SPS 385.60(3)(f)1.a.a. At least 3 groundwater elevation observation pipes shall be installed to delineate the area under investigation.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)1.b.
b. The governmental unit or department may require more than 3 observation pipes to adequately evaluate potential soil saturation conditions.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)2.a.a. At the request of the department or governmental unit, at least one observation pipe shall be constructed to a depth of 15 feet below the ground surface to determine if high groundwater elevation conditions are due to a perched water table and the possible extent of the saturated zone.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)2.b.
b. Other observation pipes shall terminate at specific depths below grade that will serve to evaluate where shallow perched zones of soil saturation occur within the soil profile.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)2.c.
c. The governmental unit or department may designate specific observation pipe depths and locations based on soil and site conditions, or experience in a particular geographic area or topographic position.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.
3. Observation pipe construction. The direct observation of soil saturation conditions shall be accomplished by means of observation pipes conforming to this subdivision and Figure 385.60-1.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.a.
a. The observation pipe shall be of a material meeting the standards in
s. SPS 384.30 Table 384.30-1, except that lead pipe may not be used.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.b.
b. The inside diameter of an observation pipe may not be less than 2 inches or more than 4 inches nominal size.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.c.
c. The borehole diameter shall be 2 to 4 inches larger than the outside diameter of the observation pipe.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.d.
d. The top of the observation pipe shall terminate at least 18 inches above grade and be provided with a vented cap.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.e.
e. The bottom of the observation pipe shall terminate with a slotted, or screened pipe. The slots or screen shall extend 6 to 18 inches above the bottom of the pipe and be at least 4 inches below the filter pack seal. The slots or screen shall not be hand cut and shall be designed to retain soil particles with a diameter of greater than 0.02 inch.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.g.
g. Finished grade around the observation pipe shall be sloped away from the observation pipe using soil material.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.h.
h. At a minimum, the upper 12 inches of annular space surrounding the observation pipe shall be sealed by puddled clay, bentonite, or an equal-parts mixture of soil, bentonite and cement. A surface seal may not be necessary if the entire soil profile is sand.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.i.
i. The annular space seal below 12 inches and to the top of the filter pack seal may be of unspecified soil material.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.j.
j. A filter pack seal shall be installed above the filter pack to prevent soil migration downward into the filter pack.
SPS 385.60(3)(f)3.k.
k. The observation pipe shall be set on at least 2 inches of pea gravel that extends 4 to 6 inches above the top of the screen or highest slot. The gravel filter pack is not necessary if the natural soil is coarse sand or coarser.
Figure 385.60-1
SPS 385.60(3)(g)1.1. Observation period. The observation period for soil saturation determinations shall begin on or before the appropriate date specified in Figure 385.60-2, and end June 1.
SPS 385.60(3)(g)2.
2. Alternate observation period. The department may approve an alternate observation period if the data presented conclusively demonstrates equivalency to conditions encountered during a normal spring observation period.
SPS 385.60(3)(g)3.
3. Minimum frequency. Observations shall be made on the first day of the observation period and at least every 7 days thereafter until the observation period is complete.
SPS 385.60(3)(h)1.1. The highest level of soil saturation shall be considered the highest level of free water observed in an observation pipe on 2 occasions 7 days apart during the observation period.
SPS 385.60(3)(h)2.
2. The results of soil saturation determinations under this section shall be considered inconclusive if the precipitation totals under
par. (c) do not equal or exceed:
Figure 385.60-2
SPS 385.60(3)(i)1.1. Within 180 days of the completion of the observations, 3 copies of the following data shall be submitted to the department for review:
SPS 385.60(3)(i)1.f.
f. Any governmental unit observations or reports pertaining to the soil saturation determination observations, observation pipe construction or soil/site conditions.
SPS 385.60(3)(i)2.
2. Within 180 days of the completion of the observations, one copy of the data specified in
subd. 1. shall be filed with the governmental unit having jurisdiction.
SPS 385.60(3)(j)
(j) Report forms. Soil saturation determination results shall be reported on forms specified by the department.
SPS 385.60 Note
Note: The Department forms required in this chapter are available for a nominal fee at telephone 800-DOC-SALE or 411 (Telecommunications Relay) or at
docsales@doa.state.wi.us, or at no charge at the Department's Web site at
http://dsps.wi.gov through links to Division of Industry Services forms.
SPS 385.60(3)(k)
(k) Failure to report. Failure to file soil saturation determination results with the governmental unit and department within 60 days may disqualify the site from future soil saturation or interpretive determinations.
SPS 385.60(4)(a)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 3., where regional water table fluctuations are considered in deep sandy soil, the predicted high groundwater elevation shall be established using hydrograph documentation.
SPS 385.60(4)(a)2.
2. Except as provided in
subd. 3., the highest groundwater elevation shall be determined by direct observation during the soil profile evaluation or by one of the hydrograph methods outlined in
pars. (b) to
(d), whichever is highest.
SPS 385.60(4)(a)3.
3. The department or governmental unit may accept use of the hydrograph procedure to predict regional water table levels on sites where inclusions of sandy loam or finer soil material, or massive conditions exist.
SPS 385.60(4)(b)1.1. If there is less than 5 feet to free water below original grade, the procedures detailed in
sub. (2) or
(3) shall be used to determine the highest predicted groundwater elevation at the site.
SPS 385.60(4)(b)2.
2. If there is 5 feet or more to free water below original grade, the hydrograph procedure may be used to determine the highest predicted groundwater elevation at the site.
SPS 385.60(4)(c)
(c) When free water at the site is 5 to 10 feet below grade, all of the following procedures apply:
SPS 385.60(4)(c)1.
1. A completed soil and site evaluation report pursuant to
s. SPS 385.40 that confirms the elevation of free water, if observed, shall be prepared.
SPS 385.60(4)(c)2.a.a. A slotted or screened groundwater elevation observation pipe shall be installed at the proposed system location to a depth of at least 12 inches below the free water elevation.
SPS 385.60(4)(c)3.a.a. The water level in the observation pipe shall be recorded after completion of the observation pipe installation and 7 days later.
SPS 385.60(4)(c)3.b.
b. The highest of the 2 water levels shall be used to complete the hydrograph procedure.
SPS 385.60(4)(c)4.
4. The permanent USGS groundwater elevation well or wells as assigned by the governmental unit or department shall be read within 24 hours of establishing the actual free water elevation at the site.
SPS 385.60(4)(c)5.
5. The hydrograph procedure shall be completed and the results shall be submitted for review to the governmental unit having jurisdiction in a format specified by the department.
SPS 385.60 Note
Note: The Department forms required in this chapter are available for a nominal fee at telephone 800-DOC-SALE or 411 (Telecommunications Relay) or at
docsales@doa.state.wi.us, or at no charge at the Department's Web site at
http://dsps.wi.gov through links to Division of Industry Services forms.
SPS 385.60(4)(d)
(d) When free water at the site is more than 10 feet below grade, all of the following procedures apply:
SPS 385.60(4)(d)1.
1. A completed soil and site evaluation report pursuant to
s. SPS 385.40 that confirms the elevation of free water, if observed, shall be prepared.
SPS 385.60(4)(d)2.
2. The permanent USGS groundwater elevation well or wells assigned to the project by the governmental unit or department shall be read within 24 hours of the actual free water determination at the site.
SPS 385.60(4)(d)3.
3. The hydrograph procedure shall be completed and the results shall be submitted for review to the governmental unit having jurisdiction in a format specified by the department.
SPS 385.60 Note
Note: The Department forms required in this chapter are available for a nominal fee at telephone 800-DOC-SALE or 411 (Telecommunications Relay) or at
docsales@doa.state.wi.us, or at no charge at the Department's Web site at
http://dsps.wi.gov through links to Division of Industry Services forms.
SPS 385.60(4)(e)
(e) The governmental unit or the department may request more than one USGS groundwater well or other wells assigned by the governmental unit or the department be used to complete the hydrograph procedure.
SPS 385.60(4)(f)
(f) The governmental unit or the department may reject or suspend use of the hydrograph procedure when erratic groundwater tables are present due to recent, significant recharge events.
SPS 385.60(5)
(5) Artificially controlled navigable waters determination. SPS 385.60(5)(a)(a) If the groundwater elevation at a site is influenced by the artificial control of navigable waters by a recognized management entity, all of the following conditions shall be addressed:
SPS 385.60(5)(a)1.
1. If loamy sand or coarser soil textures prevail at a site, the groundwater elevation at the site shall be compared to the current and highest controlled navigable water elevation.
SPS 385.60(5)(a)2.
2. The highest normal groundwater elevation at such sites shall be the higher of either the observed elevation or an adjusted elevation based on the controlled water.
SPS 385.60(5)(b)
(b) An artificially controlled navigable waters determination report shall be prepared and submitted for review to the governmental unit having jurisdiction upon completion of the determination and associated report.
SPS 385.60(6)
(6) Soil saturation observation pipe removal. The following requirements shall apply to all groundwater elevation observation pipes installed pursuant to this section:
SPS 385.60(6)(a)
(a) Removal timeline. Unless specifically approved by the governmental unit or department, all groundwater elevation observation pipes shall be removed within 60 days after the completion of soil saturation determination.
SPS 385.60(6)(b)
(b) Contamination conduit. Any groundwater elevation observation pipe found by the department or governmental unit to be acting as a conduit for groundwater contamination shall be ordered removed immediately.
SPS 385.60(7)(a)1.1. The governmental unit or department may request verification of soil saturation determinations pursuant to
s. SPS 385.50 (2), and proper observation pipe installation pursuant to this section.
SPS 385.60(7)(a)2.
2. The governmental unit or the department may require any groundwater elevation observation pipe deemed by the governmental unit or the department to be in poor contact with the surrounding soil to be reinstalled pursuant to this section.
SPS 385.60(7)(b)1.1. The governmental unit or department may visit sites during soil saturation determination periods or at other reasonable times to determine the accuracy of data.
SPS 385.60(7)(b)2.
2. A written record of on-site visits in
subd. 1. shall be maintained by the agency conducting the visits.
SPS 385.60 History
History: Cr.
Register, April, 2000, No. 532, eff. 7-1-00;
CR 02-129: r. and recr. (1) and (3) (h) 1., am. (2) (c) (intro.), (2) (c) 2. b., (3) (i) 1. (intro.) and 2., (4) (a) 1. and 2., (4) (c) (intro.), 2. b., 5., (d) (intro.) and 3., r. (3) (b), cr. (4) (a) 3., (4) (e) and (f), and (5), renum. (5) and (6) to be (6) and (7)
Register January 2004 No. 577, eff. 2-1-04; corrections in (3) (a) and (h) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register January 2004 No. 577;
CR 07-100: am. (4) (c) 5., (d) 3. and (5) (b)
Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 10-1-08; correction (2) (c) 1., (f) 3. (intro.), a., f., (g) 1., (i) 1. a., (4) (c) 1., (d) 1., (7) (a) 1. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2011 No. 672;
CR 17-065: am. (2) (a) Register June 2018 No. 750, eff. 7-1-18.
