Chapter NR 812

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.

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.

NR 812.12(11) (11) Geologic samples.

NR 812.12(11)(a) (a) Geologic samples shall be collected by a well driller or well constructor from all of the following:

NR 812.12(11)(a)1. 1. All potable school wells.

NR 812.12(11)(a)2. 2. High capacity potable and nonpotable wells when required by an approval issued by the department.

NR 812.12(11)(b) (b) Cuttings samples shall be collected at 5-foot depth intervals and at each change in geological formation and shall be submitted, along with a copy of the well construction report or a form specified by the department, to the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey no later than 90 days following the completion of the well for the preparation of a geologic log of the well.

NR 812.12(12) (12) Final casing height. The well driller or well constructor shall complete the well construction such that the well casing pipe extends at least 12 inches above the final ground grade, above a pumphouse or building floor or above any concrete or asphalt platform installed at or above the established ground surface. In addition, for wells in floodplains, the top of the well casing pipe shall terminate at least 2 feet above the regional flood elevation.

NR 812.12(13) (13) Flowing wells. A well driller or well constructor shall construct any flowing well in accordance with the requirements specified in s. NR 812.15.

NR 812.12(14) (14) Nonpotable wells. The construction of nonpotable wells shall meet the requirements for low capacity potable wells. The drilling mud requirements and the sodium bentonite annular space sealing requirements during well drilling do not apply to nonpotable high capacity wells constructed with reverse rotary methods.

NR 812.12(15) (15) Well development. A well driller or well constructor shall develop a new well until the water is practicably clear and free of sand by any one of, or a combination or modification of, the following methods:

NR 812.12(15)(a) (a) Mechanical surging. A valved or solid plunger surge block may be used to create a surging action in the well. Accumulated material shall be removed periodically. A bailer may be used as the surge block.

NR 812.12(15)(b) (b) Air surging. An air compressor and piping may be used to create the surging and jetting action in the well. Water in the well shall be alternately brought to the surface by air lift pumping and allowed to drop back down the well to static condition by shutting the air off. This may be performed with an air-rotary drilling rig and drill stem.

NR 812.12(15)(c) (c) Overpumping. Continuous overpumping at a rate of at least 1 1/2 times the design capacity of the well or interrupted overpumping in conjunction with water line drain back to the well in 5-minute cycles may be used. Overpumping alone without a drain back provision or other surging method may not be used to develop screened wells.

NR 812.12(15)(d) (d) Hydraulic jetting. A nozzled jetting tool may be used to deliver water at high pressure and velocity to the zone being developed in conjunction with pumping the well.

NR 812.12(15)(e) (e) Air-jetting. A well driller or well constructor may use the same technique as hydraulic jetting described in par. (d), except with the use of air rather than water.

NR 812.12(16) (16) Well pump test. The well driller or well constructor shall conduct a pump test using the well driller’s, the well constructor’s, or the well owner’s pump for each new or reconstructed well to determine the stable yield in gallons per minute, and the water level drawdown. A pump test may be conducted using air-rotary equipment. For flowing wells, the flow rate may be measured using an orifice plate with a manometer or equivalent.

NR 812.12 Note Note: A stable pumping water level may not be possible in wells completed in crystalline bedrock.

NR 812.12(17) (17) Well disinfection and flushing.

NR 812.12(17)(a) (a) Disinfection. A well driller or well constructor shall thoroughly disinfect wells following completion of construction or reconstruction using a chlorine solution such as a sodium or calcium hypochlorite solution. Chlorine compounds having special additives may not be used. A well driller or well constructor shall disinfect wells in accordance with the following requirements:

NR 812.12(17)(a)1. 1. A chlorine solution with a minimum of 100 mg/L of chlorine shall be used to disinfect wells and well drilling equipment and the disinfectant shall be prepared according to Table D.

NR 812.12(17)(a)2. 2. The disinfectant shall be dispersed throughout the entire water column in the well. The disinfectant shall also be brought into contact with the inside of the well casing pipe above the static water level.

NR 812.12(17)(a)3. 3. The disinfectant shall remain in the well for at least 2 hours except for emergency situations, when water is needed without delay. A contact time of at least 30 minutes shall be provided for emergency situations.

NR 812.12(17)(b) (b) Flushing. A well driller or well constructor shall thoroughly flush wells to remove the chlorine solution after disinfection.

Note: mg/L = milligrams per liter (parts per million)

NR 812.12 History History: CR 18-095: r. and recr. Register June 2020 No. 774, eff. 7-1-20; CR 21-070: am. (5) (b), cr. (5) (c) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

NR 812.13 NR 812.13 Drilled wells terminating in unconsolidated formations. A well driller or well constructor shall construct wells terminating in unconsolidated material according to the requirements specified in s. NR 812.12 and all of the following:

NR 812.13(1) (1) Minimum diameter. The minimum diameter for all drilled wells in unconsolidated formations, based on nominal size of well casing pipe, is 2 inches.

NR 812.13(2) (2) Casing depth. Minimum casing depths shall be measured from the ground surface. The minimum well casing pipe depth for all drilled wells in unconsolidated formations, not including any screen, is 25 feet or 10 feet below the static water level when the static water level is greater than 15 feet below ground surface.

NR 812.13(3) (3) Casing material and installation.

NR 812.13(3)(a) (a) Steel or thermoplastic well casing pipe, as specified in s. NR 812.11 (6) or (7), shall be used for low capacity wells and nonpotable high capacity wells.

NR 812.13(3)(b) (b) Thermoplastic casing may only be placed in an upper enlarged drillhole and may not be driven or jetted into place.

NR 812.13(3)(c) (c) Drilling tools such as drill bits or stabilizers may not be placed in the thermoplastic well casing pipe nor may any drilling or reconstruction occur after placement of the well casing pipe in the well. This restriction does not prohibit the installation or replacement of screens, or the insertion of equipment for the development and cleaning of wells with screens.

NR 812.13(4) (4) Screens. A well driller or well constructor shall install an adequate screen when necessary to prevent sand pumping conditions. Screens installed in a well shall meet the requirements of s. NR 812.11 (11). A well driller or well constructor shall install screens according to the following requirements:

NR 812.13(4)(a) (a) Screen installation shall be accomplished in a manner that prevents damage to the screen or casing and prevents material from bypassing the well screen.

NR 812.13(4)(b) (b) A packer or shale trap may be used to provide a sand seal between the bottom of a well casing pipe and the top of a screen. Packers and shale traps shall meet the requirements of s. NR 812.11 (13).

NR 812.13(4)(c) (c) A riser pipe may be installed to extend upward from the top of the screen. The riser pipe material shall be thermoplastic or metal provided the metal does not have a lead content in excess of 0.25%.

NR 812.13(5) (5) Gravel Packs. The construction of a gravel pack well shall comply with the additional requirements specified in s. NR 812.16.

NR 812.13(6) (6) Driving or advancing steel well casing. A well driller or well constructor shall drive or advance casing according to the following requirements:

NR 812.13(6)(a) (a) The casing shall be equipped with a drive shoe or casing shoe meeting the requirements specified in s. NR 812.11 (10).

NR 812.13(6)(b) (b) Clay slurry, sodium bentonite slurry, or granular bentonite shall be maintained around the casing during advancement using any of the following methods:

NR 812.13(6)(b)1. 1. When casing is driven or advanced from the ground surface, excavating a funnel-shaped depression around the casing to create a reservoir, which shall be kept filled with dry granular bentonite. The granular bentonite shall be kept dry at the surface during advancement.

NR 812.13(6)(b)2. 2. Filling a starter drillhole or temporary outer casing with clay slurry or sodium bentonite slurry and drill cuttings having a mud weight of at least 11 pounds per gallon, or with dry granular bentonite, which shall be maintained around the outside of the casing.

NR 812.13(6)(b)3. 3. Constructing an upper enlarged drillhole in accordance with sub. (7). The upper enlarged drillhole shall be kept filled to within 10 feet of the ground surface with clay slurry or sodium bentonite slurry and drill cuttings having a mud weight of at least 11 pounds per gallon, or with dry granular bentonite.

NR 812.13(7) (7) Upper enlarged drillhole. When an upper enlarged drillhole is constructed for any reason, it shall be completed in accordance with all of the following requirements:

NR 812.13(7)(a) (a) Minimum depth. The minimum depth of an upper enlarged drillhole shall be one of the following:

NR 812.13(7)(a)1. 1. To the final depth that the well casing is set.

NR 812.13(7)(a)2. 2. To the bottom of any clay formation, or 20 feet, whichever is less when the casing is driven or mechanically advanced as specified in sub. (6) (b) 3.

NR 812.13(7)(b) (b) Minimum diameter. The minimum diameter of an upper enlarged drillhole shall meet the following requirements:

NR 812.13(7)(b)1. 1. Four inches greater than the nominal diameter of the casing or couplings.

NR 812.13(7)(b)2. 2. A well driller or well constructor may reduce the diameter of an upper enlarged drillhole to 3 inches greater than the nominal diameter of the casing when flush-threaded thermoplastic casing is used and the required sealing material, according to sub. (8), is placed in the annular space using a pressure grouting method according to the requirements of s. NR 812.20.

NR 812.13(7)(b)3. 3. A well driller or well constructor may reduce the upper enlarged drillhole to 2 inches greater than the nominal diameter of the casing when welded steel casing is used and the required sealing material, according to sub. (8), is placed in the annular space using a pressure grouting method according to the requirements of s. NR 812.20.

NR 812.13(7)(c) (c) Method of keeping hole open. A well driller or well constructor shall maintain an upper enlarged drillhole at full diameter during drilling by any of the following methods:

NR 812.13(7)(c)1. 1. Keeping the drillhole filled up to within 10 feet of the ground surface with drilling mud.

NR 812.13(7)(c)2. 2. Circulating bentonite drilling mud.

NR 812.13(7)(c)3. 3. Setting a temporary outer casing.

NR 812.13(7)(d) (d) Grouting. A well driller or well constructor shall grout an upper enlarged drillhole according to the requirements specified in sub. (8).