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ALTERNATIVES TO THE USE OF AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE WELLS 1
Author(s) -
Kanwar R. S.,
Baker J. L.,
Melvin S. W.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1986.tb01910.x
Subject(s) - drainage , environmental science , hectare , aquifer , watertable control , hydrology (agriculture) , groundwater , surface water , water resource management , tile drainage , drainage basin , agriculture , environmental engineering , soil water , geology , geography , ecology , soil science , soil salinity , geotechnical engineering , cartography , archaeology , biology
A large number of agricultural drainage wells (ADWs) are located in north‐central Iowa. These wells permit sediments, pesticides, nitrate, and bacteria in surface and subsurface drainage water to enter regional aquifers that are currently being used for drinking‐water supplies, mostly by rural families and communities. This paper reports some possible alternatives to control the entry of surface and subsurface drainage waters into groundwater systems, and describes a methodology to make comprehensive economic feasibility studies of alternative drainage outlets. The estimated cost of providing main subsurface drains varied from $220 to $960 per hectare. If the use of ADWs was completely eliminated without providing alternative drainage, it is estimated that the average annual loss to the farmers of the area would be at least $270 per hectare in reduced crop yields. Of course, losses would be weather dependent and highly variable. Management practices to reduce the pollutant load in water draining to ADWs are also discussed.