From the Iowa DNR:

MANURE APPLICATORS SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM WATER

"Stay away from water," is the message that the DNR has for commercial and
confinement site manure applicators.

Unless the manure is injected or incorporated on the same day it was
applied, all manure applicators must stay 200 feet away from most water
sources, sinkholes, drinking water wells, abandoned wells, cisterns and ag
drainage wells.  Manure applicators must stay 800 feet away from high
quality water resources, unless the manure is injected or incorporated on
the same day as application.

"While most people inject manure or incorporate surface-applied manure,
there are certain times of the year when that is not possible," said Jeff
Prier, an environmental specialist at the Spencer DNR field office.

Prier also advised manure applicators to avoid applying right before a big
rain is predicted or when soils are saturated.

"What you want to avoid is the chance that any manure will run off the
surface or through tile lines to pollute a stream or other protected water,"
he said.

A water source is basically any stream or ditch that has definite banks and
the occurrence of water, Prier said.  Most lakes and ponds are considered
water sources, but a grassed waterway is usually not.

High quality water resources are found in about half of Iowa's counties and
include trout streams in the northeast, the natural, great lakes area in the
northwest, and other streams or lakes that have high water quality, or
recreational or ecological significance.

Prier said applicators using surface application that is not incorporated
within 24 hours must stay at least 750 feet away from buildings such as
residences or schools, and public use areas.

Small animal feeding operations are not required to meet the separation
distances for buildings or public use areas, or be certified, but they must
meet the distances for protected areas such as sinkholes and water
resources.

All other applicators must be properly certified and follow the separation
distances when not injecting or incorporating.

See the animal feeding section on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.com for
more information about state rules on manure application.

For more information, contact Jeff Prier at 712-262-4177.

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