| Low Risk | Low - Moderate Risk | Moderate - High Risk | High - Risk | |
| Fertilizer Storage | ||||
Dry Formulation:
| None stored at any time. Covered on Impermeable surface (such as concrete or asphalt). Spills are collected. | Less then 1 ton. Covered on clay soil. Spills are collected | Between 1 and 20 tons. Partially covered on loamy soils. Spills not collected. | More then 20 tons. Not covered on sandy soils. Spills not collected. |
Liquid formulation:
| None stored at any time Concrete or other impermeable secondary contain - ment does not allow spill to con - taminate soil. | Less then 55 gallons Clay lined secondary contain - ment. Most of spill can be recovered. | Between 55 and 1500 gallons. Somewhat permeable soils (loam). No secondary contain - ment. Most of spill cannot be recovered. | More then 1500 gallons. Permeable soil (sand). No secondary contain - ment. Spills con - taminate soil.. |
| Containers | Original containers clearly labeled. No holes tears or weak seams. Lids tight. | Original containers old. Labels partially missing or hard to read. | Containers old but patched. Metal containers showing signs of rusting. | Containers have holes or tears that allow fertilizers to leak. No labels. |
| Security. | Fenced or locked area separate from all other activities , or locks on valves | Fenced area separate from most other activities. | Open to activities that could damage containers or spill fertilizer. | Open access to theft, vandalism and children. |
| Mixing and Loading Practices | ||||
| Location of well in relation to mixing - loading area with no curbed and impermeable contain - ment area. | 100 feet or more downslope from well. | 50 to 100 feet downslope from well. | 10 to 50 feet downslope or 100 to 500 feet upslope from well. | Within 10 feet downslope or less than 100 feet upslope from well. |
| Additional Mixing and Loading Practices for liquid Fertilizer | ||||
| Mixing and loading pad (spill contain - ment). | 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 - loading pad. Spills soak into ground. |
| Water source. | Separate water tank. | Hydrant away from well. | Hydrant near well. | Obtained directly from well. |
| Backflow prevention on water supply. | Anti - backflow device installed or 6 inch air gap maintained between hose and sprayer tank. | Anti - backflow device installed . hose in tank above waterline. | No anti - backflow device. Hose in tank above waterline. | No anti - flow device. Hose in tank below waterline. |
| Filling supervision. | Constant. | Mostly constant. | Frequent. | Seldom or never. |
| Handling system. | Closed system for all liquid product transfers | closed system for most liquids. Some liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port easy to reach. | All liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port easy to reach. | All liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port hard to reach. |
| Clean-up and Disposal Practices | ||||
| Sprayer cleaning and rinsate (rinse water) disposal. | Sprayer washed out an field. Rinsate used in next load and applied to crop. | Sprayer washed out on pad. Rinsate used in next load and applied to crop. | Sprayer washed out at homestead. Rinsate applied on nearby field. | Sprayer washed out at homestead. Rinsate sprayed less than 100 feet from well. |
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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