| Pesticide Storage | Low Risk | Low - Moderate Risk | Moderate - High Risk | High Risk |
| Amount stored for more then one season | No pesticides stored at any time. | Less than 1 gallon or less then 10 pounds of each pesticide. | More than 1 gallon or more then 10 pounds of each pesticide. | More than 55 gallons or more than 550 pounds of each pesticide. |
| Amount stored for less then one season . | No pesticides stored at any time. | More than 10 gallons or less than 100 pounds of each pesticide. | More than10 gallons or more than 100 pounds of each pesticide | More than 55 gallons or more than 550 pounds of each pesticide. |
| Types stored:
Leach - ability*
Liquid or dry formulation | No chemicals stored No liquids, all dry | Chemicals classified as having low leaching potential
Some liquids, Mostly dry. | Chemicals classified as having medium leaching potential.
Mostly liquids, some dry. | Chemicals classified as having high leaching potential.
All Liquids. |
| Spill or leak control in storage area | Imper - meable surface (such as concrete) does not allow spills to soak into soil. Curb installed on floor to contain leaks and spills | Imper - meable surface with curb has some cracks, allowing spills to get into soil. OR impermeable surface with out cracks has no curb installed. | Permeable surface (wooden floor) has some cracks. Imper - meable surface has no cracks but no curb. Spills could contaminate wood or soil. | Permeable surface (gravel or dirt floor). Spills could contaminate soil. |
| Containers | Original containers clearly labeled. No holes, tears or weak seams. | Original containers old. Labels partially missing or hard to read. | Containers old, but patched. Metal containers show signs of rusting. | Containers have holes or tears that allow chemicals to leak. No labels. |
| Security | Fenced or locked and separate from all other activities. | Fenced areas are separate from most other activities. | Open to activities that could damage containers or spill chemicals. | Open access to theft, vandalism and children. |
| Mixing and loading practices | ||||
| Location of mixing / loading area (in relation to well) with no curbed and impermeable containment area. | 100 feet or more downslope from well. | 50 to 100 feet downslope from well. | 10 to 50 feet downslope from well, or 100 to 500 feet upslope. | Within 10 feet downslope or within 100 feet upslope from well. |
| Mixing and loading pad (spill containment). | Concrete pad with curb keeps spills contained. Sump allows collection and transfer to storage. | Concrete pad with curb keeps spills contained. No sump | Concrete pad with some cracks keeps some spills contained. No curb or sump. | No mixing or loading pad. Spills soak into ground. |
| Backflow prevention on water supply. | Anti - backflow device installed or 6 inch air gap maintained above sprayer tank. | Anti - backflow device installed. Hose in tank above waterline. | No anti - backflow device. Hose in tank above waterline | No anti - backflow device. Hose in tank below waterline. |
| Water Source | Separate water tank | Hydrant away from well. | Hydrant near well. | Obtained directly from well. |
| Filling supervision. | Constant | ---------- | Frequent | Seldom or never. |
| Handling system | Closed system for all liquid and dry product transfers. | Closed system for most liquids. Some liquid and dry products hand poured. Sprayer fill port easy to reach. | All liquids and dry products hand poured. Sprayer fill port easy to reach. | All liquid and dry products hand poured. Sprayer fill port hard to reach. |
| Sprayer cleaning and rinsate rinse water disposal. | Sprayer washed out in field. Rinsate used in next load and applied to labeled crop. | Sprayer washed out on pad at homestead. Rinsate used in next load and applied to labeled crop. | Sprayer washed out on pad at homestead. Rinsate dumped at homestead or in field. | Sprayer washed out at homestead. Rinsate sprayed less then 100 feet from well. |
| Pesticide and Container Disposal | ||||
| Unwanted or banned pesticides. | Participation in EPA canceled (banned) pesticide buy back program if available. Unused pesticides returned to dealer or retailer Waste pesticide collection hazardous waste collection service or approved incinerator is used. | Pesticides sold for restricted or general purposes used up or taken to a licensed landfill. | Disposal of unused pesticides on the property. | |
| Pesticide containers plastic, metal or bags. | Returnable containers or refillable minibulks are returned to the dealer. Triple rinsed non- refillable containers are offered for recycling or taken to licensed landfill. Rinsate applied to appropriate crop. Bags taken to a licensed landfill. | Unrinsed containers or empty bags illegally sent to licensed landfill, municipal incinerator or dump. | Disposal of unrinsed containers or empty bags on your property. Disposal or triple or pressure rinsed containers on your property. | |
| *See attached Pesticide Leachability Chart. | ||||
|
TEX*A*Syst is a series of publications to help rural residents assess the risk of ground water pollution, and to describe Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can help protect ground water. The TEX*A*Syst documents were developed from the national Farm*A*Syst ground water protection program. The TEX*A*Syst system is designed to help the user learn more about the environment, existing environmental policies and regulations, and recommended management practices. Thus, the user can voluntarily reduce the pollution risks associated with water wells.
TEX*A*Syst materials were edited by Anna Schuster Kantor, and reviewed by M.C. Dozier and the personnel of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Texas Water Development Board, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Texas Water Resources Institute, and Texas Farm Bureau. Editorial and formatting assistance were provided by the Department of Agriculture, The Texas A&M University System. |
September 20, 1998
Dennis Hoffman, Project Leader
Steve Dagitz, Webmaster