These systems reduce the safety risk of handling pesticides and also the environmental risk of spills. Locate and construct new wells according to codes that are intended to avoid contamination. The well contractor cannot avoid sites such as old dumping pits and pesticide mixing areas unless advised about them. Prior to well construction, consider a plan for farmstead expansion, so that future pesticide handling and storage on the farmstead do not jeopardize the integrity of the water source. Decommission or plug old wells, if not intended for future use.
Many farmsteads have several abandoned wells.
Abandoned wells should never be used to dispose of any form of garbage or hazardous material, because they are a direct conduit to the groundwater. In many cases abandoned wells are located in the same aquifer as active farmstead wells. All abandoned wells should be plugged with materials and methods that will not allow settling in the future. Please refer to the following fact sheets for additional information. Sharon D. Anderson, Director, Fargo, North Dakota.