Which pairing correctly states a minimum setback from a public well?

Which pairing correctly states a minimum setback from a public well?

• A. Feedlots, Sewage Treatment Plants, and Landfills — 500 feet
• B. Livestock and Septic Tanks — 150 feet
• C. Underground Fuel Tanks — 100 feet
• D. Sewage Treatment Plants — 100 feet

Answer: (A)

Setbacks from a public well are about keeping potential contaminants far enough away so groundwater stays safe. For high-risk waste sites like feedlots, sewage treatment plants, and landfills, the required minimum setback is 500 feet. These facilities can generate leachate, manure-contaminated runoff, or sewage spills that could migrate through soil and reach a well, so a larger buffer helps prevent contamination. Shorter setbacks, such as 150 feet for livestock and septic systems or 100 feet for underground fuel tanks, reflect different risk profiles and regulatory contexts, but they do not meet the stronger protection needed for a public water supply from those high-risk sources. Therefore, 500 feet is the correct minimum setback for these kinds of facilities from a public well.

Setbacks from a public well are about keeping potential contaminants far enough away so groundwater stays safe. For high-risk waste sites like feedlots, sewage treatment plants, and landfills, the required minimum setback is 500 feet. These facilities can generate leachate, manure-contaminated runoff, or sewage spills that could migrate through soil and reach a well, so a larger buffer helps prevent contamination. Shorter setbacks, such as 150 feet for livestock and septic systems or 100 feet for underground fuel tanks, reflect different risk profiles and regulatory contexts, but they do not meet the stronger protection needed for a public water supply from those high-risk sources. Therefore, 500 feet is the correct minimum setback for these kinds of facilities from a public well.