Belowground, common grave requirements: how far must a common grave be from any groundwater well used to supply potable drinking water?

Belowground, common grave requirements: how far must a common grave be from any groundwater well used to supply potable drinking water?

• A. At least 200 feet
• B. At least 20 feet
• C. No distance requirement
• D. At least 500 feet

Answer: (A)

Protecting drinking-water wells from contamination. When placing a common grave belowground, the rule requires a setback distance of at least 200 feet from any groundwater well used to supply potable drinking water. This gap helps prevent leachate, bacteria, and nutrients from decaying material from reaching the well through groundwater, using a conservative margin that accounts for variability in soil and groundwater conditions. Distances like 20 feet or no distance would significantly raise the risk of contamination, while 500 feet isn’t the standard requirement in this case (though stricter rules could apply in some situations). So the required distance is at least 200 feet.

Protecting drinking-water wells from contamination. When placing a common grave belowground, the rule requires a setback distance of at least 200 feet from any groundwater well used to supply potable drinking water. This gap helps prevent leachate, bacteria, and nutrients from decaying material from reaching the well through groundwater, using a conservative margin that accounts for variability in soil and groundwater conditions. Distances like 20 feet or no distance would significantly raise the risk of contamination, while 500 feet isn’t the standard requirement in this case (though stricter rules could apply in some situations). So the required distance is at least 200 feet.