Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM
Title 178 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Chapter 12 - WATER WELL CONSTRUCTION, PUMP INSTALLATION, AND WATER WELL DECOMMISSIONING STANDARDS
Section 178-12-014 - VARIANCES

Universal Citation: 178 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 12 ยง 014

Current through September 17, 2024

The Department may grant a variance from any rule, regulation, or standard adopted and promulgated by the Department relating to the construction of a water well upon proof by a licensed water well contractor or well owner that the enforcement of the rule, regulation, or standard would create an unreasonable hardship or be unreasonable, impractical, or not feasible under the circumstances. A variance is limited to the construction of a water well to replace an existing water well. A variance may only be requested after a declaratory order about substantially equivalent procedure or material has been requested and denied.

12-014.01 Procedures for Requesting a Variance: The party requesting the variance or renewing a variance must submit the variance request to the Department along with any applicable fee. The request for a variance must be submitted in writing at least 10 days prior to the planned initiation of construction of the well involved. Variances may only be granted in writing by the Department. All variance requests must contain the following:

1. The name, address, telephone number, and signature of the individual(s) requesting the variance;

2. The specific rule(s) for which the variance is requested (if more than 1 rule is affected then each must be listed):

3. The reason the rule(s) cannot be met, with supporting evidence;

4. The length of time for which the variance is requested

5. The alternative or protective measure that will be taken to assure a comparable degree of protection to health or environment;

6. Construction plans and specifications of the proposed water well with all the relevant and required information listed in 178 NAC 12-003.12A; and

7. A scaled map showing the location of the well in relation to property lines, structures, utilities, and contamination sources.

12-014.02 Variance Conditions: A variance may be under such terms and conditions and for such time as the Department may prescribe. The Department must notify the requesting party in writing of the decision to grant or deny the variance. If a variance is granted, the notification must specify conditions or alternative measures imposed upon the variance, if any. If the variance is denied, the Department will specify the reasons for the denial.

12-014.03 Alternative Measures or Conditions: Alternative measures or conditions attached to a variance have the force and effect of the applicable regulation. If the alternative measure or condition attached to the variance is violated, the party may be enjoined from continuing such activities. The injunction may include an order to properly decommission the water well.

12-014.04 Renewal of a Variance: A request for a renewal of a variance must be submitted in writing to the Department within 30 days of the expiration date. A renewal request must contain the information in 178 NAC 12-014.01 (Procedures for Requesting a Variance). A variance may be renewed if the party continues to satisfy the criteria for granting the variance and demonstrates compliance with the alternative measures or conditions imposed at the time the original variance was approved.

TABLE 1

Decontamination Chart Calculator for Total System Volumes

Casing ID Inches

Gal/ft

Ft of H20

Standing Well Volume1 Feet

Total Treat. Volume2

Total Decontam. Volume3

200 ppm

200 ppm

5% chlorine gallons4

65% HCL oz. 4

4

.065

100

65

130

260

0.26

15.6

5

1.02

100

102

204

408

0.408

24.48

6

1.47

100

147

294

588

0.588

35.28

Casing ID Inches

Gal/ft

Ft of H20

Standing Well Volume1 Feet.

Total Treat. Volume2

Total Decontam. Volume3

200 ppm

200 ppm

5% chlorine gallons4

65% HCL oz.4

8

2.61

100

261

391.5

1044

1.044

62.64

10

4.08

100

408

612

1632

1.632

97.92

12

5.87

100

587

880.5

2348

2.348

140.88

16

10.45

100

1045

1567.5

4180

4.18

250.8

24

23.51

100

2351

3526 .5

9404

9.404

564.24

1Standing Well Volume equals the total amount of water in the casing.

2Total Treatment Volume equals the amount of water in the casing plus the annular space of the borehole.

1. For 4" to 6" wells, the standing well volume times 2 equals the total treatment volume.

2. For 8" wells and larger the standing well volume times 1.5 equals the total treatment volume.

3Total Decontamination Volume equals the standing volume times 4 to approximate the water in the system.

4The decontamination amounts are based on a calculation or percent of the available chlorine and dosage strength per given volume of water.

TABLE 2

Disinfection Chart Calculator for Total System Volumes

Casing ID Inches

Gal/ft

Ft of H20

Standing Well Volume1 Feet

Total Treat. Volume2

Total Disinf. Volume3

50 ppm

50 ppm

5% chlorine gallons4

65% HCL oz. 4

4

.065

100

65

130

260

0.065

3.9

5

1.02

100

102

204

408

0.102

6.12

6

1.47

100

147

294

588

0.147

8.82

Casing ID Inches

Gal/ft

Ft of H20

Standing Well Volume1 Feet.

Total Treat. Volume2

Total Disinf. Volume3

50 ppm

50 ppm

5% chlorine gallons4

65% HCL oz.4

8

2.61

100

261

391.5

1044

0.261

15.66

10

4.08

100

408

612

1632

0.408

24.48

12

5.87

100

587

880.5

2348

0.587

35.22

16

10.45

100

1045

1567.5

4180

1.045

62.7

24

23.51

100

2351

3526.5

9404

2.351

141.06

1Standing Well Volume equals the total amount of water in the casing.

2Total Treatment Volume equals the amount of water in the casing plus the annular space of the borehole.

1. For 4" to 6" wells, the standing well volume times 2 equals the total treatment volume.

2. For 8" wells and larger the standing well volume times 1.5 equals the total treatment volume.

3Total Disinfection Volume equals the standing volume times 4 to approximate the water in the system.

4The disinfection amounts are based on a calculation or percent of the available chlorine and dosage strength per given volume of water.

Table 3

Well casing volume and bentonite needed to fill a well casing

Diameter of opening

Volume

Approximate pounds graded bentonite per foot*

Approximate linear feet filled per 50 pound bag of graded bentonite

Gallons per foot of depth

Cubic feet per foot

2 inches

0.16

0.02

1.4

35.70

3 inches

0.37

0.05

3.5

14.30

4 inches

0.65

0.09

6.3

7.90

5 inches

1.02

0.14

9.8

5.10

6 inches

1.47

0.20

14.0

3.60

8 inches

2.61

0.35

24.5

2.00

10 inches

4.08

.055

38.5

1.30

12 inches

5.88

0.79

55.3

0.90

14 inches

8.00

1.07

74.9

0.67

16 inches

10.44

1.40

98.0

0.51

18 inches

13.22

1.77

123.9

0.40

2 feet

23.50

3.14

220.0

0.23

2.5 feet

36.72

4.91

344.0

0.16

3 feet

52.88

7.07

495.0

0.10

4 feet

94.00

12.57

880.0

0.06

5 feet

146.90

19.64

1375.0

0.04

6 feet

211.50

28.27

1979.0

0.03

7 feet

287.90

38.48

2694.0

0.02

8 feet

376.00

50.27

3519.0

0.01

9 feet

475.90

63.62

4453.0

0.01

10 feet

587.50

78.54

5498.0

0.01

*Based on a granular bentonite bulk density of 70 pounds per cubic foot. (The typical range of reported bulk density is 68 to 72 pounds per cubic foot)

Table 4

Useful Equivalents

1 cup

8 fluid ounces

2 cups

1 pint

1 pint

16 fluid ounces

1 quart

32 fluid ounces

1/2 gallon

64 fluid ounces

1 gallon

128 fluid ounces

1 cubic foot (ft3)

7.48 gallons

1 cubic yard (yd3)

27 cubic feet

Gallons per foot of depth

0.0408 (opening diameter, square inches)

Cubic feet per foot of depth

0.0055 (opening diameter, square inches)

1o Latitude

69.2 miles

1 minute of 1o

6,089.6 feet

1 second of 1 minute of 1o

101.49333 feet

1/10 of 1 second of 1 minute of 1o

10.149333 feet

1o Longitude

69.172 miles

1 minute of 1o

6,087.136 feet

1 second of 1 minute of 1o

101.45226 feet

1/10 of 1 second of 1 minute of 1o

10.145226 feet

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Nebraska may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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