Chapter NR 812

NR 812.091(2)(f) (f) Well head components including well caps and well seals.

NR 812.091(2)(g) (g) Pitless adapters, pitless units, above ground discharge units, and any treatment equipment to be installed directly in or on a well.

NR 812.091(3) (3) No prior approval required. The following products or components may be used for work conducted under this chapter without prior department approval, provided the manufacturer’s instructions are consistent with all of the following requirements:

NR 812.091(3)(a) (a) Drinking water treatment chemicals, including miscellaneous water supply products, that are certified for compliance with NSF/ANSI Standard 60, provided all of the following additional requirements are met:

NR 812.091(3)(a)1. 1. The manufacturer submits a copy of the NSF certification to the department.

NR 812.091(3)(a)2. 2. The instructions for use on the product container are consistent with the conditions of the certification.

NR 812.091(3)(a)3. 3. The product is not intended to be left in the water system longer than 48 hours.

NR 812.091(3)(a)4. 4. The manufacturer notifies the department if the certification is updated or rescinded.

NR 812.091(3)(b) (b) Drinking water system components in contact with potable water that are certified for compliance with NSF/ANSI Standard 61.

NR 812.091(3)(c) (c) Water treatment devices installed in a water system that have a plumbing product approval in accordance with chs. SPS 382 and 384.

NR 812.091(4) (4) Department approval required. If a product or component does not meet the requirements under par. (3), a manufacturer is required to obtain the department’s approval of the product or component before a well driller, heat exchange driller or pump installer may use the product or component for work conducted under this chapter.

NR 812.091(5) (5) Application for approval. For any product or component not authorized under sub. (3), the manufacturer shall apply for and obtain a written approval from the department. The manufacturer shall apply on a form or in a manner specified by the department. Applications shall include information regarding the manufacturer’s name, address, and contact person for the product or component, and a description of the product or component and the manufacturer’s instructions. The department may request all information necessary to evaluate the chemical makeup and impacts to drinking water, groundwater and public health and safety.

NR 812.091(6) (6) Criteria for department approval. The department shall ensure the protection of public safety, safe drinking water, and groundwater in review and approval of each application submitted under sub. (5). When deemed necessary and appropriate for the protection of public safety, safe drinking water, and the groundwater resource, the department may impose more stringent conditions on the use of a product or component than the manufacturer’s instructions. In addition, the department shall apply the following criteria:

NR 812.091(6)(a) (a) Well construction materials, including drill bits, tremie pipe, well casing pipe, shoes, screens, gravel packs, grouting and sealing materials, and drilling aids, shall meet the requirements specified in s. NR 812.11.

NR 812.091(6)(b) (b) Pump installation materials, including supply pipe, well caps and seals, pitless adapters and pitless units, pumps, water storage vessels, sample faucets, and yard hydrants, shall meet the requirements specified in subch. III.

NR 812.091(6)(c) (c) Well caps and seals shall be weather- and vermin-proof compression type components. Department approvals for well caps and seals shall also be based on materials of construction, method of venting, effectiveness of gasket, ease of removal for inspection of the inside of the well, and method of attachment to the well casing pipe. Nuts and bolts shall be made of materials that minimize corrosion.

NR 812.091(6)(d) (d) Department approval of pitless adapters and pitless units shall be based on materials of construction, thickness of pipe or tubing, thickness of other component parts, method of fabrication, method of connection, and the integrity of the seal to the well casing pipe. The department may require additional standards and tests, including minimum pressure test performance, that the department deems necessary to demonstrate the sanitary integrity of any adapter or unit submitted for department approval.

NR 812.091(7) (7) List of approved products and components. The department shall maintain lists of all products and components approved under this section.

NR 812.091 Note Note: Lists of approved products and components are available on the department’s website at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Wells/drillerPumpInstall.html.

NR 812.091(8) (8) Prohibition. The department may prohibit the use of any product or component if the department finds there is substantial evidence that the product poses a significant hazard to safe drinking water or groundwater. The department shall state its decision and conclusions in writing to the manufacturer, and notify industry representatives including the Wisconsin Water Well Association and the Wisconsin Pump and Well Suppliers Association. The department’s decision shall specify the effective date of the prohibition, not to exceed 12 months after the date of the decision.

NR 812.091(9) (9) Certification. If a product or component is certified for compliance with the applicable NSF/ANSI standard and meets the requirements specified in sub. (3) after department approval is granted under sub. (4), the approval shall no longer be required.

NR 812.091(10) (10) Modification. If a product or component is modified after approval is granted under this section, including a change in materials, chemical makeup, or intended use, the approval is void and the manufacturer shall submit a new request for approval from the department.

NR 812.091(11) (11) Liability. Approval by the department does not relieve any person of any liability that may result from injury or damage suffered by any other person due to sale or use of an approved product or component. In addition, failure to comply with any condition of a department approval shall void the approval.

NR 812.091 Note Note: Copies of NSF/ANSI Standards 60 and 61 may be obtained directly from NSF’s website at http://www.nsf.org/regulatory/regulator-nsf-standards. Copies are also on file at the offices of the department and the legislative reference bureau.

NR 812.091 History History: CR 18-095: cr. Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20.

subch. II of ch. NR 812 Subchapter II — New Water Well and Heat Exchange Drillhole Construction and Reconstruction and Filling and Sealing of Wells and Drillholes

NR 812.10 NR 812.10 Well driller and well constructor requirements. A well driller or well constructor is responsible for constructing a well according to all of the following requirements:

NR 812.10(1) (1) License requirement. An individual who constructs a well shall be a licensed water well driller except that a license is not required for any of the following individuals provided all other requirements of this subchapter are met:

NR 812.10(1)(a) (a) An individual performing well drilling on real estate owned or leased by that individual.

NR 812.10(1)(b) (b) An individual employed by a licensed water well driller or a person registered as a business to perform well drilling.

NR 812.10(1)(c) (c) An individual constructing a driven point well as defined in s. NR 812.07 (35).

NR 812.10(1)(d) (d) An individual constructing a nonpotable water supply well.

NR 812.10(2) (2) Well or drillhole location. A well driller or well constructor shall be responsible for properly locating a well. Wells shall be located to meet the minimum requirements specified in s. NR 812.08.

NR 812.10(3) (3) Equipment and materials. A well driller or well constructor shall use the proper equipment and materials to enable compliance with the requirements of this subchapter.

NR 812.10(4) (4) Construction methods. A well driller or well constructor shall comply with this chapter for the construction and reconstruction of all wells. A well driller or well constructor shall provide adequate protection for the top of the drillhole and the top of the well casing pipe to prevent surface contamination from entering the well during the drilling operation and when the driller is not at the drilling site.

NR 812.10(5) (5) Approvals. A well driller or well constructor shall either obtain, or verify that the well owner has obtained, a department issued approval before the well construction operation is started on any well that requires an approval under s. NR 812.09 (4). A well driller or well constructor shall comply with any requirements of an approval issued by the department under s. NR 812.09 (4).

NR 812.10(6) (6) Consultation with the department prior to drilling. A well driller or well constructor shall consult with the department prior to drilling in areas where the driller has been notified or determines that there are contaminated formations or groundwater contamination levels in excess of the standards specified in s. NR 812.06, or prior to drilling a well on a property identified by the department as having residual contamination and continuing obligations requiring listing on the department’s database under s. 292.12 (3), Stats.

NR 812.10 Note Note: Properties that are identified by the department as having residual contamination and continuing obligations can be found by searching the Wisconsin Remediation and Redevelopment Database which is available on the department’s website at dnr.wi.gov, search “WRRD.”

NR 812.10(7) (7) Noncomplying wells. When a well driller or well constructor has constructed a water well not initially located or constructed in compliance with this chapter, the well driller or well constructor shall pay all costs for bringing the well into compliance with this chapter. These costs include the cost of filling and sealing the noncomplying well, if necessary, but do not include the costs that would have been charged for an initial complying well construction.

NR 812.10(8) (8) Well notification report verification. A well driller or well constructor shall either obtain a well notification or verify that the well owner has obtained a department well notification including the notification number, by obtaining a copy of the notification report, before the well construction operation is started.

NR 812.10(9) (9) Permit verification. A well driller, well constructor, or drilling contractor shall obtain required permits from counties authorized to administer this chapter under ch. NR 845. If the property is located within the area served by a municipally owned water system, the well driller or well constructor shall verify that the well owner has obtained a well operational permit from the municipality in accordance with the municipality’s private well ordinance.

NR 812.10(10) (10) Water sample collection, analysis and reporting. The well driller or the well constructor shall collect water samples, submit them to a certified laboratory for analysis, and provide the test results in compliance with s. NR 812.46.

NR 812.10(11) (11) Well construction report.

NR 812.10(11)(a) (a) The well driller or well constructor shall submit a well construction report, on a form prescribed by the department, within 30 days following the date of completion of any of the following activities:

NR 812.10(11)(a)1. 1. Well construction.

NR 812.10(11)(a)2. 2. Well reconstruction.

NR 812.10(11)(a)3. 3. The construction of a dry drillhole or unsuccessful well that is not immediately filled and sealed.

NR 812.10(11)(a)4. 4. Driving or replacing a driven well point.

NR 812.10(11)(a)5. 5. Well screen replacement if the screen is set more than 5 feet above or below the original screen depth setting.

NR 812.10(11)(b) (b) The well driller or well constructor shall submit a complete and accurate well construction report to the department and to the well owner. The well driller or well constructor shall submit the well construction report to the department electronically beginning on January 1, 2023.

NR 812.10(11)(c) (c) When constructing a replacement well, a well driller or well constructor shall report any well he or she removes from service on the property.

NR 812.10(11)(d) (d) If the department returns a well construction report to the well driller or well constructor because the well construction report is not complete or because compliance with the construction requirements of this chapter is not clear, the well driller or well constructor shall resubmit the original well construction report to the department with corrections and completion no later than 15 days after receipt of the returned report.

NR 812.10(12) (12) Bacteria positive wells. A well driller or well constructor shall return to the well site to diagnose and attempt to correct a problem when an initial sample from a potable well is positive for total coliform bacteria. Corrective action shall begin no later than 10 days after a well driller or well constructor is informed of a total coliform bacteria-positive result or prior to the well being placed into service, whichever is later. After corrective action, the well shall be disinfected and flushed in accordance with s. NR 812.12 (17) and sampled in accordance with s. NR 812.46 (1).

NR 812.10(13) (13) Problem wells.

NR 812.10(13)(a) (a) A well driller or well constructor shall return to the well site to attempt to diagnose and correct problems if a problem is reported to them, no later than 90 days after a well is completed or no later than 30 days after the well is placed in service, whichever is later. The well driller or well constructor shall return to the well site to attempt to diagnose and correct problems when any of the following occurs:

NR 812.10(13)(a)1. 1. The well produces sandy or turbid water.

NR 812.10(13)(a)2. 2. The well fails due to a caving or sloughing formation.

NR 812.10(13)(a)3. 3. Water starts flowing up the outside of the casing of a flowing well.

NR 812.10(13)(b) (b) If a well driller or well constructor installs a liner to correct problems identified under this subsection, the liner shall meet the requirements specified in s. NR 812.21.

NR 812.10(13)(c) (c) A well driller or well constructor may seal a drillhole with neat cement, sand cement grout, or concrete grout and subsequently drill through the hardened grout to reconstruct a well for non-health-related water quality problems or for turbidity problems. A well driller or well constructor shall report any well reconstructed in this manner in accordance with the requirements specified in sub. (15).

NR 812.10(13)(d) (d) When a problem well has been identified by the department, the department may test or contract to test the well for damage or leaks by pressure testing or by a comparable testing procedure. If pressure tested, the well shall be proven watertight under a pressure of not less than 14 psi, and the pressure shall be maintained for at least 30 minutes.

NR 812.10(14) (14) Notification of the need to fill and seal a well. A well driller or well constructor who removes a well from service or constructs a replacement well on a property shall inform the property owner that the department requires that any well replaced or removed from service shall be filled and sealed according to the requirements of this section no later than 90 days after the well was removed from service or 90 days after the completion of the replacement well, whichever is later.

NR 812.10(15) (15) Well casing pipe depth verification report.

NR 812.10(15)(a) (a) When required to measure well casing pipe depth by this chapter or at the request of the department, the well driller or well constructor shall enter the well details on a form specified by the department and submit the form to the well owner and the department no later than 30 days after performing the verification.

NR 812.10(15)(b) (b) All of the following information shall be included on the form:

NR 812.10(15)(b)1. 1. The well location.

NR 812.10(15)(b)2. 2. The well owner information.

NR 812.10(15)(b)3. 3. The casing material.

NR 812.10(15)(b)4. 4. The casing diameter.

NR 812.10(15)(b)5. 5. The well casing pipe depth.

NR 812.10(15)(b)6. 6. The total well depth.

NR 812.10(15)(b)7. 7. The depth to water.

NR 812.10(15)(b)8. 8. The distances to possible contaminant sources.

NR 812.10(16) (16) Disinfection of equipment. A well driller or well constructor shall disinfect any equipment used to measure or diagnose a problem in a well prior to placing the equipment in a well.

NR 812.10 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (5), (9) and (11), Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, September, 1994, No. 465; CR 00-111: am. (2), Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 11-1-01; CR 13-096: am. (title), (1) to (8), cr. (11m), CR 13-099: am. (2), (8), r. and recr. (11), cr. (12), (13) Register September 2014 No. 705, eff. 10-1-14; correction in numbering in (11m) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register September 2014 No. 705; 2015 Wis. Act 197 s. 45 Register April 2016 No. 724; CR 18-095: r. and recr. Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; correction in (12) (title) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register June 2020 No. 775; CR 21-070: cr. (13) (d) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

NR 812.11 NR 812.11 Well construction equipment and materials. All materials permanently installed in a well by a well driller or well constructor shall be new, unused, and approved under s. NR 812.091. A well driller or well constructor shall use equipment and materials that meet all of the following requirements:

NR 812.11(1) (1) Drill bits. The diameter of a drill bit shall be within 1/4 inch of the diameter of any drillhole to be constructed.

NR 812.11(2) (2) Tremie pipes. Tremie pipe used for the placement of grouting or sealing material shall be one of the following:

NR 812.11(2)(a) (a) Metal pipe.

NR 812.11(2)(b) (b) Rubber-covered hose reinforced with braided fiber or steel and rated for at least 300 psi.

NR 812.11(2)(c) (c) Thermoplastic pipe rated for at least 160 psi including:

NR 812.11(2)(c)1. 1. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

NR 812.11(2)(c)2. 2. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC).

NR 812.11(2)(c)3. 3. Polyethylene (PE).

NR 812.11(2)(c)4. 4. Polybutylene (PB).

NR 812.11(2)(c)5. 5. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

NR 812.11(3) (3) Mud balances. A well driller or well constructor shall use a mud balance to measure the density of grouting or sealing materials to meet the requirements of this section.

NR 812.11(4) (4) Lead prohibited. A well driller or well constructor is prohibited from the use of lead compounds or lead components to lubricate and seal drill stem joints or any equipment that enters a well. All material permanently installed in a well by a well driller or well constructor must be lead-free as defined by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

NR 812.11 Note Note: The Safe Drinking Water Act defines “lead-free” as a weighted average of 0.25% lead calculated across the wetted surfaces of a pipe, pipe fitting, plumbing fitting, and fixture and 0.2% lead for solder and flux.