Introduction Livestock and poultry yards, such as barnyards, holding areas and feedlots, and areas around production buildings are areas of concentrated animal wastes. They can be a source of nitrate and bacteria contamination of groundwater. The potential for livestock and poultry operations to affect groundwater is greatest if the facility or area of animal concentration is located on karst terrain or over sandy-textured permeable soils, or when the water table is at or near the surface, bedrock is within a few feet of the surface, or polluted runoff is discharged to permeable soils and bedrock. Fecal bacteria in livestock and poultry wastes can contaminate groundwater if waste seeps into nearby wells or springs, partially leading to such infectious diseases as dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis.
Young livestock are also susceptible to health problems from high nitrate-nitrogen levels.
Other good reasons for improving management practices include improved herd and flock health, ease of maintenance, odor and fly control, and improved quality milk or meat production. Return to Table of Contents . The Virginia water well code requires a minimum separation of 150 feet between existing yards and new wells. With good farmstead planning, livestock and poultry facilities should be at least 300-400 feet away from the house. In this case, since the well is often near the house, it is likely that there would be at least 200 feet between the well and the feed yard or open lot surface.