Livestock: How far from well head?

[Red Dog Farms]

Wondering how far you should keep livestock away from your well head for potable water supply? Prior owner had a riding arena about 15 ft away from the well head, wondering if would cause problems if I let cattle or horses graze that close to the well head. Well is about 300 ft deep. Geography is sandstone type rock base.

Thanks for input

[palani]

At 300 feet you are probably in an aquifer that came from ground water 100's of miles away. Water flows horizontally. Just make sure your well casing hasn't rusted through letting surface water in.

[FarmboyBill]

hmmmmmm our farm had the horse lot come up to the well tank about at a quarte, and the cows had access for 1/2, that left a quarter for usa to take out water to the chickens, hogs, ect., The well was at around 125ft, and we never noticed or tasted anything wrong with it. The well finally went dry, and was filled in by my brother, who lives on the farm now.

[rambler]

You don't say which of the 2 states, but both of those should have some regulations on this.

A livestock 'yard' will likely need to be between 50 and 400 feet away. It will depend on many details. A 'yard' is the place where vegitation doesn't grow.

A pasture also will have some regulation, but probably more relaxed. Also, is the well head built up from the livestock, or does it funnel down to the weelhead? That would make a big difference.

This is all legally.

If this is just pasture, not too many critters, and you have 15 feet of grass buffer the livestock aren't on, and the ground does not slope down to the wellhead, I will guess you will probably be ok with it all as far as good or bad.

--->Paul

[Joshie]

Your county well inspector should know this information. The well on our new place tested clean but it's closer than regulations allow. I think, if I remember correctly, that animals are not allowed to graze closer than 100' or so to the well.