Chapter NR 812

NR 812.11(6)(f) (f) Assembly and installation. A well driller or well constructor shall assemble and install steel well casing in accordance with all of the following:

NR 812.11(6)(f)1. 1. When steel well casing pipe is driven or installed it shall be accomplished in a manner such that damage to the well casing pipe does not result.

NR 812.11(6)(f)2. 2. Steel well casing pipe shall be assembled watertight by correctly mated, recessed type couplings having the weights and diameters as listed in Table B or by means of welded joints.

NR 812.11(6)(f)3. 3. Two-inch diameter or smaller well casing pipe couplings shall have at least 11-1/2 threads per inch. Larger diameter couplings shall have at least 8 threads per inch.

NR 812.11(6)(f)4. 4. Steel well casing pipe to be assembled with welded joints shall have beveled ends and the bevels shall be properly aligned and clean and free of burs prior to welding. The casing shall be welded using the procedures of s. NR 812.18 and the weld shall fill the bevel.

- See PDF for table

NR 812.11(7) (7) Thermoplastic well casing pipe. Thermoplastic well casing pipe and couplings used in the construction of wells shall be new and unused and shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 812.11(7)(a) (a) Specifications. Thermoplastic well casing pipe and couplings shall be polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material produced to and meeting the ASTM F480 specification as well as all of the following requirements:

NR 812.11(7)(a)1. 1. Styrene-rubber thermoplastic well casing pipe, including ASTM F 480 may not be used.

NR 812.11(7)(a)2. 2. Thermoplastic well casing shall have a standard dimension ratio of 21, 17, or 13.5.

NR 812.11(7)(a)3. 3. Well casing pipe, pipe couplings, cement, primer, and other components used shall meet the requirements of NSF Standard 14 as it relates to well casing pipe, or an approved equivalent organization.

NR 812.11(7)(a)4. 4. Thermoplastic well casing that terminates above ground shall be of the type with inhibitors recommended for use in direct sunlight, be painted with a light colored acrylic or latex paint, or shall be contained in a pumphouse or in an oversized steel pipe extending from below the frost depth to the top of the thermoplastic pipe.

NR 812.11(7)(b) (b) Defective pipe. Thermoplastic well casing pipe shall be inspected for defects by the well driller or well constructor prior to use. Pipe with defects may not be used by a well driller or well constructor for permanent well casing pipe.

NR 812.11(7)(c) (c) Marking requirements. The well casing pipe shall have certification markings from the manufacturer in accordance with the ASTM F 480 specification and this section. The pipe shall be marked at least every 5 feet showing all of the following:

NR 812.11(7)(c)1. 1. The nominal size.

NR 812.11(7)(c)2. 2. Standard dimension ratio or schedule number.

NR 812.11(7)(c)3. 3. Type of material.

NR 812.11(7)(c)4. 4. The wording “well casing” followed by impact classification.

NR 812.11(7)(c)5. 5. Designation “ASTM F 480” including year of issue of the standard with which the well casing pipe complies.

NR 812.11(7)(c)6. 6. Manufacturer’s name or trademark.

NR 812.11(7)(c)7. 7. Manufacturer’s code for resin manufacture, lot number, and date of manufacture.

NR 812.11(7)(c)8. 8. The NSF-WC designation or other approved laboratory’s seal or mark.

NR 812.11(7)(d) (d) Assembly and installation. Thermoplastic well casing pipe shall be assembled by the well driller or well constructor in a manner according to the specifications in ASTM F 480 using any of the following joining methods:

NR 812.11(7)(d)1. 1. Flush-threaded joints.

NR 812.11(7)(d)2. 2. Integral-bell, solvent-cemented joints.

NR 812.11(7)(d)3. 3. Non-metallic restrained joints.

NR 812.11(7)(d)4. 4. One-piece solvent cemented couplings.

NR 812.11(8) (8) Temporary casing. Temporary casing pipe for all wells and heat exchange drillholes, or well casing pipe greater than 12-inch diameter used for nonpotable wells, may be a lighter weight steel pipe than specified for a given diameter in Table B.

NR 812.11(9) (9) Pipe for liners. Liner pipe shall meet the requirements of s. NR 812.21 (2).

NR 812.11(10) (10) Drive shoes and casing shoes. Drive shoes and casing shoes shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 812.11(10)(a) (a) Drive shoes shall be factory manufactured and constructed of steel or iron with a hardened, beveled cutting edge.

NR 812.11(10)(b) (b) Drive shoes shall have an inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the casing pipe and an outside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the well casing.

NR 812.11(10)(c) (c) Casing shoes shall be factory manufactured and constructed of steel or iron with carbide studs.

NR 812.11(10)(d) (d) Casing shoes shall have an inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the casing wall.

NR 812.11(10)(e) (e) Pipe couplings may not be used as drive shoes.

NR 812.11(11) (11) Screens. Well screens shall meet all of the following requirements:

NR 812.11(11)(a) (a) For potable low capacity wells, a continuous-slot screen composed of stainless steel, brass, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or a non-continuous slot screen approved under s. NR 812.091 shall be used.

NR 812.11(11)(b) (b) Screen selection for driven point wells is optional, except that screens having any lead content may not be used.

NR 812.11(11)(c) (c) For nonpotable high capacity wells, not including dewatering wells, a continuous-slot screen meeting the requirements of par. (a) or a low carbon steel or galvanized steel, continuous-slot screen shall be used.

NR 812.11(11)(d) (d) For nonpotable low capacity wells and dewatering wells, screens are not required; if used, screens may not have any lead content.

NR 812.11(12) (12) Gravel packs. Gravel or coarse sand to be used for a gravel pack shall be uniformly graded, well rounded, washed, and sterilized silica-based rock gravel or coarse sand, shall be free from other material, and shall comply with the requirements of AWWA A100. The size of the gravel pack shall be based on a sieve analysis of the aquifer material. The 70% retained size of the gravel pack shall be 4 to 6 times greater than the 70% retained size of the aquifer sample.

NR 812.11(13) (13) Packers. Packers used to retain grout or reduce water flow shall be made of durable, nontoxic material. Lead and burlap packers may not be used.

NR 812.11(14) (14) Drilling water. Water used in the construction, reconstruction, or redevelopment of wells shall be clear water obtained from an uncontaminated source. The water shall be disinfected with chlorine with a residual of 100 mg/L (parts per million). The chlorine concentration may be mixed according to Table D in s. NR 812.12. The drilling fluid shall be maintained with a free-chlorine residual of 10 mg/L (parts per million) during drilling.

NR 812.11(15) (15) Grouting and sealing materials. All grouting and sealing materials shall be approved for use under s. NR 812.091. Water used for mixing grouting or sealing material shall be clear water obtained from an uncontaminated source. When allowed in ss. NR 812.13, 812.14, 812.151, 812.152 and 812.26, a well driller or well constructor may use any of the following material to grout an annular space or fill and seal a well or borehole:

NR 812.11(15)(b) (b) Neat cement. Neat cement grout shall consist of a mixture of cement and water in the following proportion: one 94-pound bag of Portland cement, labeled as meeting ASTM C 150, Type I or API-10A, Class A or ASTM C595, Type IL; and 5 to 6 gallons of water. Ingredients to increase fluidity or control shrinkage or time of set may be used only with a variance. Neat cement shall have a density of 15.0 to 15.8 pounds per gallon. Neat cement shall have a uniform consistency with no lumps and any commercially prepared grout shall be screened by the well driller or well constructor prior to pumping. Grout densities for neat cement mixes are provided in Table C.

NR 812.11(15)(c) (c) Cement-bentonite. Cement-bentonite grout shall consist of a mixture of powdered bentonite, cement and water and shall meet the following requirements.

NR 812.11(15)(c)1. 1. Powdered bentonite may be added to the mixture described in par. (b) up to a ratio of 5 pounds per 94-pound bag of cement.

NR 812.11(15)(c)2. 2. An additional 0.65 gallons of water per bag of cement may be added to the mix.

NR 812.11(15)(c)3. 3. Cement-bentonite grout shall have a minimum density of 13.8 pounds per gallon. Grout densities for cement-bentonite mixes are provided in Table C.

NR 812.11(15)(d) (d) Sand-cement. Sand-cement grout shall consist of a mixture of cement, sand, and water in the proportion of one 94-pound bag of Portland cement, labeled as meeting ASTM C 150, Type I or API-10A, Class A or ASTM C595, Type IL; a cubic foot of dry sand; and 5 to 6 gallons of water. The sand shall meet the specifications for use in Portland cement concrete.

NR 812.11(15)(e) (e) Concrete. Concrete shall consist of a mixture of cement, water, sand, and gravel in the following proportion: one 94-pound bag of Portland cement, labeled as meeting ASTM C 150, Type I or API-10A, Class A or ASTM C595, Type IL; an equal measure of sand and an equal measure of gravel, by weight or by volume; and not more than 6 gallons of water. As an alternative, a commercially prepared mix may be used if the mix has at least 6 bags of cement per cubic yard and the gravel size does not exceed 1/3 of the inside diameter of the tremie pipe used for filling and sealing the well or drillhole.

NR 812.11(15)(f) (f) Sodium bentonite. Sodium bentonite grout shall be a mixture of sodium bentonite and water that results in a grout containing 20 percent solids, or greater, by weight and shall be mixed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

NR 812.11(15)(g) (g) Drilling mud and cuttings. Drilling mud and cuttings is a mixture of native clay slurry or bentonite drilling mud mixed with drill cuttings. When allowed as an annular space seal, the mixture of drilling mud and cuttings shall have a mud weight of at least 11 pounds per gallon.

NR 812.11(15)(h) (h) Sodium bentonite-sand. Sodium bentonite-sand grout shall consist of a mixture of sodium bentonite mixed with clean silica sand up to a ratio of a 5 to 1 mixture of clean silica sand to bentonite grout. The clean silica sand used for this mix shall consist of silica sand with 80 percent or more of the sand smaller than 0.0117 inch (passing U.S. Sieve #50) in size.

NR 812.11(15)(i) (i) Bentonite chips. Bentonite chips shall be commercially prepared and packaged angular fragments of 85% sodium montmorillonite.

NR 812.11(15)(j) (j) Bentonite pellets. Bentonite pellets shall be a commercially prepared and packaged pelletized bentonite product that is coated to delay hydration.

NR 812.11(15)(k) (k) Bentonite granules. Bentonite granules shall be a commercially prepared and packaged bentonite product consisting of 8 mesh pure bentonite, without additives.

NR 812.11(15)(L) (L) Carbon-bentonite. Carbon-bentonite grout shall be a carbon-bentonite premix product that is mixed and used following the manufacturer’s specifications. Carbon-bentonite grout shall only be used as a sealing material for heat exchange or anode drillholes.

- See PDF for table

NR 812.11 Note Note: Copies of ASTM C150 and ASTM C595, published July 26, 2023, may be obtained directly from ASTM’s website at https://www.astm.org/products-services/standards-and-publications.html and are on file at the legislative reference bureau. A copy of API-10A, published September 2019, may be obtained directly from the American Petroleum Institute at https://www.api.org/products-and-services/standards and is on file at the legislative reference bureau.

NR 812.11(16) (16) Drilling aids. A well driller or well constructor may not use a drilling aid for well and heat exchange drillhole construction and reconstruction unless the drilling aid is approved for use under s. NR 812.091.

NR 812.11 Note Note: A list of approved drilling aids is available on the department’s website at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Wells/drillerPumpInstall.html.

NR 812.11 Note Note: Copies of ASTM standards may be obtained directly from ASTM’s website at https://www.astm.org/products-services/standards-and-publications.html. Copies of API standards may be obtained directly from API’s website at https://www.api.org/products-and-services/standards. Copies of AWWA standards may be obtained directly from AWWA’s website at https://www.awwa.org/publications/standards.aspx. Copies are also on file at the legislative reference bureau.

NR 812.11 History History: CR 18-095: r. and recr. Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; correction in (6) (c) 4., (15) (i) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2020 No. 774; EmR2301: emerg. am. (15) (b), (d), (e), eff. 1-12-23; CR 23-004: am. (15) (b), (d), (e) Register October 2023 No. 814, eff. 11-1-23.

NR 812.12 NR 812.12 General drilled type well construction requirements.

NR 812.12(1) (1) Planning. A well driller or well constructor shall plan and construct each well to comply with all of the following requirements:

NR 812.12(1)(a) (a) The well shall be adapted to the geologic and groundwater conditions of the proposed well site to ensure full utilization of every natural protection against contamination of the water bearing formation or formations and to exclude possible sources of contamination.

NR 812.12(1)(b) (b) The well shall provide an adequate and contaminant free water supply, where the natural geologic and groundwater conditions allow.

NR 812.12(1)(c) (c) The well shall conserve groundwater.

NR 812.12(1)(d) (d) The well shall allow reconstruction or rehabilitation.

NR 812.12(2) (2) Materials and design. A well driller or well constructor shall construct each drilled well to comply with all of the following:

NR 812.12(2)(a) (a) The general and specific requirements outlined in ss. NR 812.13 to 812.16.

NR 812.12(2)(b) (b) The equipment and material requirements specified in s. NR 812.11.

NR 812.12(2)(c) (c) The requirements specified in s. NR 812.152 for potable high capacity, potable school, and wastewater treatment plant wells.

NR 812.12(2)(d) (d) The requirements of any approval issued by the department under s. NR 812.09.

NR 812.12(3) (3) Special well casing depth areas. A well driller or well constructor shall provide for greater depth of well casing pipe in special well casing depth areas designated by the department where well histories show contamination extends to a greater depth. In some of these areas department approval shall be obtained for each well prior to construction.

NR 812.12(4) (4) Quarries. A variance to the setback requirement specified in s. NR 812.08 is not required when the bottom of the quarry is or will be at an elevation higher than the elevation of the ground surface at the well site or if the quarry is no longer used and is permanently filled with water. A well driller or well constructor may construct a well within 500 feet of a quarry if the well is constructed in accordance with all of the following requirements:

NR 812.12(4)(a) (a) The well casing pipe and upper enlarged drillhole depth requirements shall be referenced from the permitted bottom of the quarry.

NR 812.12(4)(b) (b) An additional 20 feet of upper enlarged drillhole and well casing pipe shall be installed over the amount required for the bedrock formation that the well is completed in.

NR 812.12(4)(c) (c) The annular space shall be grouted with neat cement.

NR 812.12(5) (5) Driving or advancing casing. A well driller or well constructor may only drive or mechanically advance steel well casing. When a well driller or well constructor drives or advances casing, it shall be done in accordance with all of the following requirements:

NR 812.12(5)(a) (a) A drive shoe or casing shoe meeting the requirements specified in s. NR 812.11 (10) shall be welded or threaded to the bottom of the casing string.

NR 812.12(5)(b) (b) A drive shoe or casing shoe is not required for any thermoplastic or temporary outer casing.

NR 812.12(5)(c) (c) For a well constructed with thermoplastic casing, the casing may be held down mechanically within an upper-enlarged borehole during grouting to prevent the casing from floating.

NR 812.12(6) (6) Plumbness and alignment. Well plumbness and alignment shall conform to the requirements specified in s. NR 812.19.

NR 812.12(7) (7) upper enlarged drillholes. A well driller or well constructor shall ensure that any upper enlarged drillhole constructed by the driller is maintained at full diameter during casing setting and grouting.

NR 812.12(8) (8) Starter drillholes. When a well driller or well constructor constructs a starter drillhole less than or equal to 10 feet deep, the starter drillhole does not need to meet the minimum requirements for upper enlarged drillholes.

NR 812.12(9) (9) Liners. The installation of liners shall meet the requirements specified in s. NR 812.21.

NR 812.12(10) (10) Grouting and sealing. A well driller or well constructor shall complete all grouting and sealing requirements using the materials and mixtures specified in s. NR 812.11 and the methods specified in s. NR 812.20.