Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024
(a)
"Geothermal Heating and Cooling Water Return Wells" means wells that reinject
groundwater used to provide heating or cooling for structures. These wells
shall not be approved by the Director unless the temperature of the injection
fluid does not exceed 30 degrees Fahrenheit above or below the naturally
occurring temperature of the receiving groundwater, including wells using a
geothermal fluid source. No Geothermal Heating and Cooling Water Return Well
shall be constructed, repaired, or operated without a permit.
(b) Permit Applications. In addition to the
permit requirements set forth in Rule .0211 of this Section, an application
shall be submitted, in duplicate, to the Director made using one form per
operation supplied by the Director and shall include the following:
(1) the well owner's name, address, telephone
number, email address (if available), and whether the owner is a federal,
State, private, public, or other entity. If the well operator is different from
the owner, then the same information shall be provided for the well
operator;
(2) the physical address
of the location of the well site if different than the well owner's mailing
address;
(3) a description of the
injection activities proposed by the applicant;
(4) a scaled, site-specific map showing at a
minimum, the following:
(A) any water supply
well and surface water body; septic system including drainfield, waste
application area, and repair area; and any other potential sources of
contamination listed under Rule .0107 of this Subchapter within 250 feet of the
proposed injection wells;
(B)
property boundaries within 250 feet of the parcel on which the proposed wells
are located; and
(C) an arrow
orienting the site to one of the cardinal directions;
(5) the proposed average and maximum daily
injection rate, volume, pressure, temperature, and quantity of fluid to be
injected;
(6) plans and
specifications of the surface and subsurface construction details of the system
including a schematic of the injection and source wells construction;
(7) the heating and cooling system
installation contractor's name, address, email address (if available), and
telephone number; and
(8) any other
information necessary for the Department to ensure compliance with
G.S.
87-84.
(c) Permit Renewals. Application for permit
renewal shall be made at least 120 days prior to the expiration date of the
permit.
(d) Well Construction.
(1) A water supply well providing water for a
separate geothermal heating and cooling injection well shall be constructed in
accordance with the requirements of Rule .0107 of this Subchapter.
(2) A geothermal heating and cooling water
return injection well constructed with a well screen shall also be constructed
in accordance with the requirements of Rule .0107 of this Subchapter except
that the entire length of the casing shall be grouted from the top of the sand
or gravel pack to the land surface in such a way that there is no
interconnection of aquifers or zones having differences in water quality that
would result in the degradation of groundwater quality of any aquifer or
zone.
(3) For open-end geothermal
heating and cooling water return wells (also referred to as open-hole wells),
the casing shall be grouted from the bottom of the casing to the land surface
in such a way that there is no interconnection of aquifers or zones having
differences in water quality that would result in degradation groundwater
quality of any aquifer or zone.
(4)
The injection well system shall be constructed such that sampling taps or other
collection equipment approved by the Director provides a functional source of
water when the system is operational. Such equipment shall provide the means to
collect a water sample after emerging from the water supply well (influent
sample), and immediately prior to injection into the return well (effluent
sample).
(e) Operation
and Maintenance.
(1) Pressure at the well head
shall be limited to ensure that the pressure in the injection zone does not
initiate new fractures or propagate existing fractures in the injection zone,
initiate fractures in the confining zone, or cause the migration of injected or
formation fluids outside the injection zone or area.
(2) Injection between the outermost casing
and the well borehole shall be prohibited.
(3) The well owner shall monitor the
operating processes and protect the well against damage during construction and
use.
(f) Monitoring and
Reporting.
(1) Monitoring of any well may be
required by the Director as necessary to ensure compliance with
G.S.
87-84.
(2) The well owner shall retain copies of
records of site maps showing the location of the injection wells and any
testing, calibration, or monitoring information done on-site. Upon sale or
transfer of the property, the owner shall give a copy of these records to the
new property owner or owners.
(3)
The permittee shall record the number and location of the wells with the
register of deeds in the county in which the facility is located.
(4) A record of the construction,
abandonment, or repairs of the injection well shall be submitted to the
Director within 30 days of completion of the specified activities.
Authority
G.S.
87-87;
87-88;
87-90;
87-94;
87-95;
143-211;
143-214.2(b);
143-215.1A;
143-215.3(a)(1);
143-215.3(c);
Eff. May 1, 2012;
Readopted Eff. September 1,
2019.
