Farm water first
The country around Pea Ridge and Garfield is pasture, cattle and poultry, with Pea Ridge National Military Park in the middle of it. A farm well has to keep up with stock in a dry summer, and it has to be sited away from barns, pens, lagoons and manure piles, which Arkansas rules set at least 100 feet from a well in typical soils.
New houses on old hay ground
Pea Ridge has grown quickly, and many new homes sit on land split off from farms. Each new home on its own well and septic system means careful planning: the well upslope and at least 100 feet from the septic tank and lines, away from barns, and clear of where water collects.
Nitrate and bacteria
In agricultural karst, testing matters. USGS sampling found higher nitrate where more land is in agricultural use, and wet seasons push more of it into the shallow aquifer. Test for bacteria every year, and add nitrate if there’s a baby in the house.
Rules and permits
Arkansas wells are built only by licensed water well contractors under the state’s well construction rules (Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Water Well Construction Committee). The contractor files a construction report with the well’s coordinates within 90 days. Bacteria testing for private wells goes through the Arkansas Department of Health’s lab via the local health unit, and septic systems are permitted by the Health Department. Cities may have their own rules about private wells inside city limits, so ask your city if you’re inside one.
Bed 05Questions from Pea Ridge
Local answers.
How far does my well need to be from the barn and poultry houses?
Arkansas’s well rules put manure piles and similar contamination sources at least 100 feet from a well in clay or loam soils, and twice that in highly pervious gravel. More distance, and siting the well upslope, is better.
Do I need a separate well for my cattle?
Not always, but a dedicated stock or irrigation well can protect the house well from heavy demand. An irrigation well must be at least 100 feet from any drinking-water well under state rules.
Should a farm well be tested for nitrate?
Yes, especially near fertilized fields, poultry litter or cattle lots. The Health Department lab tests bacteria only, so use a certified private lab for nitrate.