Use of Well Water and Septic Tanks New Facility
Hi all. I am looking for a new facility to move into. I will remodel and build out. i process fruits and veggies and need to move where the farms are which means rural. Most buildings I'm looking at are on septic tanks for sewage and well water. I use water as an ingredient and for cleaning. So what type or frequency of additional testing is required for use of well water? Filtration? Any requirements for septic tanks?
First you'll need to look at the requirements for well water and waste discharge from the city where the property or the county or by state. This is a rather broad question. Normally from a standpoint of purchasing a building that is fed by well water and discharge to septic requires a site study and potable water source inspection and environmental impact study along with soundness of the well and septic systems - plus locations of same in order to get both certified for use. As one of our clients found it was easier for them to rip out the septic system and drop a new well than go thru the hoops - I found that rather extreme though.
Hi BChapp,
Should be fine.
Make sure you have a treatment and testing program for your water. I'd get them to do a test on the well before buying.
Other than that it's simple and common to run off wells.
Septic - just prove that it's solid and that there's no risk of backflow that would compromise production/staff/storage areas.
I can give more detailed info on the treatment/filtration if you need it and want to skip the research. Just message me and I'll quote you.
-Josh Heinrichs
Hi all. I am looking for a new facility to move into. I will remodel and build out. i process fruits and veggies and need to move where the farms are which means rural. Most buildings I'm looking at are on septic tanks for sewage and well water. I use water as an ingredient and for cleaning. So what type or frequency of additional testing is required for use of well water? Filtration? Any requirements for septic tanks?
A few comments that may be helpful:
1.) If you are under a GFSI audit scheme, you will want to consider their requirements. If you aren't, they can still be used as a good resources. All of them have their requirements online.
2.) Sounds like you would fall under the Produce Safety rule. The ag water requirements have been delayed (because they don't know how to deal with all of the nuances involved). But you will want to understand whether you are talking about deep-water wells, shallow wells (or surface water). When it all settles out, they will have different requirements for each. How the water is applied to the crop(s) will also be a factor, as well as, how you use in within your facility. I mention it because there will be testing requirements for all and how you get that water might be a factor in helping you settle on a facility. I linked some resources on this below:
FDA's PSA site: https://www.fda.gov/...-produce-safety
Lead Training Agency: https://producesafet...ce.cornell.edu/
Just something to be aware of as it will impact anyone in produce, but some much more so than others. Everyone is guessing where it will settle out, but there is enough out there to get a general idea of how your configuration might be impacted. For example, surface water will require a ton more testing than deep water wells (for obvious reasons).
3.) If you are using water in your facility, you will need to make sure that it is potable. That would impact your testing strategy. See the EPA's definitions around that. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa. We test both wells we use in our packing house monthly and have a SOP in place should reading fall outside of guidance. Chemical readings are taken daily, etc.
You should have local AG extension services and county/state water resources (often dept of Health) to help with any details and provide guidance. The extension folks are typically tied into the local land-grant university. I've always found them great resources.
Anyway, good luck. Hope the move goes well.
Todd