NR 811.12(1)(g)1. 1. Test wells shall be drilled for permanent wells proposed in unconsolidated formations to determine geologic formation information and water quality and quantity data.

NR 811.12(1)(g)2. 2. Test wells to be converted to permanent wells or test wells to be pumped at a rate of 70 gallons per minute or more for a period of more than 72 hours shall be approved by the department prior to their construction.

NR 811.12(1)(g)3. 3. The department may not require test wells for replacement or additional wells drilled on the same well site unless the geology is highly variable or in locations where the formation yield, cone of depression, and water quality are not known to a high degree of certainty.

NR 811.12(1)(g)4. 4. The department may require a test well where water quality data or geologic data for consolidated formations is not available.

NR 811.12(1)(g)5. 5. Test wells may be converted to permanent wells only if all test well casings and screens are removed prior to reconstructing the well to be converted to the permanent well.

NR 811.12 Note Note: The department recommends that test wells be sampled for regulated drinking water contaminants to ensure the permanent well produces water that meets the drinking water quality standards specified under ch. NR 809.

NR 811.12(1)(h) (h) Flowing wells.

NR 811.12(1)(h)1. 1. Flowing wells shall be provided with a valve to control the flow. The valve shall be throttled as much as practicable to prevent the erosion of the confining bed and to prevent waste of water. The control valve shall be closed if the flow ceases.

NR 811.12(1)(h)2. 2. Flow to waste piping shall be metal pipe welded to the protective well casing or pitless unit a minimum of 6 inches above the pumphouse floor. The piping shall extend horizontally through the concrete pump base and include a check valve and a shut-off valve on the portion of the piping located inside the building. The piping shall terminate outside the pumphouse with a screened downturned pipe elbow and a minimum 2 pipe diameter free air break over the top of a storm sewer inlet structure or other department approved location.

NR 811.12(1)(h)3. 3. Every practicable effort shall be made to install the grouted casing below the confining bed.

NR 811.12(1)(i) (i) Materials used as drilling aids, such as drilling muds and foam or other aids shall be compounds approved by the department. Such materials shall be NSF/ANSI Standard 61 approved as required in s. NR 810.09 (5).

NR 811.12(1)(j) (j) The department may require additional or more stringent well construction requirements on a case by case basis when necessary to minimize the entrance of naturally occurring or synthetic contaminants into the well.

NR 811.12(1)(k) (k) The water system owner shall provide notice of the well construction or reconstruction to the department’s regional drinking water representative at least 48 hours prior to the date and time of initiating work.

NR 811.12(2) (2) Well driller requirements. All wells constructed or reconstructed after December 1, 2010, shall be constructed or reconstructed by a well driller licensed or registered by the state of Wisconsin under ch. 280, Stats., and ch. NR 146. A licensed well driller or a registered drilling rig operator shall be on-site during all well drilling, as defined in s. NR 811.02 (77).

NR 811.12 Note Note: Chapter NR 146 contains the registration requirements for well drillers.

NR 811.12(3) (3) Well construction reports. The well driller shall forward to the department, and send a copy to the owner, of a completed Wisconsin Well Construction Report within 30 days of the date of completion of a new well. The well driller shall forward to the department, and send a copy to the owner, of a revised Wisconsin Well Construction Report within 30 days of the date of completion of a reconstructed well. A well reconstruction report is required when a well is deepened, partially backfilled or when installing or removing well casings or screens.

NR 811.12(4) (4) Interference between community water system wells. When the department determines that a proposed community water system well may have a substantial effect on the water levels in one or more wells owned by a neighboring water utility, the following procedure shall be followed:

NR 811.12(4)(a) (a) The department shall provide the owner of a utility well which may be affected by the proposed well with information on its location, proposed constructional features, proposed pumping rate and the anticipated volume of water to be withdrawn.

NR 811.12(4)(b) (b) If the potentially affected utility well owner wishes to object to the proposed community water system well, the owner shall inform the department in writing of the reasons for objection within 30 days of receipt of the information in par. (a).

NR 811.12(4)(c) (c) If notice of objection is filed and good cause is shown, the department may hold a public hearing at which all interested parties may present testimony to be used by the department in determining if a restriction shall be placed on the volume of water withdrawn from the proposed well or existing wells.

NR 811.12(5) (5) Well sites. The suitability of a site for a well is dependent on geologic, hydrogeologic, and topographic conditions and possible sources of contamination. However, a well site shall meet all of the following general requirements:

NR 811.12(5)(a) (a) Well site dimensions. The water system owner shall reserve a lot or parcel of land for the construction of the well that has minimum dimensions of 100 feet by 100 feet. The well shall be located at or near the center of the lot or parcel and shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from any property boundary. These dimensions may be modified by the department on a case-by-case basis where they are unnecessary or inadequate to protect water quality. The department may require a larger well site where necessary to provide adequate wellhead protection. A deeper depth of grouted protective well casing may be required by the department when necessary to compensate for a smaller well site parcel or as a condition of approving a variance to a separation distance to a potential contamination source listed under par. (d).

NR 811.12(5)(b) (b) Flood protection. Wells may be constructed or replaced on sites in the floodplain, as defined in s. NR 116.03 (16), outside of the floodway, as defined in s. NR 116.03 (22), provided that the pumphouse floor is 2 feet or more above the regional flood elevation as determined in s. NR 116.07 (4) and there is year round dry land access to the pumphouse. No new well may be constructed and no existing well may be reconstructed on a site in a floodway. Wells shall be located in an area accessible during the entire year. Where necessary, road improvements shall be installed to provide year round access. Wells shall be located on property owned by the water system owner or for which a long term easement or lease has been obtained. Access roads shall be on property owned by the water system owner or for which a long term easement or lease has been obtained.

NR 811.12 Note Note: Refer to ch. NR 116 for floodplain and floodway requirements.

NR 811.12(5)(c) (c) Well site investigation report submittal. The owner or the owner’s representative shall prepare a well site investigation report, as required by s. NR 811.09 (4) (j) 1., for each well site and submit the report to the department prior to or concurrent with the request for approval of a test well or a permanent well. The report shall be submitted on forms or in a format provided by the department and shall contain sufficient information to evaluate compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

NR 811.12(5)(d) (d) Minimum separation from contamination sources. The well shall be adequately separated from potential sources of contamination. Unless a hydrogeologic investigation indicates lesser separation distances would provide adequate protection of a well from contamination or department approved treatment is installed to address the potential contamination concerns, the minimum separation distances shall be:

NR 811.12(5)(d)1. 1. Ten feet between a well and an emergency or standby power system that is operated by the same facility which operates the well and that has a double wall above ground storage tank with continuous electronic interstitial leakage monitoring. These facilities shall meet the installation requirements of s. ATCP 93.260 and receive written approval from the department of safety and professional services or its designated Local Program Operator under s. ATCP 93.110.

NR 811.12(5)(d)2. 2. Fifty feet between a well and a storm sewer main or a sanitary sewer main where the sanitary sewer main is constructed of water main class materials and joints. Gravity sanitary sewers shall be successfully air pressure tested in place. The air pressure test shall meet or exceed the requirements of the 4 psi low pressure air test for plastic gravity sewer lines found in the latest edition of Standard Specifications for Sewer & Water Construction in Wisconsin. Force mains shall be successfully pressure tested with water to meet the AWWA C600 pressure and leakage testing requirements for one hour at 125% of the pump shut-off head.

NR 811.12(5)(d)3. 3. Two hundred feet between a well and any sanitary sewer main not constructed of water main class materials, sanitary sewer manhole, lift station, one or 2 family residential heating fuel oil underground storage tank or above ground storage tank or POWTS treatment tank or holding tank component and associated piping.