1.	Do you have livestock and/or poultry on your property?*(If NO, go on to next page )*
		2.	Do you house livestock and/or poultry within 100 feet of a water supply system (well or cistern) or water body?
		3.	Do you store manure within 250 feet of a water supply system (well or cistern) or water body?
		4.	Is your livestock and/or poultry facility located up-hill from a water supply system (well or cistern) or water body?
		5.	Do you bury dead animals on your property?
		6.	Do you spread manure on your gardens and/or fields without adding it into your nutrient management plan?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing Your Livestock and Poultry Operations. This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

(If you DO NOT use fertilizers, including plant food, go to next page )

YES	NO
		1.	Has it been a long time (over three years) since you tested your soil's nutrient content recently? (in gardens, lawns, and/or fields)
		2.	Is your soil sandy or gravelly? (does your soil drain quickly)?
		3.	Do you apply animal manure and/or crop residues to your gardens, lawns, and/or fields?
		4.	If the answer to number 3 is Yes, Are you unsure of the nutrient content of the animal manure you apply? (Have you not tested the manure?)
		5.	Do you make fertilizer applications based on maximum (hypothetical) garden or crop yields rather than historical or actual yields?
		6.	Do you apply all the fertilizer needed by the garden, crop or landscape for the whole growing season all at one time?
		7.	Do you store fertilizer products on your property?
		8.	Has it been longer than one (1) year since you updated your nutrient management plan?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing Your Fertilizer Storage and Handling Practices. This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

YES	NO
		1.	Do you use or store pesticides (including weed and/or bug killer) on your property? If No, continue to next page.
		2.	Do you mix, apply or store pesticides without reading the label first?
		3.	Are your pesticides stored on wood, gravel, soil, or on a concrete pad without a curb?
		4.	Do you have pesticide containers that are damaged, leaking, and/or rusting?
		5.	Do you mix, apply or store pesticides within 150 feet of any water supply system (well or cistern) or water body?
		6.	Do you fill your sprayer container or tank directly from a drinking water supply system (well or cistern)?
		7.	Do you fill your sprayer container or tank with a hose that does not have a check valve or put the hose in the tank so that it is below the water line during filling?
		8.	Do you leave your sprayer container or tank unattended while filling?
		9.	Do you rinse out your sprayer container or tank near your water supply system (well or cistern) or surface water body?
		10.	Do you apply pesticides without recalibrating your sprayer?
		11.	Has it been longer than five (5) years since you attended a pesticide applicator training course or workshop?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing Your Pesticide Storage and Handling Practices. This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

YES	NO
		1.	Do you have a petroleum storage container(s) or tank(s) on your property? If NO, continue to factsheets or survey .
		2.	Is your petroleum storage container(s) or tank(s) less than 100 feet from a water supply or water body?
		3.	If you have a petroleum storage tank, is it located underground?
		4.	Do you lack protection against leaks or spills from your petroleum storage container(s) or tank(s) (no containment system, catch basin, or concrete spill pad)?
		5.	Do you need to develop a method of record-keeping to keep track of petroleum use?

If you have answered Yes or do not know the answer to any of the questions in this section, refer to the factsheet in this Bulletin titled Assessing Your Petroleum Product Storage Facilities. This factsheet contains valuable information and will help you develop an Action Plan to reduce the risk of contamination to your drinking water supply.

For More Information.....

This assessment does not cover all potential risks on your property that could impact the quality of your drinking water. It is designed to: create an awareness of potential risks to water quality on your property; provide voluntary solutions to reduce pollution risks; and develop an action plan to protect your drinking water supply. Individual areas and states may vary in requirements on minimum standards for water supply protection. Always check with your local offices listed in the reference section of each worksheet before making changes to your water supply system. There are other, more detailed, Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst programs available. If you have specific questions about protecting your drinking water, contact your local Extension Service Office, local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Office, or your local Soil and Water Conservation District Office. You may also contact the National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Office at B142 Steenbock Library, 550 Babcock Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1293, Phone (608) 262-0024.

This document was published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service, Kwame Garcia, Director of Extension Programs. This document was developed by Julie Wright, Natural Resources Specialist, University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with the National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Program, and is patterned in a large part after the National Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Program document "Protecting Your Water Through A Farm & Home Assessment" and the North Dakota Farm*A*Syst Program developed by North Dakota Extension Service. Contents of this publication constitute public property. No endorsement of products or firms is intended, nor is criticism implied of those not mentioned. Issued by the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on non-discrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability or gender preference.

The Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst Program is funded nationally by: USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Services, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The program supports voluntary pollution prevention to protect surface and ground water through a partnership with governmental agencies and the private sector.

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Last updated on May 15, 1998 by Julie Wright