§ 22-229. Wells other than water supply.

(a)

No well shall be located, constructed, operated, or repaired in any manner that may adversely impact the quality of groundwater. Any test hole or boring shall be permanently abandoned by the driller in accordance with this section within two days after drilling or two days after testing is complete, whichever is less restrictive; except in the case that a test well is being converted to a production well, in which case conversion shall be completed within 30 days.

(b)

Monitoring wells and recovery wells shall be located, designed, constructed, operated and abandoned with materials and by methods which are compatible with the chemical and physical properties of the contaminants involved, specific site conditions and specific subsurface conditions. Specific construction standards will be itemized in the construction permit, if such a permit is required, but the following general requirements will apply:

(1)

For wells from which samples of groundwater or other liquids will be obtained for the purpose of examination or testing, or for the recovery of polluted groundwater:

a.

The borehole shall not penetrate to a depth greater than the depth to be monitored or the depth from which contaminants are to be recovered.

b.

The well shall not hydraulically connect separate aquifers.

c.

The construction materials shall be compatible with the contaminants to be monitored or recovered

d.

The well shall be constructed in such a manner that water or contaminants from the land surface cannot migrate along the borehole annulus into the packing material or well screen area.

e.

Packing material placed around the screen shall extend to a depth of at least one foot above the top of the screen. A one-foot thick seal, comprised of bentonitic clay or other material approved by the director, shall be emplaced directly above and in contact with the packing material.

f.

Grout shall be placed in the annular space between the casing and the borehole wall from land surface to the top of the clay seal or to the bottom of the casing for open end wells.

g.

All wells shall be secured to reasonably insure against unauthorized access and use.

h.

All wells shall be afforded reasonable protection against damage during construction and use.

i.

Any wells which are flowing artesian wells shall be valved so that the flow can be regulated.

j.

The well casing shall be terminated no less than 12 inches above land surface datum unless both of the following conditions are met:

1.

Site-specific conditions directly related to business activities, such as vehicle traffic, would endanger the physical integrity of the well; and

2.

The well head is completed in such a manner so as to preclude surficial contaminants from entering the well.

k.

Each well shall have permanently affixed an identification plate constructed of a durable material and shall contain the following information:

1.

Drilling contractor name and registration number;

2.

Date well completed;

3.

Total depth of well;

4.

A warning that the well is not for water supply and that the groundwater may contain hazardous materials; and

5.

Depth(s) to screen(s).

l.

Each well shall be developed such that the level of turbidity or settleable solids does not preclude accurate chemical analyses of any fluid samples collected.

(2)

For any well which will only be used to measure groundwater levels, the following general requirements will apply:

a.

The well shall not hydraulically connect separate aquifers.

b.

The well shall be constructed in such a manner that water or contaminants from the land surface cannot migrate along the borehole channel into the packing material or well screen areas.

c.

Grout shall be placed in the annular space between the casing and the borehole from land surface to the clay seal above the packing material or to the bottom of the casing for open end wells.

d.

Unless the wells will not be left unattended, such as during a well capacity of aquifer capacity test, all wells shall be secured to reasonably insure against unauthorized access and use.

e.

All wells shall be afforded reasonable protection against damage during construction and use.

f.

Any well which is a flowing artesian well shall be valved such that flow can be regulated.

g.

The well casing shall be terminated no less than 12 inches above land surface datum unless both of the following conditions are met:

1.

Site-specific conditions related to business activities, such as vehicle traffic, would endanger the physical integrity of the well; and

2.

The well head is completed in such a manner so as to preclude surficial contaminants from entering the well.

h.

An identification plate constructed of a rustproof, durable material shall be permanently affixed to the well and shall contain the following information:

1.

Drilling contractor name and registration number;

2.

Date well completed;

3.

Total depth of well; and

4.

A warning that the well is not a water supply well and that the groundwater may contain contaminants.

(c)

Wells constructed for the purpose of monitoring or testing for the presence of liquids associated with tanks regulated under 15A NCAC 2N (Criteria and Standards Applicable to Underground Storage Tanks) shall be constructed in accordance with 15A NCAC 2N .0504.

(d)

Wells constructed for the purpose of monitoring for the presence of vapors associated with tanks regulated under 15A NCAC 2N shall:

(1)

Be constructed in such a manner as to prevent the entrance of surficial contaminants or water into or alongside the well casing.

(2)

Be provided with a lockable cap in order to reasonably insure against unauthorized access and use.

(e)

Temporary wells and all other non-water supply wells shall be constructed in such a manner as to preclude the vertical migration of contaminants within and along the borehole channel.

(f)

For sand- or gravel-packed wells, centering guides must be evenly distributed in the borehole.

(Amend. of 4-24-95)