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 MSU
WHHP: Element
4 - Management Strategies
Background
The MSU Team
has identified seven specific management strategies for groundwater
protection. The management strategies developed by the Team are
unique to MSU and have taken into consideration the following:
- The results
of the contaminant source inventory developed as part of the MSU
WHPAs.
- The hydrogeology
of the WHPAs.
- Existing
land usage within the WHPAs.
- Available
financial and staffing resources.
The following
seven management strategies have been identified for implementation.
The proposed management strategies address current and future activities
which may pose a threat to the MSU water supply.
- Incorporate
Wellhead Protection into Campus Planning Activities. MSU has
implemented a campus-wide planning process called the 2020
Vision plan, which includes the development of long-range
plans for facility siting and environmental protection on campus.
It is important that this and other comprehensive planning documents
address the MSU WHPP and overall importance of protecting groundwater
resources.
- Plug Abandoned
Wells. Abandoned water wells, as defined in the Michigan Groundwater
Quality Control Act, Part 127, 1978 PA 368, means a well whose
use has been permanently discontinued, or a well which is in such
disrepair that its continued use for the purpose of obtaining
groundwater is impractical or may be a health hazard. MSU recognizes
the importance of properly plugging abandoned wells, since such
wells can be a direct "pipeline" for introducing contamination
into the groundwater
Given the development history of the campus and the large number
of known and/or potential abandoned wells, MSU has developed a
abandoned well program. The program outlines the procedures that
are underway at MSU to identify and address abandoned wells. The
program consists of four main components:
- Well
identification
- Prioritizion
of wells for abandonment
- Well
plugging
- Documentation
of plugging procedures
- Manage
Identified Known and Potential Sources of Contamination. The
CSI identified sites that require additional management activities
in order to reduce the risk the sites pose to the environment.
The MSU WHP Team works with individual MSU departments to resolve
any problems found at these sites.
- Follow
Best Management Practices (BMP's) for Facilities Within the WHPAs.
Most of the MSU WHPA lies within the agricultural land south of
Mt. Hope Road. The agricultural facilities in these areas have
complied, and will continue to comply, with the Michigan Right
to Farm Act, Generally
Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs).
- Pesticide
Management - Some BMPs for keeping pesticides out of groundwater
are:
- Use
integrated pest management programs
- Consider
the geology of your area
- Consider
soil characteristics
- Select
pesticides carefully
- Apply
only when needed
- Follow
label directions
- Calibrate
and measure accurately
- Avoid
back-siphoning and spills
- Consider
weather and irrigation
- Change
the location of mixing areas to on top of an impervious
surface
- Dispose
of waste properly
- Keep
good records
- Store
and mix pesticides away from water sources
- Transport
carefully
- Store
in a secure facility with secondary containment
For more
information read L.
G. Olsen's Guidelines for Safe Use of Pesticides.
- Manure
Management - Manure is a greater concern to surface water
than it is to groundwater because the primary concern is pathogens.
The soil is able to filter out and trap them within a fairly
short time of travel through the soil. The other concern is
an increase in nitrate; this can be reduced by calculating
how much nitrate the manure contributes, and then reducing
the amount of fertilizer used.
BMP's for Manure Management:
- Storage
lagoons with proper liner and located down slope from
wells
- Proper
land application and a comprehensive nutrient management
plan
For
more information on the storage and application of manure
look at the Michigan
Commission of Agriculture's GAAMPs for Manure Management
and Utilization.
- Fertilizer
and Nutrient Management - The two main components of fertilizer
that are of the greatest concern are nitrogen (N) and phosphorus
(P). Phosphorus is more of a concern for surface water because
it tends to stick to the soil particles. Nitrogen however,
is able to leach in to the groundwater very easily.
Fertilizer
and Nutrient Management BMP's are listed below:
- Yearly
soil sampling
- Crediting
other sources
- Using
appropriate form of nitrogen fertilizer
- Apply
only when needed
- Follow
label directions
- Calibrate
and measure accurately
- Avoid
back-siphoning and spills
- Consider
weather and irrigation
- Change
the location of mixing areas to on top of an impervious
surface
- Dispose
of waste properly
- Keep
good records
- Store
and mix fertilizers away from water sources
- Transport
carefully
- Store
in a secure facility with secondary containment
For
more information on the storage and application of manure
look at the Michigan
Commission of Agriculture's GAAMPs for Nutrient Utilization.
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Facilities
Management
- Fuel
Tanks - Fuel tanks shall be set on concrete pads with
berms to contain leaks. Spill kits are to be kept at all
tanks to allow operators to clean up and dispose of small
spills. Signs are posted near all tanks providing instructions
on how to respond to larger spills.
- Storage
of Hazardous Wastes - Fuels, solvents, pesticides
and other hazardous waste materials stored in amounts
greater than would generally be kept in one's household
shall have secondary containment of sufficient volume
to contain 1.1 times the volume of the largest vessel
sitting inside the containment.
- Removal/Disposal
of Hazardous Wastes - The MSU ORCBS has an ongoing
hazardous waste collection program available at no cost
to all MSU facilities. Arrangements for pick-up and disposal
of these materials can be made by calling 355-0153.
- Floor
Drains - Wastes entering floor drains should only
be disposed via one of the following options:
- Discharge
to a publicly-owned sanitary sewer system, if approved
by the wastewater treatment facility operation.
- Discharge
to a holding tank from which the waste is subsequently
pumped and hauled by the wastewater generator or by
a licensed hauler for appropriate disposal to a approved
facility.
- Discharge
to the groundwater or to surface waters is permitted
by the State of Michigan.
Floor
drains that were identified to be connected to storm sewers
or septic systems shall be plugged in areas where vehicles
or other equipment, devices, or vessels that contain hazardous
substances are stored without the protection of secondary
containment.
- Septic
Tanks - Septic systems have been identified by the Team
as potential sources of contamination. It is important
that septic systems be managed in a way to minimize their
threat to groundwater. All septic systems shall be inspected
and maintained.
- Incorporate
Wellhead Protection and Other Environmental Protection Guidelines
in the MSU Construction Standards. Additions made to the MSU
Standards for Construction Projects, housed in the Physical Plant
Engineering and Architectural Services, incorporate wellhead protection
standards into the building of new and alterations to existing
facilities on campus.
- Develop
a GIS to Manage Wellhead Protection Data. GIS links map features
on a map to information about them, called attributes. GIS allows
for efficient storage, analysis, and dissemination of spatial
data regarding the MSU Wellhead Protection Program. MSU is committed
to the use of GIS for management of facilities and other land
use data. Furthermore, MSU is recognized as a leader in GIS education.
- Work with
Neighboring Communities to Provide Input on Planning and Land
Uses in the Portions of the MSU WHPAs that extend Off-Campus.
MSU WHPAs extend into two neighboring communities: Alaiedon Township
and Meridian Township. Land use activities in these communities
have the potential to impact groundwater used by MSU. As such,
it is important that MSU monitor these activities; and where possible,
provide input regarding land usage. Additionally, these communities
should be encouraged to adopt regulatory and nonregulatory strategies
that promote protection of the groundwater resources.
Other Management
Strategies
Other strategies
discussed include providing technical assistance and additional
monitoring of production well quality. These strategies are discussed
below.
Provide
Technical Assistance
Members of the MSU Wellhead Protection Team shall provide ongoing
technical assistance to managers and staff to promote work practices
that are protective of the groundwater. Such advice shall include
reporting potential problems and recommending solutions that result
from regular and periodic contaminant source inventories and providing
training at annual farm managers' and academic departments, and
researchers' meetings.
Groundwater
Monitoring - Production Wells
MSU collects water quality samples necessary to comply with state
and federal drinking water requirements for Type I water suppliers.
In addition to this monitoring, MSU will collect water samples
for coliform bacteria analysis from all production wells on a
monthly frequency.
MSU
WHPP: Contingency Plans
Wellhead Protection Program
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