irrigating with water collecting behind retaining wall

[sse]

I have a 40 foot retaining wall behind which the grass is almost always soaked. Turns out there is ALOT of water there. I dug a hole about a foot deep 2 weeks ago, and it's still full of water.

I have decided to pump this water into a tank (slowly overnight using a short well point and pump) then use the water in the tank for irrigation. I do have a septic system, but it about 80 feet away.

Do I need to be concerned about bacteria or phosphates or anything else for that matter if I am just irrigating? Are there other things I should test the water for to be sure it is safe.

I am not worried about irrigating the lawn, but I am concerned about irrigating my vegetable garden with this water.

Thank you!

[LLigetfa]

Drive the point at an angle almost horizontal into the bank. The pressure there should be enough so that sewage from your septic field would not migrate there.

[sse]

Thanks for the reply. From what I have seen, just digging 1 foot down, it looks like the retaining wall is holding back quite a bit of water.

Not sure angling the well point would change the source of the water that much, since I wasn't going very deep in the first place.

Either way, I really want to test the water still to make sure it safe to irrigate a vegetable garden. Do you know what I should test for, and if those diy test kits are any good?

Thanks again.

[Porky]

Test it for Coliform Bacteria. There are test kits for that.