We cannot treat a utility pole within __ feet from a well. (Hint: number)

• A. 75
• B. 50
• C. 25
• D. 100

Answer: (B)

Protecting drinking water from pesticide contamination is the main idea here: keep applications away from wells by using a buffer. Wells are vulnerable entry points for pesticides into groundwater, so having a setback helps prevent drift, runoff, and leaching from reaching the water supply. A buffer of fifty feet is commonly specified as the minimum distance to reduce the chance of contamination while still allowing practical application in many landscapes. Distances smaller than that, like twenty-five feet, don’t provide as much protection, while larger distances such as seventy-five or one hundred feet can be more protective than needed for many situations and may be impractical in some settings. So, fifty feet is the typical, appropriate distance to avoid treating too close to a well.