NRCS Practice Standard: Groundwater Testing (355)

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NRCS Practice Standard: Groundwater Testing (355)

About the Company:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s primary private lands conservation agency. The NRCS helps producers protect and conserve natural resources on private lands through voluntary conservation programs. Through Practice Standards and technical guides, the NRCS provides information about the conservation, energy resources, and provides personalized advice to individual producers.

The NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical and financial assistance to producers as they implement NRCS Conservation Practice Standards.

Technical guides used in each field office are localized so that they apply specifically to the geographic area for which they are prepared. Thus, while national guidelines have been provided as a framework for each standard, each state has adopted and modified the conservation practice standards to suit their individual landscape.

To find a local NRCS Service center click here.

To find the specific guideline for each state click here.

About the Solution:

Groundwater Testing (355)

The groundwater testing practice includes testing for physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of groundwater in a well or spring development.

Practice Information

The required tests and applicable standards will be determined based on the planned use of the water.

Water samples will be collected and analyzed in accordance with established procedures. Specific parameters, sampling procedures, and laboratory analyses may be specifically required by local, State, Tribal, or Federal laws and regulations. Contact the testing entity for guidance.

Interpretation of test results and recommendations for remedial actions, as necessary, will be obtained from a source knowledgeable of the testing procedures and objectives.

A record of the conditions and timing of water sample collection will need to be maintained.

Common Associated Practices

NRCS Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) Groundwater Testing (Code 355) is commonly applied with other conservation practices such as:

  • Water Well (Code 642)
  • Irrigation System, Microirrigation (Code 441)
  • Sprinkler System (Code 442)
  • Livestock Pipeline (Code 516)
  • Spring Development (Code 574)
  • Waste Storage Facility (Code 313)


  • To view the national NRCS standard for Groundwater Testing please click here.

    Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC United States 1-833-ONE-USDA Visit Company Website

    Solution Type

    • General Support and Other

    Vendor

    • Others

    Product

    • Other

    To view additional information about this vendor, click below.

    Solution Strengths, Weaknesses and Critical Indicators

    NOTE: There are multiple technologies that are used as part of integrated manure management systems and yet are not manure management types on their own. The impact of these technologies on their own would be minimal or very difficult to quantify.

    General Support & Other:

    • Can be an integral part of many manure management systems
    • Most projects have at least some equipment that supports operations of the main technology
    • This technology is not evaluated on its own, the NEAT Matrix for this technology is neutral unless utilized with other technologies.

    Newtrient Comments/Opinions:

    Newtrient is using the USDA-NRCS conservation practice standards as tools to assist dairy producers in understanding the standards and how they can be used to address resources concerns.

    To establish a Practice Standard a system or practice must be thoroughly vetted, approved, and standardized by the USDA at the federal and state level. These conservation practices have been developed to address various environmental resource concerns. Newtrient has developed a 9-point scoring process for ranking additives, practices, services, and technologies for the dairy industry. Recognizing the rigorous approval procedure used during the development of the NRCS Practice Standards, many of them score very highly and are worthy of consideration on any dairy where they apply.

    The information provided here is a summary of the selected conservation practices. For up to date and detailed information related to the full Practice Standards, please see the USDA NRCS website, linked above.

    Newtrient 9-Point Scoring Rating

    View the Scoring Page

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