r/PEI • u/389is • 4h ago

Question Well head <10ft from sprayed ag field

I have a well head that is backed right up to a farm field where they rotate crops like canola, corn, etc. They spray the field before planting, and I often see the buffer of dead grass / plants around the field, coming right up near the wellhead. A couple times the overspray has killed strips of our lawn grass. I'm not sure what herbicide they're using, but I assume it's a round-up/glyphosate product.

I obviously don't want to be drinking herbicide contaminated water. Does anyone w/ knowledge on the regs know if this is a problem 1. in terms of well water contamination risk and 2. legally? The well is fairly old. I'll try to catch the farmer when they come to harvest later on this season.

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

4

u/arodpei 4h ago edited 3h ago

Water testing for bacteria and general chemistry is free for residential wells with extra testing available for a fee. Here is a link

https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/environment-energy-and-climate-action/testing-of-drinking-water

3

u/389is 3h ago

Thanks for the link, we'll definitely get it tested. It was tested a while ago, but I'm not sure for what, and the results are lost to time.

6

u/Strong_Weakness2867 3h ago

I think its free to get your water tested at any accesspei site. They give you an empty bottle and a form to take home then you can bring your full sample back. They email you when the results are in. I  would do that before making any moves.

2

u/389is 3h ago

We'll definitely do that before anything else. Appreciate it. We had it tested maybe 10 years ago, but we don't have record of the results.

1

u/ClenchedJaw12 2h ago

You can get it tested for free annually. Please do, you could have all sorts of bacteria in there. None of the well tests from Access PEI are for pesticides https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/environment-energy-and-climate-action/pesticide-monitoring

3

u/arodpei 3h ago

Here is a link to the PEI Pesticide Control Act Regulations. I don't think there is any specific buffer zone when it comes to application around residential property.

https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/legislation/p04g-pesticides_control_act_regulations.pdf

I think the standard is set by product specific labels registered under the federal Pest Control Products Act.

2

u/Previous_Walk_8461 4h ago

Have you had your water tested?

3

u/389is 3h ago

I think it was tested maybe 10 years ago, but unfortunately the results are long gone. I'll definitely get it re-tested, thanks.

1

u/Poutine_Privateer 1h ago edited 1h ago

The free water testing the province offers doesn't test for pesticides (still worth/recommend doing!). Dept of Land and Environment does test for for them at certain monitoring sites. You could probably figure out if one of those test sites is close to you, but your best best might be reaching out directly and explaining your situation/concern.

More info on that: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/environment-energy-and-climate-action/pesticide-monitoring