**U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE\
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE\
IDAHO**

**operation and maintenance REQUIREMENTS\
Water well\
code 642**

Landowner/Operator

Job Location

County SWCD Farm/Tract No.

Referral No. Prepared By Date

**Operation and Maintenance Items**

A properly operated and maintained well is an asset to the farm. This
well was designed and installed to provide beneficial use of subsurface
water. The estimated life span of this installation is at least 10
years. The life of this system can be assured and usually increased by
developing and carrying out a good operation and maintenance program.

This practice will require performance of periodic maintenance and also
require operational items to maintain satisfactory performance. A good
operation and maintenance program includes:

-   Maintain the well cover securely in place.

-   Protect the area from being damaged by agriculture machinery,
    vehicles, or livestock.

-   All fences, railings, and/or warning signs shall be maintained to
    provide warning and/or prevent unauthorized human or livestock
    entry.

-   Do not allow any foreign debris to accumulate in the immediate
    vicinity.

-   Maintain soil and vegetative covering to the design conditions.

-   Eradicate or otherwise remove all rodents or burrowing animals.
    Immediately repair any damage caused by their activity.

-   Check metal surfaces for rust and other damage especially sections
    in contact with earthfill and with other materials. Repair or
    replace damaged section and apply paint as a protective covering.

-   Keep all surface water from entering or accumulating at the
    immediate vicinity of the well site.

-   Immediately repair any vandalism, vehicular, or livestock damage.

-   Other items specific to your project are listed on \"Special
    Operation and Maintenance Requirements\" section.

**procedures for colleciton of water quality samples**

Bacterial Sampling

Sampling of community water supply wells, is covered by requirements of
the State Board of Health and the local health department. For
individual domestic wells, technical assistance or advice regarding the
collection of bacteriological samples may be obtained from local health
department or from the laboratory that will examine the sample.

If no technical assistance is available, the following procedure will
suffice: A sterile sample bottle, preferably one provided by the
laboratory that will make the determination, must be used. It is
extremely important that nothing except the water to be analyzed come in
contact with the inside of the bottle or the cap; the water must not be
allowed to flow over an object or over the hands while the bottle is
being filled. Do not rinse the sample bottle. The sample should be
delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible and in no case more than
24 hours after its collection. During delivery, the sample should be
kept as cool as possible (but not frozen).

Chemical (Mineral) Sampling

Generally, a routine mineral analysis (determination of the
concentrations of the common minerals) will suffice, particularly where
there is no prior knowledge of the chemical quality of the water in the
area where the well is located. Where quality conditions in the
surrounding area are known, a more collective analysis may be made. For
certain uses it may also be desirable to make the case of domestic
water) or other constituents not routinely determined. Information or
advice or chemical quality conditions may obtained from local agencies
such as the county farm advisor\'s office, health department, and water
service agency (irrigation or water district, for example).

The sample should be collected after the well has been pumped long
enough to remove standing water and development and disinfectant
chemicals, and to insure that water from the producing formation(s) has
entered the well. The water sample should be obtained in a chemically
clean container preferably on obtained from the laboratory which has
been selected to perform the analysis. The container should be rinsed
several times with the water to be sampled prior to collecting the
sample. The laboratory performing the analysisy should issue
instructions regarding the quantity of sample required. However,
one-half gallon is usually sufficient for a routine mineral analysis;
one gallon is needed when analysis for heavy metals is being requested.

**Special Operation and Maintenance Requirements**