New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Chapter - APPENDICES
Appendix 5-D
Table 1 - Required Minimum Separation Distances to Protect Public Water Supply Wells From Contamination

Current through Register Vol. 45, No. 52, December 27, 2023

Contaminant Source

Distance (Feet) 1

Chemical storage sites not protected from the elements (e.g., salt and sand/salt storage) 2

300

Landfill waste disposal area, or hazardous or radiological waste disposal area 2

300

Land surface application or subsurface injection of effluent or digested sludge from a municipal or public wastewater treatment facility

300

Land surface application or subsurface injection of septage waste

300

Land surface spreading or subsurface injection of liquid or solid manure 3

200

Storage areas for manure piles 3

200

Barnyard, silo, barn gutters and animal pens 3

200

Cesspools (i.e., pits with no septic tank pretreatment)

200

Wastewater treatment absorption systems located in coarse gravel or in the direct path of drainage to a well

200

Fertilizer and/or pesticide mixing and/or clean up areas

200

Seepage pit (following septic tank)

200

Underground single walled chemical or petroleum storage vessels

200

Absorption field or bed

200

Contained chemical storage sites protected from the elements (e.g., salt and sand/salt storage within covered structures) 4

200

Septic system components (non-watertight)

200

Intermittent sand filter without a watertight liner

200

Sanitary privy pit

200

Surface wastewater recharge absorption system for storm water from parking lots, roadways or driveways

200

Cemeteries

200

Sanitary privy with a watertight vault

200

Septic tank, aerobic unit, watertight effluent line to distribution box

100

Sanitary sewer or combined sewer

50

Surface water recharge absorption system with no automotive-related wastes (e.g., clear-water basin, clear-water dry well)

None5

Stream, lake, watercourse, drainage ditch, or wetland

None5

All known sources of contamination otherwise not shown above

200

Notes for Table 1:

1 The listed water well separation distances from contaminant sources shall be increased by 50% whenever aquifer water enters the water well at less than 50 feet below grade. If a 50% increase in separation distances can not be achieved, then the greatest possible increase in separation distance shall be provided with such additional measures as needed to prevent contamination.

2 Water wells shall not be located in a direct line of flow from these items, nor in any contaminant plume created by these items, except with such additional measures (e.g., sentinel groundwater monitoring, hydraulic containment, source water treatment) as needed to prevent contamination.

3 Water wells may be located 100 feet from temporary (30 days or less) manure piles/staging areas that are controlled to preclude contamination of surface or groundwater or 100 feet from otherwise managed manure piles that are controlled pursuant to regulation in a manner that prevents contamination of surface or groundwater. Wells serving public water systems may be located 100 feet from temporary barnyards, silos, barn gutters, or animal pens that are similarly controlled to prevent contamination of surface or groundwater.

4 Chemical storage sites as used in this entry do not include properly maintained storage areas of chemicals used for water treatment.

5 Wells serving public water systems may be located near water bodies or surface water recharge systems but are subject to monitoring to determine if groundwater at the point of withdrawal is directly influenced by surface water and corresponding treatment requirements. Such wells must also be protected from floodwater pursuant to subdivision 5-B.2(b) of this Part.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New York 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.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.