Chemigation

What Is Chemigation?

Chemigation is the practice of applying fertilizer or agricultural chemicals to the land or crops through an irrigation system. If the correct precautions are not taken, chemicals can flow back through the irrigation system and into the well, polluting the ground water.

In the mid-1980's the Nebraska Legislature passed LB284, called the Chemigation Act, to protect our ground water from possible contamination. The operator of a chemigation system must obtain a permit before chemigating. They are also responsible for maintenance expenses on their chemigation equipment.

Certification Requirements | Inspections | Chemigation Permit Fees | Penalties | Required Equipment

Certification Requirements

Before a chemigation permit can be granted the operator is required to attend a certification class and pass a written exam. This certification is good for four years and entitles the operator to apply for a chemigation permit. Applicator/certification classes are sponsored by the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension and are held in various locations during the winter and spring months each year.

Inspections

Nebraska state law requires all chemigation systems within the Middle Republican NRD to be inspected and approved by the MRNRD before a permit can be issued. All operating permits are subject to periodic random inspections to ensure continued compliance.

Chemigation Permit Fees

New Permits - $30 per injection site
Renewal Permits - $10 per injection site

All permits are good for one year, expiring on June 1 each year. New permits approved at any time during the calendar year expire on June 1 of the following year.

Renewal applications will be mailed to the applicator. Current certified applicators must state on the renewal application a report of their chemical use for the previous growing season and return it with a $10 renewal fee. Any permit not renewed by June 1 is subject to cancellation and the operator must pay the new permit fee ($30) in order to chemigate again.

Penalties

Chemigation violations will be submitted to local county attorneys. Penalties consist of Class I, II, III, or IV misdemeanors or a civil fine.

Required Equipment

Before a chemigation permit can be approved, an irrigation system must be equipped with:

1. Irrigation pipeline check valve - located in the pipeline between the irrigation pump and the point of chemical injection into the pipeline. It must provide a watertight seal against reverse flow.
2. Vacuum relief valve - located on the pipeline between the irrigation pump and the irrigation pipeline check valve.
3. Inspection port - A 4" diameter opening located on the pipeline between the irrigation pump and the irrigation pipeline check valve. It must be situated in such a way that the inlet to the low pressure drain can be seen. Often the vacuum relief valve connection can serve as the inspection port.
4. Low pressure drain - located on the bottom of the pipe between the irrigation pump and the irrigation pipeline check valve. It must have an opening of at least 3/4 inch diameter and can't extend into the horizontal pipe beyond the inside surface of the bottom of the pipe. A hose must be used to drain any solution at least 20 feet away from the irrigation water source.
5. Chemical injector check valve - located between the point of the chemical injection into the irrigation pipe and the chemical injection pump. It needs to have a minimum opening pressure of 10 lbs. per square inch. For water driven injection pumps, an alternative to the minimum opening pressure is a vacuum opening pressure relief valve located in the injection line.
6. Simultaneous interlock device - the irrigation pump and the chemical injection pump shall be interlocked so that if the pumping plant stops, the injection pump will also stop.

The following equipment is not required, but must be installed on the system

7. Irrigation pumping plant

8. Electric motor and chemical pump

9. Chemical tank

10. Calibration tube

11. Suction line strainer