Comm MA private well guidelines_July 2018.pdf

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Department of Environmental Protection Marty Suuberg Commissioner

Bureau of Water Resources Doug Fine

Assistant Commissioner

PRIVATE WELL GUIDELINES

Updated July 2018

Drinking Water Program ii

CONTENTS

FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... III

TABLES ........................................................................................................................................ III

INTRODUCTION

SUMMARY OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY

SYSTEMS

DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY SOURCES

PERMITS AND REPORTS

WELL LOCATION

GENERAL WELL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

WELL CASING

WELL SCREEN

WELL DEVELOPMENT

WATER QUANTITY

CASING SEALS

WELLHEAD COMPLETION AND ALTERATION

PUMPS AND TANKS

DISINFECTION

WATER QUALITY AND WATER TESTING

WATER TREATMENT

WELL MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION

DECOMMISSIONING ABANDONED WELLS, TEST HOLES, AND DRY OR INADEQUATE

BORINGS

APPENDIX A, RECOMMENDED ANALYTES, CONCENTRATION LIMITS, AND MONITORING

FREQUENCY

APPENDIX B, LAND USE/ASSOCIATED CONTAMINANTS MATRIX

APPENDIX C, OTHER BOARD OF HEALTH RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO DRINKING

WATER

GLOSSARY

REFERENCES CITED

iii

FIGURES

Figure 1: Groundwater and Surface Water Sources

Figure 2 Properly Constructed Springs

Figure 3: Well Completion Report Required by the Drinking Water Program

Figure 4: Electronic Well Completion Report (WCR) Form ..................................................... 13-15

Figure 5: Typical Construction for Bedrock Well Installations

Figure 6: Typical Drilled Sand and Gravel Well

Figure 7: Sandpoint Installed with Protective Oversized Casing

Figure 8: Construction Details for a Standard Dug Well

Figure 9: Typical Water Treatment System

Figure 10: Grout Installation by Positive Placement Exterior Method

Figure 11: Grout Installation by Continuous Injection Method

Figure 12: Well Seal

Figure 13: Pitless Adapter Installation

Figure 14: Typical Submersible Pump Installation

Figure 15: Typical Shallow Jet Pump Installation

Figure 16: Typical Deep Well Jet Pump Installation

Figure 17: Jet Pump Cross Section

Figure 18: Radionuclide Testing Decision Diagram

Figure 19: Filter Application Guide

Figure 20: Typical Treatment Sequence

Figure 21: Well Decommissioning Report

TABLES

Table 1: Lateral Setback Distances

Table 2: Materials Standards for Steel Water Well Casing

Table 3 Peak Flow Rates (GPM) for Homes Based on Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Table 4: Gallons of Water per Foot of Depth for Various Casing or Hole Diameters

Table 5: Flow Volumes in Gallons per Minute and Corresponding Flow Volumes in Gallons per Day iv

Table 6: Usable Pressurized Storage Amount in Gallons for Various Types of Pressure Tanks with Common Constant Speed Pressure Switch Settings……

Table 7: Amount of Chlorine Compound Required to Produce a Chlorine Concentration of 100 mg/L (for Well Diameters of One Foot or Less)

Table 8: Amount of Chlorine Compound Required to Produce a Chlorine Concentration of 100 mg/L (for Well Diameters of Two Feet or More)

Table 9: Towns with High or Medium Probability of Exceeding Arsenic and/or Uranium MCL . 78

Table 10: Land Use/Pollution Potential Matrix

Table 11: Recommended Water Quality Testing - Annual Basis

Table 12: Recommended Water Quality Testing - Initially and Every 10 Years

Table 13: Possible Causes of Common Taste, Odor, and Appearance Problems in Well Water

Table 14: Treatment Device Options

INTRODUCTION

A private water supply provides water for human consumption and consists of a system that has less than 15 service connections and either (1) serves less than 25 individuals or (2) serves an average of 25 or more individuals daily for less than 60 days of the year. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts over 500,000 people rely on private wells to provide potable water because public water is not available to them.

The improper design, construction, repair, maintenance, or decommissioning of a private water supply system represents a potential hazard to public health and safety. In order to protect the health and general welfare of the citizens who depend on private wells and to protect the groundwater resources of the Commonwealth so that the consuming public can be assured of potable water, it is necessary for regulators to know what constitutes a private water supply system and understand the measures that should be taken to protect the water supplied by the system.

The Private Well Guidelines and accompanying Model Board of Health Regulations for Private Wells were written primarily to assist Boards of Health but also to assist drillers by attempting to introduce some consistency regarding construction standards from town to town.

The Private Well Guidelines also provides information useful to private well owners, developers, and interested local officials.

The Model Board of Health Regulations for Private Wells provides general guidance because subsurface geology varies considerably across the Commonwealth. Well construction and water quality concerns on Cape Cod, for example, differ substantially from those in western Massachusetts. The Private Well Guidelines, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive reference and provides information regarding well construction in addition to discussion of issues concerning local groundwater protection and water quality. Because the Private Well Guidelines is intended as a reference, it was written with a built-in redundancy.

Although these guidelines contain information that is applicable to private water supply systems that derive water from surface water sources, the primary focus is on systems that utilize a well to obtain groundwater.

Household irrigation wells have become an issue recently because of the dramatic increase in water rates in parts of Massachusetts. The well construction requirements recommended in the Private Well Guidelines and the Model Board of Health Regulations for Private Wells should be applied to irrigation wells. For wells used exclusively for irrigation, unique water quality testing requirements are described in the Water Quality section of these guidelines.

In addition, some wells may serve the dual purpose of providing domestic water and acting as a heat transfer medium for ground source heat pump (geothermal) systems. These wells are regulated under the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection‟s Underground Injection Control program. The reader is referred to the Department‟s “Guidelines for Ground Source Heat Pump Wells” for additional information.

Neither the Private Well Guidelines nor the Model Board of Health Regulations for Private Wells are a substitute for existing regulations and statutes.

SUMMARY OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO PRIVATE WATER

SUPPLY SYSTEMS

There are a number of Massachusetts laws that protect the quality of the water obtained from private wells This section summarizes laws and state regulations that are applicable to private water supply systems. State regulations developed pursuant to the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) are contained in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) and can be purchased individually from State House bookstores in Boston, Fall River and Springfield.

The CMR is also available online at https://www.mass.gov/code-of-massachusetts-regulations-cmr.

STATE JURISDICTION

Department of Environmental Protection

In Chapter 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws, MassDEP is granted general responsibility and authority for protecting drinking water supplies within the Commonwealth.

Specifically, Section 159 confers upon MassDEP "the general oversight and care of all inland…and underground waters used by any city, town, water supply or fire district or public institution or any person in the Commonwealth as sources of ice or water supply…”. In Section 160, MassDEP is authorized to "make rules and regulations and issue such orders as in its opinion may be necessary to prevent the pollution and to secure the sanitary protection of all such waters used as sources of water supply and to ensure the delivery of a fit and pure water supply to all consumers." Section 5G states that MassDEP "may require by order a city, town, person or district maintaining a water supply to provide and operate such treatment facilities as are, in its opinion, necessary to insure the delivery of a safe water supply to all consumers."

Chapter 21G, Section 20 of the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) requires the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to adopt such regulations as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Section 20 requires any person engaged in the business of digging or drilling wells within the Commonwealth to certify annually with MassDEP. It also states that "within thirty days after completion of any well by digging or drilling, the person engaged in the business of digging or drilling wells shall submit a report to the department setting forth such information as may be required under said rules and regulations."

The regulations developed by the Department pursuant to MGL Chapter 21G, Sections 14 and 20, are contained in 310 CMR 46.00, "Certification of Well Drillers and Filing of Well Completion Reports." These regulations, among other things, (1) provide the criteria necessary for the certification of well diggers and drillers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, (2) establish the information that must be furnished as a prerequisite for certification (3) establish the information that must be submitted to the department upon the completion of any well, and

(4) set forth penalties, including revocation of certification if a driller is found to be in noncompliance with the well driller regulations.

In order to protect underground sources of drinking water as required in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, and pursuant to MGL Chapter 111, Section 160 and MGL Chapter 21, Section 27, and other authority, MassDEP promulgated 310 CMR 27.00, "Underground Injection Control Regulations." These regulations prohibit the underground injection or disposal of hazardous wastes, and fluids having the potential to contaminate groundwater. In addition to the requirements provided in 310 CMR 27.00, MGL Chapter 21C, Section 5 states that no person shall dispose of hazardous waste "in a manner which could endanger human health, safety or welfare, or the environment." In accordance with MGL Chapter 21C, Section 5 and 310 CMR 27.00, it is illegal to use a private water supply well, test hole, or dry or inadequate https://www.mass.gov/code-of-massachusetts-regulations-cmr https://www.mass.gov/code-of-massachusetts-regulations-cmr boring as a drain or disposal receptacle for any fluid or material including, but not limited to, sludge, solid waste or trash, and waste oil or other hazardous waste.

Chapter 21A, Section 13 of the Massachusetts General Laws requires the Commissioner of MassDEP to adopt, and from time to time amend, regulations to be known as the State Environmental Code. More specifically, this code "shall deal with matters affecting the environment and the well-being of the public of the commonwealth." Section 13 also states that “local boards of health shall enforce said code in the same manner in which local health rules and regulations are enforced..."

Pursuant to MGL Chapter 21A, Section 13, MassDEP has promulgated 310 CMR 15.000, "The State Environmental Code, Title 5: Standard Requirements for the Siting, Construction, Inspection, Upgrade and Expansion of On-Site Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems and for the Transport and Disposal of Septage." These regulations provide minimum standards, among other things, for the location, design, construction, and operation of subsurface sanitary sewage disposal systems that discharge less than 10,000 gallons per day. The improper location, construction, or maintenance of a subsurface disposal system is of concern because it may adversely affect the quality of the water obtained from a nearby private water system.

It should be noted that the standards presented in the current version of Title 5 were developed primarily to protect public health from bacteria and nitrogen. Pursuant to the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 111, Section 31, local Boards of Health have the authority to adopt reasonable health regulations including regulations that are more stringent than Title 5. On the other hand, a variance may be granted by the local Board of Health if (1) site specific conditions indicate that adequate protection can be provided without complying with the standards required by Title 5, and (2) Title 5 requirements would be a manifest injustice.

Chapter 131, Section 40 of the Massachusetts General Laws provides MassDEP with the authority to promulgate regulations to protect wetland areas and confers upon the local Conservation Commission the responsibility for administering the law. Among the seven statutory interests listed are "public or private water supply" and "groundwater supply."

Pursuant to MGL Chapter 131, Section 40, MassDEP has promulgated 310 CMR 10.00, "Wetlands Protection." In accordance with MGL Chapter 131, Section 40 and 310 CMR 10.00, any person proposing construction or alteration of the land within 100 feet of a wetland or within the 100-year floodplain of any river or stream must apply to the local Conservation Commission for a Determination of Applicability. The Commission evaluates the impact prior to issuing a permit or denial and must ensure that “the capacity of an area to prevent pollution of groundwater shall not be adversely affected." The Commission's decision may be appealed to MassDEP.

The "Drinking Water Regulations," 310 CMR 22.00, promulgated by MassDEP, pertain specifically to public water systems. However, they include water quality standards which can be used as guidelines for interpreting the results of analyses performed on water samples obtained from private water systems.

MassDEP promulgated regulation 310 CMR 42.00, “Certification and Operation of Environmental Analysis Laboratories” to establish certification requirements for laboratories to conduct analytical measurements of chemical, radiochemical, and microbiological parameters in environmental samples, including drinking water. Public water suppliers are required to use MassDEP-certified laboratories for water analysis. MassDEP strongly recommends that local Boards of Health and homeowners require the use of Mass DEP certified labs for private well testing.

Department of Agricultural Resources- Pesticide Board

Pursuant to the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 132B, the Pesticide Board promulgated 333 CMR 11.00, "Rights of Way Management." These regulations include procedures and requirements for marking and recording the location of private wells which are within 100 feet of a right-of-way, prior to herbicide application in the right of way. For private drinking water supplies that are marked and recorded in accordance with these regulations, no herbicide shall be applied within 50 feet of the private well, and no herbicide shall be applied in an area that is both in a right of way and between 50 feet and 100 feet of the water supply unless a minimum of 24 months shall elapse between applications, and herbicides shall be applied selectively by low pressure foliar techniques or cut stump application. Uniform standard signs have been produced and are currently available at the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).

Department of Public Health

Chapter 111, Section 127A of the Massachusetts General Laws states that the Department of Public Health (DPH) "shall adopt, and may from time to time amend, public health regulations to be known as the State Sanitary Code." This code "shall deal with matters affecting the health and well-being of the public including, standards of fitness for human habitation." Pursuant to Chapter 111, Section 127A, DPH has promulgated 105 CMR 410, Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation (State Sanitary Code, Chapter 11) which establishes the requirements for residential dwellings. 105 CMR 410.180 requires property owners to provide a safe supply of drinking water to occupants from a public water supply or a private source approved by the local Board of Health.

State Plumbing Board

The Uniform State Plumbing Code, 248 CMR 10.00 is founded on certain principles of public health, environmental sanitation and safety through properly designed, acceptably installed, and adequately maintained plumbing systems in order to comply with all Articles of the State Sanitary Code and Titles of the Environmental Code. Specifically, Principles No.1 and 2 refer to domestic water supplies.

1. Principle No. 1 -- All Occupied Premises Must Have Potable Water. All premises intended for human habitation, occupancy, or use must be provided with a supply of potable water. Such a water supply shall not be connected with unsafe or questionable water sources, nor shall it be subject to the hazards of backflow, backpressure, or back-siphonage.

2. Principle No. 2 -- Adequate Water Required. Plumbing fixtures, devices, and appurtenances must be supplied with water in sufficient volume and at pressures adequate to enable them to function properly and without undue noise under normal conditions of use.

MUNICIPAL JURISDICTION

Pursuant to the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, section 54, which governs the powers and duties of cities and towns, "no building permit shall be issued for the construction of a building which would necessitate the use of water therein, unless a supply of water is available" from either a public water system or a private well.

Chapter 40, Section 21 of the Massachusetts General Laws grants municipalities the authority to adopt ordinances and bylaws which may, for example, require land owners to properly maintain their private water supply system and properly decommission abandoned water supply systems located on their property.

In accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 111, Sections 122 and

122A, if the available supply of drinking water in any place of habitation is so unsafe or inadequate as to constitute a nuisance, the local Board of Health may issue a written order requiring the owner to discontinue use of the water supply, or, at his option, to provide a safe and adequate supply of drinking water.

Chapter 83, Section 3 of the Massachusetts General Laws grants local Boards of Health the authority to require any landowner whose land abuts a public sewer system to hook into the public system at his or her own expense. Thus, the Board of Health can protect underground water supplies when a septic system threatens groundwater quality. Furthermore, the Board of Health's decision on such matters cannot be overridden by the Sewer Commissioners.

Chapter 111, Section 31 of the Massachusetts General Laws grants local Boards of Health broad authority to "make reasonable health regulations." Boards of Health are encouraged to adopt locally appropriate private well regulations which take into consideration local geology, land uses, and zoning regulations. It is the duty of local Boards of Health to monitor local conditions and create necessary regulations which address those conditions in order to protect public health. The following are examples of reasonable private well regulations that local Boards of Health may adopt under MGL Chapter 111, Section 31:

(1) setback distances

(2) well construction, alteration, and maintenance standards

(3) well decommissioning standards

(4) periodic water quality testing

Adoption of health regulations by a Board of Health pursuant to MGL Chapter 111, Section 31, requires a majority vote of the Board and publication in a local newspaper. Pursuant to the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 21A, Section 8, regulations adopted under Chapter 111, Section 31, must be filed with MassDEP.

Disclaimer Please be advised that these Guidelines may not reflect the current versions of MA laws and regulations. Official versions of MA laws and regulations are available from State House Bookstores. MA regulations also are available through the Secretary of State‟s Publications and Regulations Subscription Service. When downloading laws, regulations or policies from the MassDEP website, the copy you receive may be different from the official version for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to:

- The document may not print or transfer accurately given the software/hardware used.

- The file on the website may be out dated.

If it is necessary to know that a version of state laws or regulations is correct and up to date, then please contact the State Bookstore or the Secretary of State‟s office and, for DEP policies, the appropriate DEP program.

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/spr/sprcat/catidx.htm http://www.sec.state.ma.us/spr/sprcat/catidx.htm https://www.sec.state.ma.us/reg_pub/login.aspx https://www.sec.state.ma.us/reg_pub/login.aspx

DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY SOURCES

Water supplies in Massachusetts are supplied by either groundwater or surface water.

Groundwater supplies most often utilize water wells to draw water from unconsolidated (sand and gravel) deposits or from fractured bedrock. Springs, also supplied by groundwater, serve a small percentage of the population and may utilize a cistern for storing water. Surface water bodies such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and brooks supply a relatively small population when compared with households utilizing wells.

Figure 1: Ground and Surface Water Sources

(Midwest Plan Service-14, 2009)

Water Wells

Subsurface geologic conditions throughout Massachusetts generally require one of two well construction techniques. A well drawing from a sand and gravel aquifer (overburden well) should be cased down to the most productive strata where an appropriately sized screen is installed. A well drawing water from bedrock fractures should be cased securely into the rock and the borehole in the rock is usually left open and unscreened and is used for storage.

There are several modifications of these two basic well types. Sandpoint wells, for example, consist of a screen coupled to a riser pipe which is pounded into a water bearing unit with tools that may be as simple as a sledge hammer. This type of well and installation technique is satisfactorily used in areas where the water table is close to the land surface and the ground being penetrated is sandy and devoid of cobbles, boulders and large gravel.

Drilled or bored wells are the most desirable type of well, as they provide the greatest protection from contamination when properly constructed. The section entitled, "General Well Design and Construction" presents construction details for the aforementioned overburden wells and information pertaining to bedrock wells.

Other household water supply sources less commonly used are dug wells, springs and surface waters. These types of systems are not recommended for drinking water use as they are more susceptible to contamination than drilled wells. Homeowners using drinking water derived from these sources should exercise caution and conduct more frequent water quality sampling and testing.

Dug wells

Dug wells, another modification of the basic overburden water well, are sometimes dug by hand but more often are constructed using a backhoe. These wells consist of large holes in the ground that extend below the water table and are lined with a large well screen, tile, or brick.

Dug wells are generally constructed in areas where the water table is close to the land surface and where the geologic deposits are tight and compact, such as glacial till. Dug wells act as collection galleries or cisterns as groundwater seeps slowly into the collection area to the same level as the surrounding water table. Fluctuations, in the level of the water table may cause them to go dry and, unless they are adequately sealed to prevent infiltration of surface water, they are also vulnerable to contamination problems associated with the large annular space that typifies dug well construction.

Springs

Springs emanating from rock or glacial till areas provide drinking water for a small percentage of the population that depends on private sources. Springs are frequently connected and piped to concrete galleries that allow spillover to be piped elsewhere. Because springs may flow some distance as surface water and their collection systems are frequently open, they can easily become contaminated. Spring boxes or spring houses may add some sanitary protection to a spring and, if constructed properly (Figure 2), can provide a sanitized discharge point and isolate the spring from land surface introduced contamination.

(Salvato, 1958)

Figure 2: Properly Constructed Springs

Surface Water Supplies

Surface waters are rarely used for private drinking water supplies in Massachusetts.

Because of their exposure to the air and a lack of filtering media, surface waters often experience water quality problems not associated with groundwater sources and frequently require some form of treatment in order to meet aesthetic and public health concerns. Algal blooms, bacterial contamination, turbidity, sedimentation and temperature fluctuations are some of the water quality problems associated with surface water supplies.

PERMITS AND REPORTS

PERMITS

Required Registration of Well Diggers and Drillers

Chapter 21G, Section 20 of the Massachusetts General Laws requires any person engaged in the business of digging or drilling wells within the Commonwealth to register annually with MassDEP Drinking Water Program and authorizes the Department to establish regulations necessary for the proper administration of the law. The regulations developed by the Drinking Water Program are contained in 310 CMR 46.00, "Registration of Well Drillers and Filing of Well Completion Reports" These regulations (1) provide the criteria necessary for the registration of well diggers and drillers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, (2) establish the information that must be furnished as a prerequisite for certification, (3) establish the information that must be submitted to the Drinking Water Program upon the completion of any well, and (4) set forth penalties, including revocation of registration, if a driller is found to be in noncompliance with state or town regulations.

Accordingly, any person in the business of digging or drilling who constructs, repairs, or alters a private well must be certified with the Drinking Water Program at the time the work is performed. In addition, any person who decommissions (seals) an abandoned well must have a valid Well Driller certification. All rigs employed in drilling wells in the Commonwealth must display a valid rig permit.

Required Building Permit

Pursuant to MGL Chapter 40, Section 54, which governs the powers and duties of cities and towns, "no building permit shall be issued for the construction of a building which would necessitate the use of water therein, unless a supply of water is available" from either a public or a private water system.

Recommended Permits

Requiring permits for activities related to private wells can provide information necessary for the protection of public health. In addition, local water supply resources can be properly evaluated and protected only when information pertaining to the use and quality of these resources is available. Chapter 111, Section 31 of the Massachusetts General Laws grants local Boards of Health broad authority to "make reasonable health regulations." Accordingly, various permit requirements may be established for activities related to private wells.

It is recommended that local Boards of Health establish, for example, requirements for the following:

(1) private well construction permit

(2) plumbing permit (for new potable sources only)

(3) private well alteration permit

(4) permit for decommissioning (sealing) abandoned wells, test holes, and dry or inadequate borings

A private well construction permit allows the regulating agency to identify well sites that may require special water quality monitoring or may not be acceptable due to water quality problems that have occurred in the vicinity of the site. It is recommended that the application for a well construction permit be filed by the certified well driller installing the well and filed with the Board of Health on a form furnished by the Board. The application should include:

(1) the property owner's name and address

(2) the well driller's name and proof of valid state certification

(3) a plan with a specified scale, signed by a registered surveyor or engineer, showing the location of the proposed well in relation to existing or proposed above or below ground structures..

(4) a description and location of visible prior and current land uses within two-hundred

(200) feet of the proposed well location, which could adversely impact the well, including but not limited to the following:

(a) existing and proposed structures

(b) subsurface sewage disposal systems

(c) subsurface fuel storage tanks

(d) public ways

(e) utility rights-of-way

(f) any other potential sources of pollution

(g) other wells

(5)

(6) a permit fee

A plumbing permit can ensure that only qualified persons connect a private well to the distribution system of the residence. A private well use permit allows the Board of Health to identify wells which may be threatened by contamination; can assist with the establishment of a local water quality monitoring program, and aids in identifying abandoned wells which should be plugged.

The local Board of Health shall require all wells, including non-potable wells, be installed by a Massachusetts Certified Well Driller. Other requirements concerning non-potable wells (such as irrigation wells) may be imposed by the local Board of Health private well regulation

Geothermal Well Permits

Some wells may serve the dual purpose of providing domestic water and acting as a heat transfer medium for ground source heat pump (geothermal) systems. In addition to a Board of Health Well Permit and meeting the associated water quality requirements as a drinking water source, a permit will be required from the MassDEP Underground Injection Control (UIC) program unless the property is only used for one single-family residential unit. The MassDEP geothermal well permitting guidelines contain requirements concerning well siting, well design and water quality. These specific requirements can be found in the Guidelines for Ground Source Heat Pump Wells at https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/ot/gshpguid.pdf.

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/ot/gshpguid.pdf

REPORTS

Well Completion Report

Requirements of 310 CMR 46.00 state, in part, that within 30 days after completion of any well (productive or nonproductive), or after plugging of an abandoned well, a certified well driller shall submit to the Drinking Water Program, a Well Completion Report (Figures 3 and 4) with a copy to the local Board of Health, containing:

(1) well address and the name and address of the owner of the well

(2) the latitude and longitude in decimal degrees

(3) work performed (e.g., new installation, repair, abandonment, etc.)

(4) well type (e.g., domestic, irrigation, geothermal, etc.)

(5) drilling method

(6) drilling log describing the material penetrated, including:

(a) well depth

(b) depth to refusal or bedrock

(c) bedrock type

(7) date drilling completed

(8) casing type, depths, thickness and diameter

(9) protective well seal

(10) well screen type, slot size, diameter and depths at which screen is set

(11) description of filter pack and grouting materials used

(12) method of plugging an abandoned well

(13) well test results including:

(a) method

(b) date and length of time (in hours and minutes) well was tested

(c) drawdown and recovery

(d) well yield

(14) static water level

(15) pump description, depth and installer

(16) water bearing zones

Well Completion Report forms shall be submitted electronically through the MassDEP electronic filing system. Well completion reports must be submitted for all activities covered under 310 CMR 46 including well drilling, decommissioning, Ground Source Heat Pump wells (“geothermal”), repairs, deepening, yield enhancement, pump installation and replacement. Any driller who files a false report is subject to revocation of certification. Violators will be subject to enforcement currently up to $25,000 per day depending on the infraction and specifics of the violation. It should be noted that performing activities under the regulations cited without being certified in Massachusetts is a violation and the violator(s) subject to enforcement action.

Figure 3: Well Completion Report required by the Drinking Water Program. Completed in triplicate, the driller retains the first page and is required to submit the second and third pages to the local Board of

Health and MassDEP Drinking Water Program.

Figure 4: Electronic Well Completion Report (WCR) Form.

Submitted electronically to the Drinking Water Program, copy to be forwarded to local Board of Health.

Figure 4: Electronic WCR- cont’d

Figure 4: Electronic WCR- cont’d

Well Test Information

The drilling contractor should submit the following well information concerning well yield to the well owner after completion of the pumping test:

(1) name and address of the well owner

(2) GPS well location in decimal degrees

(3) date the pumping test was performed

(4) well test method AB- Air Blow with Drill Stem

AL- Air Lift BL- Bailing CR- Constant Rate Pump VR- Variable Rate Pump SL- Slug

(5) static water level in feet below ground surface (ft. BGS)

(6) flowing (discharge) rate in GPM

(7) pumping level (ft. BGS) (i.e., maximum drawdown during test), if applicable

(8) duration of the test, including both:

a) the pumping time, and

b) the recovery time during which measurements were taken

(9) recovery water level (ft. BGS)

Water Quality Information

It is recommended that the local Board of Health require the well owner to submit to the Board a copy of the laboratory test results anytime a private water supply is tested. The submitted copy should indicate:

(1) Name, address and phone number or other contact information for the individual who performed the sampling (i.e., BOH member, BOH agent, lab personnel, well owner, well owner's agent);

(2) where in the system the sample was obtained (at the wellhead, prior to treatment, or at the tap) and, if sampled at the tap, whether or not the system was flushed prior to sampling;

(3) date and time of sample collection;

(4) date and time sample received by the laboratory; and

(5) a copy of the laboratory's test results, which includes the MassDEP laboratory certificate number and the EPA method(s) used in the analysis.

Results that indicate no contamination are as important as those that indicate water quality problems because these results provide background data in case of future contamination. A complete record of all testing results is also useful when designing local water quality testing programs.

WELL LOCATION

Any person intending to have a private well constructed should identify all potential sources of contamination which exist within 200 feet of the site. Where possible, a well should be located upgradient of all potential sources of contamination and should be as far removed from potential sources of contamination as the general layout of the premises and surroundings permit.

In selecting a well location, all OSHA and Dig Safe requirements must be taken into consideration. Dig Safe should be contacted at least three days before drilling begins.

Additionally, every well should be located so that it will be reasonably accessible with proper equipment for repair, maintenance, testing, and inspection.

The well should be completed in a water bearing formation that will produce the required quantity of water under normal operating conditions without adversely impacting adjacent wells.

Water quantity considerations are discussed in the section entitled "Water Quantity” (page 47).

RELATION TO PROPERTY LINES AND BUILDINGS

Private water supply wells should be located at least 10 feet from all property lines. The center line of a well should, if extended vertically, clear any projection from an adjacent structure by at least 5 feet.

RELATION TO ROADS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY

All private water supply wells should be located a minimum of 25 feet from the normal driving surface of any roadway or a minimum of 15 feet from the road right-of-way, whichever is greater. Additionally, it should be noted that the "Rights-of-Way Management" regulations (333 CMR 11.00) include procedures and requirements for marking and recording the location of private drinking water supplies which are within 100 feet of any right-of-way. Private drinking water supplies that are marked and recorded in accordance with the aforementioned regulations are protected by restrictions on the use of herbicides for maintaining rights-of-way. Uniform standard signs for marking water supplies have been produced and are currently available from the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR).

RELATION TO SURFACE WATER AND WETLANDS

Private water supply wells should be located at least 25 feet laterally from the normal high water mark of any lake, pond, river, stream, ditch, or slough. Additionally, it should be noted that land use within 100 feet of a wetland or within the 100-year floodplain of any river or stream is regulated under Chapter 131, Section 40, of the Massachusetts General Laws and 310 CMR 10.00, "Wetlands Protection." Prior to constructing a private water supply in these areas, approval must be obtained from the local Conservation Commission. Where possible, private water systems should be located in areas above the 100 year floodplain. When a well must be located in an area subject to flooding, special protection should be provided, as is discussed in the section entitled "Wellhead Completion and Alteration" (page 59).

REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL CODE TITLE 5

Pursuant to Chapter 21A, Section 13, of the Massachusetts General Laws, MassDEP promulgated 310 CMR 15.00, "Minimum Requirements for the Subsurface Disposal of Sanitary Sewage, State Environmental Code, Title 5." These regulations provide minimum standards for the location, design, construction, and operation of subsurface sanitary sewage disposal systems that discharge less than 10,000 gallons per day.

It should be noted that the standards presented in the current version of Title 5 were developed primarily to protect public health against pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Local hydrogeologic conditions may require more stringent regulations. Boards of Health have the authority to strengthen Title 5 by implementing appropriate and reasonable local regulations.

Title 5 requires that a potable well or suction line is located a minimum of:

(1) 10 feet from a building sewer constructed of durable corrosion resistant material with watertight joints, or 50 feet from a building sewer constructed of any other type of pipe

(2) 50 feet from a septic tank

(3) 100 feet from a leaching field

(4) 100 feet from a privy

Title 5 also requires that irrigation wells be located a minimum of 25 feet from a leaching field, and 10 feet from a septic tank.

For (3) and (4) above, Title 5 notes that "100 feet is a minimum acceptable distance and no variance shall be granted for a lesser distance except with prior written approval of MassDEP."

In regard to pressurized water supply lines, Title 5 states that “it is suggested that the disposal facilities be installed at least 10 feet from and 18 inches below water supply lines.

Wherever sewer lines must cross water supply lines, both pipes shall be constructed of class 150 pressure pipe and should be pressure tested to assure watertightness."

Part II of Title 5 includes procedures for obtaining a variance. Generally, the local Board of Health may grant a variance but there are also specific requirements for which Title 5 expressly states that only MassDEP (Wastewater Management Program) may grant variances. In order to grant a variance, however, it is important to have site specific hydrogeologic information submitted which documents that adequate protection can be provided without complying with the standards required by Title 5. All variances granted by the local Board of Health must be sent to MassDEP for review. MassDEP has the authority to overrule the Board of Health's decision.

SETBACK DISTANCES

These distances may be used as guidance for locating a potable well and they may be adopted in the local regulation because of the potential hazard to a well. Lesser setback distances may be applied for non-potable wells in accordance with Title 5 regulations.

Consideration should also be given to the direction of ground-water flow and the location of any groundwater discharge to a surface water body. Where possible, wells should be located upgradient of potential sources of contamination. Wells should not be located between a potential source of contamination and an area where groundwater discharges to the land surface. Other considerations for locating a well include the permeability, transmissivity, and composition of the subsurface geologic materials. It should be kept in mind that contaminants can be transported great distances through fractured bedrock and groundwater flow in the overburden may not be in the same direction as in the bedrock.

The following table contains the minimum lateral setback distances in feet :

Land Use Setback in feet

Property Line 10

Public/Private Roadway 25

Right Of Way 15

Sewer line/septic tank* 50

Leaching field or drywell* 100

Stable, barnyard, manure storage

Aboveground fuel storage or pesticide tank

Underground fuel storage or pesticide tank

Surface water, wetlands** 25

*Setbacks required by Title 5

**Referral of well location to local Conservation Commission for approval required if proposed within 100 feet of surface water regulated under the Wetlands Protection Act.

Table 1 : Lateral Setback Distances

GENERAL WELL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Massachusetts has a wide range of geologic conditions encompassing both consolidated and unconsolidated formations. Consolidated formations consist of all the varied bedrock material that is found throughout the State. Sometimes this bedrock can be found at the surface, but usually it is covered by overburden formations that may be thin or thick. These overburden deposits are known as unconsolidated formations and generally consist of sand, silt, clay, and/or gravel. Groundwater exists in the fissures, cracks, and cavities within bedrock formations and in the pore space of unconsolidated formations. Depending on the formation characteristics and well design, well yield can range from hundreds of gallons per minute to less than a quart per minute.

Because of the widely varying geology throughout the State, a local well driller is usually best equipped through experience and local knowledge, to successfully complete a private well.

All private water supply wells should be designed so that:

(1) the materials used for the permanent construction are durable in the specific hydrogeologic environment that occurs at the well site; and

(2) no unsealed openings will be left around the well that could conduct surface water or contaminated groundwater vertically to the intake portion of the well or transfer water from one formation to another.

In addition, permanent construction materials should not impart toxic substances, taste, odors, or bacterial contamination to the water in the well. It should also be noted that lead packers should no longer be used in the construction of any water supply wells.

The driller should operate all equipment according to generally accepted standards in the industry and should take appropriate precautions to prevent damage, injury or other loss to persons and property at the drilling site.

A well under construction should be protected so that surface wash is diverted away from the construction area and contaminants do not enter the well through the opening or by seepage through the ground surface. In addition, workers employed at the construction site should exercise caution in the disposal of wastes and in handling construction materials so as to avoid contamination of the well and the aquifer. The contractor should also take reasonable precautions to prevent either tampering with the well or the entrance of foreign material into the well during overnight shutdowns and other times when the contractor is away from the site.

During drilling, it is required that formation samples be taken at specific intervals. For wells drilled into unconsolidated formations, samples must be taken every 20 feet or change in formation. In consolidated formations, samples must be taken every 100 feet or change in formation. This information must be reported by the driller in the lithology section of the MassDEP Well Completion Report, a copy of which must be filed with MassDEP and the local BOH. Well yield should be measured and recorded periodically.

All water used for drilling, development, or rehabilitation should be obtained from a source which will not result in contamination of the well or the water bearing zones penetrated by the well. Water should be conveyed in clean sanitary containers or water lines and should be chlorinated to an initial concentration between 50 mg/l and 100 mg/l and a free-chlorine residual of 10 mg/l should be maintained. Water from water bodies such as wetlands, swamps, and ponds should not be used without proper disinfection. Water that has been disinfected should not be discharged after use directly to any surface water body.

All wells, including those that have been yield enhanced should be developed in order to remove fine materials introduced into the pore spaces or fractures during construction. One or more of the following methods should be used for development: over pumping, backwashing, surging, jetting, and air-lift pumping.

The completed well should be sufficiently plumb so that there will be no interference with installation, alignment, operation or future removal of the permanent well pump. Any work involving the connection of the private well to the distribution system of the residence must conform to the local plumbing code. All electrical connections between the well and the pump controls and all piping between the well and the storage and/or pressure tank in the house should be made by a MassDEP certified pump installer or well driller. It is recommended that the well driller/pump installer be certified by the National Groundwater Association for each phase of the work they are performing.

CONSOLIDATED WELLS

Consolidated wells are wells drilled in bedrock. They may be either artesian or non-artesian wells.

An artesian well is drilled through an impermeable strata into an artesian aquifer. The water in the well will seek its own static water level based on the elevation of the recharge area.

The following construction method is recommended for bedrock wells:

1. Extend an oversized drillhole a minimum of 10 feet into competent bedrock.

2. Install an unperforated, watertight protective casing with a drive shoe, a minimum of 10 feet into competent unfractured bedrock.

3. Seal the annular space between the casing and the drillhole with neat cement grout, sand cement grout, or bentonite grout applied from the bottom of the drillhole upward to a depth which will adequately prevent subsurface leakage or surface contamination.

4. After the grout has set, extend the drillhole into the water bearing zone.

Complete the well as recommended in the section entitled “Wellhead Completion and Alteration” (page 59)

If leakage occurs around the well casing or adjacent to the well, the well should be recompleted using additional casing, seals, and/or packers as necessary to completely eliminate leakage.

If a flowing artesian well is encountered, the wellhead should be capped or piped off to a discharge area. The discharge pipe should be air gapped so there is no direct connection between the discharge pipe, the receiving pipe, the receiving discharge area, or any potential source of contamination.

UNCONSOLIDATED WELLS

Unconsolidated well construction differs from bedrock well construction in that a well screen is generally employed as the water intake device. In unconsolidated formations, the well is most commonly constructed by drilling or boring methods. These include auger, mud rotary, cable tool and dual rotary drilling methods. Other specialized drilling methods are sometimes employed for particular geology, well design, or intended well use.

The mud rotary method advances an open borehole to the water bearing formation using the hydraulic properties of the drilling fluid (mud) to hold the hole open until the screen and casing can be installed. The other drilling methods advance either a temporary casing or the permanent casing to the desired depth of the well. The well screen and casing is then set in the desired position and the temporary casing is completely withdrawn or the permanent casing is pulled back to expose the slightly smaller diameter well screen.

The auger method of rotary drilling is typically used for smaller diameter wells up to about 200 feet deep. It is also the principal method of installing driven wells. When constructing a drilled well, the auger machine advances a hollow drill pipe with continuous flight augers on the exterior. The hollow drill pipe serves as a temporary casing to hold back the earth and the auger flights convey the drilled material from the bottom of the hole to the surface where the cuttings can be shoveled away. This method does not require any drilling fluid, produces much less debris at the surface, and does not contaminate the water bearing formation with drilling mud.

Once the desired depth is reached, the well screen and casing is lowered inside the hollow auger to the bottom of the hole. The auger pipe is then removed, leaving the screen in direct contact with the sand or gravel formation and the casing to hold back the earth from the top of…