WSR 98-18-104

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

[Order 98-17--Filed September 2, 1998, 11:30 a.m.]

Date of Adoption: September 2, 1998.

Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to correct typographical errors and amend Table 1 of WAC 173-160-201 Pipe wall thickness. The following sections of chapter 173-160 WAC have been amended as follows: WAC 173-160-111, definition (1) "Abandoned well" by replacing the word "or" with "and"; amend Table 1 of WAC 173-160-201 (see final language shown below); amend WAC 173-160-291 subsection (6) by changing "adaptor" to "adapter"; amend WAC 173-160-420 by renumbering subsections (10)-(15); amend WAC 173-160-460 subsection (1) by placing a comma after the word "missing"; and amend WAC 173-160-990 Figure (1A), Figure 3, and Figure 7 (see final language shown below).

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: See Purpose above.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 18.104 RCW.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 98-14-075 on June 30, 1998.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, amended 5, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

September 1, 1998

Tom Fitzsimmons

Director

OTS-2314.2

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 97-08, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98)

WAC 173-160-111  What are the definitions of specific words as used in this chapter? (1) "Abandoned well" means a well that is unused, unmaintained, ((or)) and is in such disrepair as to be unusable.

(2) "Access port" is a 1/2- to 2-inch tapped hole or tube equipped with a screw cap, which provides access to the inner casing, for measurement of the depth to water surface. An access port also means a removable cap.

(3) "Annular space" is the space between the surface or outer casing and the inner casing, or the space between the wall of the drilled hole and the casing.

(4) "Aquifer" is a geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation capable of yielding a significant amount of ground water to wells or springs.

(5) "Artesian well" is a well tapping an aquifer bounded above and below by confining or impermeable rock or soil layers, or rock or soil layers of distinctly lower permeability than the aquifer itself. The water will rise in the well above the point of initial penetration (above the bottom of the confining or impermeable layer overlying the aquifer). This term includes both flowing and nonflowing wells.

(6) "Artificial gravel pack" is a mixture of gravel or sand placed in the annular space around the liner, perforated pipe, or well screen. A gravel pack is used to reduce the movement of finer material into the well and provide lateral support to the screen in unstable formations.

(7) "Artificial recharge" is the addition of water to an aquifer by activities of man, such as irrigation or induced infiltration from streams, or injection through wells, trenches, pits, and ponds.

(8) "Bentonite" is a mixture of swelling clay minerals, predominantly sodium montmorillonite.

(9) "Capped well" is a well that is not in use and has a watertight seal or cap installed on top of the casing.

(10) "Casing" is a pipe, generally made of metal or plastic, which is installed in the bore hole to maintain the opening.

(11) "Consolidated formation" means any geologic formation in which the earth materials have become firm and cohesive through natural rock forming processes. Such rocks commonly found in Washington include basalt, granite, sandstone, shale, conglomerate, and limestone. An uncased bore hole will normally remain open in these formations.

(12) "Constructing a well" or "construct a well" means:

(a) Boring, digging, drilling, or excavating a well;

(b) Installing casing, sheeting, lining, or well screens, in a well; or

(c) Drilling a geotechnical soil boring.

"Constructing a well" or "construct a well" includes the alteration of an existing well.

(13)"Contamination" has the meaning provided in RCW 90.48.020.

(14) "Curbing" is a liner or pipe made of concrete, precast tile or steel installed in dug wells to provide an annular space between the well bore and the liner or pipe for sealing.

(15) "Decommissioning" means to fill or plug a well so that it will not produce water, serve as a channel for movement of water or pollution, or allow the entry of pollutants into the well or aquifer(s).

(16) "Department" means the department of ecology.

(17) "Dewatering well" means a cased or lined excavation or boring that is intended to withdraw or divert ground water for the purpose of facilitating construction, stabilizing a land slide, or protecting an aquifer.

(18) "Director" means director of the department of ecology.

(19) "Disinfection" or "disinfecting" is the use of chlorine, or other disinfecting agent or process approved by the department, in sufficient concentration and contact time adequate to inactivate coliform or other indicator organisms.

(20) "Domestic water supply" is any water supply which serves a family residence(s).

(21) "Draw down" is the measured difference between the static ground water level and the ground water level induced by pumping.

(22) "Drilled well" is a well in which the hole is usually excavated by mechanical means such as rotary, cable tool, or auger drilling equipment.

(23) "Driven well" is a well constructed by joining a "drive point" to a length of pipe, then driving the assembly into the ground.

(24) "Dug well" is a well generally excavated with hand tools or by mechanical methods. The side walls may be supported by material other than standard weight steel casing.

(25) "Filter pack" means clean, well rounded, smooth, uniform, sand or gravel, which is placed in the annulus of the well between the bore hole wall and the liner, perforated pipe, or well screen to prevent formation material from entering the well.

(26) "Formation" means an assemblage of earth materials grouped together into a unit that is convenient for description or mapping.

(27) "Ground water" means and includes ground waters as defined in RCW 90.40.035.

(28) "Grout" is a fluid mixture of cement, bentonite, and water used to seal the annular space around or between well casings, or to decommission wells.

(29) "Impermeable" is a descriptive term for earth materials which have a texture or structure that does not permit fluids to perceptibly move into or through its pores or interstices.

(30) "Liner" means any device inserted into a larger casing, screen, or bore hole as a means of maintaining the structural integrity of the well.

(31) "Permeability" is a measure of the ease of which liquids or gas move through a porous material.

(a) For water, this is usually expressed in units of centimeters per second or feet per day. Hydraulic conductivity is a term for water permeability.

(b) Soils and synthetic liners with a water permeability of 1 x 10[-7] cm/sec or less may be considered impermeable.

(32) "Pollution" has the meaning provided in RCW 90.48.020.

(33) "Pressure grouting" is a method of forcing grout into specific portions of a well for sealing purposes.

(34) "PTFE" means polytetrafluoroethylene casing materials such as teflon. The use of the term teflon is not an endorsement for any specific PTFE product.

(35) "Public water supply" is any water supply intended or used for human consumption or other domestic uses, including source, treatment, storage, transmission and distribution facilities where water is furnished to any community, collection or number of individuals, available to the public for human consumption or domestic use, excluding water supplies serving one single-family residence and a system with four or fewer connections, all of which serve residences on the same farm.

(36) "PVC" means polyvinyl chloride, a type of thermoplastic casing.

(37) "Static water level" is the vertical distance from the surface of the ground to the water level in a well when the water level is not affected by withdrawal of ground water.

(38) "Temporary surface casing" is a length of casing (at least four inches larger in diameter than the nominal size of the permanent casing) which is temporarily installed during well construction to maintain the annular space.

(39) "Test well" is a well (either cased or uncased), constructed to determine the quantity of water available for beneficial uses, identifying underlying rock formations (lithology), and to locate optimum zones to be screened or perforated. If a test well is constructed with the intent to withdraw water for beneficial use, it must be constructed in accordance with the minimum standards for water supply wells, otherwise they shall be constructed in accordance with the minimum standards for resource protection wells. A water right permit, preliminary permit, or temporary permit shall be obtained prior to constructing a test well unless the anticipated use of water is exempt as provided in RCW 90.44.050. A "test well" is a type of "water well."

(40) "Tremie tube" is a small diameter pipe used to place grout, filter pack material, or other well construction materials in a well.

(41) "Turbidity" means the clarity of water expressed as nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) and measured with a calibrated turbidimeter.

(42) "Unconsolidated formation" means any naturally occurring, loosely cemented, or poorly consolidated earth material including such materials as uncompacted gravel, sand, silt and clay.

Alluvium, soil, and overburden are terms frequently used to describe such formations.

(43) "Water well" means any excavation that is constructed when the intended use of the well is for the location, diversion, artificial recharge, observation, monitoring, dewatering or withdrawal of ground water for agricultural, municipal, industrial, domestic, or commercial use.

(44) "Water well contractor" means any person, firm, partnership, copartnership, corporation, association, or other entity, licensed and bonded under chapter 18.27 RCW, engaged in the business of constructing water wells.

(45) "Well alteration(s)" include(s): Deepening, hydrofracturing or other operations intended to increase well yields, or change the characteristics of the well. Well alteration does not include general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation, and pump replacement.

(46) "Well completion" means that construction has progressed to a point at which the drilling equipment has been removed from the site, or a point at which the well can be put to its intended use.

(47) "Well driller(s)" or "driller(s)" is synonymous with "operator(s)."

(48) "Well" means water wells, resources protection wells, instrumentation wells, dewatering wells, and geotechnical soil borings. Well does not mean an excavation made for the purpose of obtaining or prospecting for oil or natural gas, geothermal resources, minerals, or products of mining, or quarrying, or for inserting media to repressure oil or natural gas bearing formations, or for storing petroleum, natural gas, or other products.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW and RCW 43.21A.080. 98-08-032 (Order 97-08), § 173-160-111, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98.]

NOTES:

Reviser's Note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency.

Reviser's note: The brackets and enclosed material in the text of the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 97-08, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98)

WAC 173-160-201  What are the casing and liner requirements? (1) Proper casing must be installed in all water supply wells.

(2) The casing shall withstand normal forces which act upon it during and after installation. It shall be resistant to the corrosive effects of the surrounding formations, earth, and water.

(3) All plastic casing for use in potable water supply wells must be manufactured to conform to National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Standard 14-84, or the most recent revision.

(4) Unless prior approval is obtained from the department, materials for well casings must be either steel casing as shown in Table 1 or plastic casing as shown in Table 2.

(5) Minimum specifications for steel casing and pipe for water wells are shown in Table 1.

(6) Steel casing larger than twenty inches shall have a minimum wall thickness of 0.375 inches.

TABLE 1

Minimum Specifications for Steel Casing and Pipe

steel casing

(7) All steel casing materials must be new or, in like new condition, and be structurally sound.

(a) Casing that has been exposed to a contaminant shall not be used in well construction unless the contamination can be entirely removed.

(b) When casing lengths are joined together, they must be connected by watertight weld or screw coupled joints.

(i) Welded joints must be at least as thick as the wall thickness of the well casing and be fully penetrating.

(ii) All steel well casing shall meet or exceed the minimum American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A-53 A or B specification for steel pipe.

plastic casing

(8) Plastic, fiberglass, PVC, SR, ABS, or other type of nonmetallic well casing must be manufactured and installed to conform with ANSI/ASTM F 480-81, Standard Dimension Ratio (SDR) 21 or the most recent revision.

(a) SDR is calculated by dividing the outside diameter of the pipe by the wall thickness.

(b) SDR 21 is the minimum requirement; higher pressure rated pipe may be used.

(c) All plastic casing must be installed only in an oversized drill hole without driving. The oversized hole must be a diameter of at least 4 inches larger than the outside diameter of the plastic casing or coupling hubs, whichever is larger.

(d) All plastic casing must be new or, in like new condition and clearly marked by the manufacturer showing nominal size, type of plastic material, SDR, ASTM designation, and have a National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) seal of approval for use in potable water supplies.

(e) Casing that has been exposed to a contaminant shall not be used in well construction unless the construction can be entirely removed.

(f) Plastic casing joints must be watertight.

(i) Either "bell" type, threaded joints, or coupling hubs are approved.

(ii) Hub couplings must be of materials meeting the specifications for plastic casings as stipulated in subsection (2) of this section.

(iii) If joints are secured with solvent cement, it must be done in accordance with manufacturer's directions.

(g) Table 2 is the manufacturer's recommendations for specifications of plastic casing.

TABLE 2

Minimum Specifications for Plastic Casing

liner pipe

(9) Liner pipe must consist of steel, in new or like new condition, free of pits or breaks; or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), CPVC, type 1120, with SDR 21 (Class 200) or greater wall thickness. All PVC must be clearly marked to identify the type, class, and SDR.

(a) Liner pipe must be of sufficient strength to withstand breakage or collapse when the well is pumped and meet ASTM potable water standards.

(b) When installed, liner pipe shall extend or telescope at least two feet into the lower end of the well casing. If more than one string of liner pipe is installed, each string shall extend or telescope at least eight feet into the adjacent larger diameter liner pipe.

(c) Liner pipe may not be permanently fixed to a well casing below land surface.

concrete curbing

(10) The concrete used to make curbing must consist of clean, hard and durable aggregate with not less than five sacks (ninety-four pounds per sack) of portland cement per cubic yard of concrete.

(a) The maximum diameter of aggregate particles may not exceed 1 1/2 inches, but in any case may not exceed 1/5 the minimum width of the casing thickness.

(b) The ratio of coarse aggregate to fine aggregate (passing No. 4 U.S. Standard Sieve) must be approximately 1 1/2 to 1 by volume, but in any case, may not exceed 2 to 1 nor be less than 1 to 2.

(11) The curbing shall be at least six inches thick and free of voids. The walls shall be poured in one continuous operation.

(12) When concrete tile is used to line a well, the combined total wall thickness and seal shall be a minimum of six inches.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW and RCW 43.21A.080. 98-08-032 (Order 97-08), § 173-160-201, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 97-08, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98)

WAC 173-160-291  What are the standards for the upper terminal of water wells? (1) The watertight casing or curbing of any well shall extend at least six inches above the ground surface. Pit completion is prohibited.

(2) Where the site is subject to flooding, the top of the casing must be at least two feet above the estimated water level of a one hundred-year frequency flood.

(3) All wells shall be equipped with an access port that allows for the measurement of the depth to water surface, or with a pressure gage that indicates the shut-in pressure of a flowing artesian well. See Figure 6. The access ports and pressure gages or other openings in the cover are sealed or capped to prevent entrance of surface water or foreign material into the well.

(4) Any vent opening, observation ports or air-line equipment shall extend from the upper end of the well by watertight piping to a point at least six inches above land surface. The terminals of these facilities shall be shielded or sealed to prevent entrance of foreign matter or pollutants.

(5) A pitless adapter, or similar device is permitted on water wells if it is made with fittings approved by the department of health. The connection must be above static water level.

(6) Any person who removes any part of a surface seal to install a pitless ((adaptor)) adapter shall repair the seal so that it is brought up to land surface.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW and RCW 43.21A.080. 98-08-032 (Order 97-08), § 173-160-291, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 97-08, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98)

WAC 173-160-420   What are the general construction requirements for resource protection wells? (1) No resource protection well or soil boring excavation may be used for domestic, industrial, municipal, commercial, or agricultural purposes.

(2) No resource protection well or soil boring excavation may interconnect aquifers.

(3) Nested resource protection wells are prohibited.

(4) Cuttings, development water, and other investigation derived waste from resource protection well construction or geotechnical soil borings shall be managed in a manner consistent with the intent and purposes of the Water Pollution Control Act, chapter 90.48 RCW, the Hazardous Waste Management Act, chapter 70.105 RCW, and implementing regulations.

(5) Well tagging:

(a) It shall be the driller's responsibility to place a well identification tag with a unique identification number on every resource protection well that they construct or alter. Uncased geotechnical soil borings are exempt from the tagging requirements of this chapter.

(i) The alpha-numeric number shall be recorded on the drilling report in the space provided.

(ii) The driller shall remove the well identification tag on all resource protection wells they decommission and shall attach the tag to the decommissioning well report.

(b) It shall be the well owner's responsibility to place a well identification tag with a unique identification number on every resource protection well they own and which was completed prior to the effective date of this regulation.

(i) Upon request, the department shall furnish the well owner with a well tag and tagging instructions.

(ii) The well owner shall tag their well(s) and submit a completed tagging report to the department.

(c) The well tag shall be permanently attached to the outer well casing and be visible above land surface for all wells which have been completed above land surface. For wells completed below land surface, the well tag shall be attached to the well casing or to any permanent and protected portion of the vault.

(d) All well identification tags shall be supplied by the department.

(e) It is unlawful for a person to tamper with or remove a well identification tag except during well alteration.

(6) All resource protection wells will be sealed in accordance with this chapter regardless of the method of installation. Except, resource protection wells that are properly decommissioned prior to the removal of any drilling equipment from the well location are exempted from the surface sealing requirements of this chapter. Provided the decommissioning process includes the removal of any conduit, tubing, probe, or other items inserted into the ground.

(7) All geotechnical soil borings shall be decommissioned under the terms of this chapter.

(8) Except as provided in RCW 18.104.180, all construction, alteration, reconstruction, and decommissioning of resource protection wells and geotechnical soil borings shall be done by an individual licensed under the provisions of chapter 173-162 WAC.

(9) A notice of intent to construct or decommission a resource protection well and a geotechnical soil boring shall be filed with the department a minimum of seventy-two hours prior to initiating construction or decommissioning of the well(s) or boring(s). A fee must accompany each notice of intent to construct a resource protection well. The fee for constructing, altering, or reconstructing each resource protection well is forty dollars. Geotechnical soil borings are exempt from all fees. Under some circumstances, it may be necessary to construct more resource protection wells or geotechnical soil borings than originally anticipated. When additional resource protection wells are constructed on a site for which a notice of intent and fee were submitted, a second notice and fee shall be submitted within twenty-four hours after all wells have been completed or as soon as the final number of wells to be constructed is determined, whichever is sooner. When additional geotechnical soil borings are needed, the borings may be completed. A follow-up notice of intent shall be submitted to the department within twenty-four hours after all borings are constructed. Notification to construct multiple wells or geotechnical soil borings within the same quarter/quarter section, township, and range may be submitted on one notice form. A fee of forty dollars per well must be attached to each notice. Example: Six resource protection wells identified on one notice of intent would be submitted along with a two hundred forty dollar fee.

(((9))) (10) Resource protection well and geotechnical soil boring drilling reports.

(a) Every well contractor is required to submit a complete report on the construction, alteration, or decommissioning of all resource protection wells and geotechnical soil borings they construct. Reports must be submitted to the department within thirty days after completion of construction, alteration, or decommissioning.

(b) This applies to all resource protection wells and geotechnical soil borings.

(c) The resource protection well and geotechnical soil boring report must be made on a form provided by the department, or a reasonable facsimile of the form, as approved by the department.

(d) Where applicable the report shall include the following information:

(i) Owner's name; operator/trainee name; operator/trainee license number; contractor registration number, drilling company name;

(ii) Tax parcel number;

(iii) Well location address;

(iv) Location of the well to at least 1/4, 1/4 section or smallest legal subdivision;

(v) Unique well identification tag number;

(vi) Construction date;

(vii) Start notification number;

(viii) Intended use of well;

(ix) The well depth, diameter, and general specifications of each well;

(x) Total depth of casing;

(xi) Well head elevation;

(xii) Drilling method;

(xiii) Seal material, seal location and type of placement used;

(xiv) Filter pack location; filter pack material used;

(xv) The thickness and character of each bed, stratum or formation penetrated by each well including identification of each water bearing zone;

(xvi) Casing gauge, diameter, stickup, type of material, and length, also of each screened interval or perforated zone in the casing;

(xvii) The depth to the static water level, as measured below the land surface; and

(xviii) Such additional factual information as may be required by the department.

(e) The well report must show the license number and signature of the person who constructed the well. If this is an unlicensed person, exempted under RCW 18.104.180(2), the report shall show the license number and signature of the licensed individual who witnessed the drilling. Resource protection well reports for wells constructed by trainees shall have the signature and license number of the trainee and licensed operator.

What are the surface protection requirements?

(((10))) (11) All resource protection wells shall be capped and protected using one of the following methods:

(a) If the well is cased with metal and completed above the ground surface, you must attach a watertight cap with a lock to the top of the casing.

(b) If the well is not cased with metal and completed above the land surface, you must install a protective metal casing over and around the well. The protective casing shall extend at least six inches above the top of the well casing and be cemented at least two feet into the ground. A cap with lock shall be attached to the top of the protective casing.

(((11))) (12) You shall protect the well(s) completed above ground from damage by:

(a) Cementing three metal posts, at least three inches in diameter, in a triangular array around the casing and at least two feet from it. Each post shall extend at least three feet above and below the land surface.

(b) A reinforced concrete pad may be installed to protect against and prevent frost heave. If installed, the concrete pad shall extend to a depth equal to anticipated frost depth. When a concrete pad is used, the well seal may be part of the concrete pad.

(((12))) (13) If the well is completed below land surface, a watertight cap with a lock shall be attached to the top of the well casing. A metal monument or equivalent shall be installed over and around the well. The monument shall serve as a protective cover and be installed level with the land surface and be equipped with a waterproof seal to prevent the inflow of any water or contaminants. Drains will be provided, when feasible, to keep water out of the well and below the well cap. The cover must be designed to withstand the maximum expected loading.

(((13))) (14) The protective measures may be waived or modified upon written approval from the department (a variance).

(((14))) (15) If the well is damaged, the well protection measures and casing shall be repaired to meet the requirements of this chapter. If the well is damaged beyond repair, it shall be decommissioned in accordance with WAC 173-160-460.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW and RCW 43.21A.080 98-08-032 (Order 97-08), § 173-160-420, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW. 88-08-070 (Order 88-58), § 173-160-420, filed 4/6/88.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 97-08, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98)

WAC 173-160-460  What is the decommissioning process for resource protection wells? (1) Resource protection wells that were not constructed in accordance with these regulations, or for which a drilling report required under this section is missing, shall be decommissioned in one of the following ways:

(a) Perforate the casing from the bottom to land surface and pressure grout the casing.

(i) Perforations shall be at least four equidistant cuts per row, and one row per foot. Each cut shall be at least one and one-half inches long.

(ii) Apply enough pressure to force the sealing material through the perforations, filling any voids on the outside of the casing.

(iii) The remainder of the casing shall be filled with cement grout, neat cement, or bentonite slurry.

(b) Withdraw the casing and fill the bore hole with cement grout, neat cement, or bentonite as the casing is being withdrawn.

(2) If it can be verified through a field examination and review of the drilling report that the resource protection well was constructed in accordance with these regulations, it shall be decommissioned by:

(a) Filling the casing from bottom to land surface with bentonite, cement grout, or neat cement; and

(b) Placing a cap on the casing.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW and RCW 43.21A.080. 98-08-032 (Order 97-08), § 173-160-460, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 97-08, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98)

WAC 173-160-990  Well construction illustrations.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.104 RCW and RCW 43.21A.080. 98-08-032 (Order 97-08), § 173-160-990, filed 3/23/98, effective 4/23/98.]