Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) For purposes of
this rule:
(1) "Drawdown" means the extent to
which the water level in and near a well is lowered when water is pumped or
flows from the well.
(2) "Pump
test" means to withdraw water from a well at a constant or stepped rate while
measuring the drawdown in the well at specific time intervals for a specific
period of time.
(3) "Sustainable
yield" means the volume of water that can be consistently discharged from well
over a period of time.
(B) Wells shall be properly developed, by the
private water systems contractor, upon completion or
whenever an alteration or a repair requires development until turbidity
and the production of sand and finer material in
the well is minimized.
(1) Mechanical
development shall be performed so as not to cause damage to the components of
the well. Mechanical development techniques include: mechanical surging; air
surging or air lifting; overpumping and backwashing; high velocity jetting;
bailing; and hydrofracturing. Any mechanical
development method that utilizes a chemical reaction must meet NSF
61-2016.
(2) Chemical
development procedures may be used in conjunction with mechanical procedures in
accordance with the following requirements:
(a) Chemical development procedures used on a
well, except chlorination, shall be performed by a registered
contractor.
(b) Any chemicals used
for well development or rehabilitation shall meet NSF
60-2016 and shall be used in accordance with the manufacturers
recommendations and in a manner to prevent damage to the well or pump and
prevent any hazard to humans or property. Any acid used shall be inhibited and
neutralized upon removal from the well.
(c) Dispersing agents shall be used only when
necessary to disaggregate clay particles to enhance removal. Chlorine shall be
added to the mix water to prevent bacterial growth. Dispersing agents shall be
immediately flushed from the well and aquifer to prevent bacterial growth in
the aquifer.
(C) Upon completion of development of the
well, the static water level shall be measured and recorded, and a pumping test
shall be conducted to determine the sustainable yield of the well in gallons
per minute, or gallons per hour, and the water level drawdown to ensure
adequate capacity for the estimated average daily demand of the well. The
registered contractor may use the contractor's pump or the well owner's pump, a
bailer, air blowing or air lifting to determine the accurate yield of the well.
The pump test should be conducted for a period of time sufficient to determine
the sustainable yield. For flowing wells, the flow rate may be measured using
an orifice plate with manometer or equivalent. Water discharged from a pumping
test shall not be discharged into or onto household sewage treatment
systems.
(D) Materials used
in
disinfecting private water systems shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Be sodium hypochlorite at a strength of
five
per
cent or greater. Sodium hypochlorite solutions shall be used within the
manufacturer's posted expiration date. Sodium hypochlorite solutions with
fragrance additives shall not be used for disinfection of private water
systems.
(2) Be calcium
hypochlorite products designed for use as a private water systems disinfectant.
The product shall be prepared and placed in the well using the manufacturer's
requirements. Calcium hypochlorite products should not be used to disinfect
wells completed in limestone or dolomite
aquifers, or where the water in the well has high levels of dissolved calcium
unless recommended by the manufacturer or the department.
(3) Sodium hypochlorite and calcium
hypochlorite shall not be mixed with other chemicals that may cause an adverse
reaction for disinfection purposes and all manufacturer's directions must be followed.
(4) Be distilled white vinegar.
(5) With the exception of sodium hypochlorite
and distilled white vinegar, any product used in the disinfection of a private
water system must comply with
NSF
60-2016 and be designated by the manufacturer for
use as a well disinfectant and/or cleaning agent.
(6) Other products authorized by the
department.
(E) All new, repaired, or altered wells shall
be disinfected with products authorized under paragraph (D) of this rule to
neutralize contamination after construction, development, installation,
alteration, or repair, prior to water being removed for human consumption.
(1) The registered private
water systems contractor performing the construction, development,
installation, alteration, or the person performing
the repair shall disinfect the private water system according to this
rule at the time of completion of the portion of work performed by that person.
(2) The owner of the private water
system shall provide access to the system to
ensure that the entire private water system, including the plumbing and all
related fixtures, are disinfected in accordance
with this rule, prior to placing that private water system into
service.
(F) Procedures
for disinfection shall include the following:
(1) For new system construction, the well
shall be developed and all loose debris and material purged from the well and
the distribution system.
(2) For
system alterations, the private water systems contractor shall assess the need
for physical or chemical cleaning of the well and distribution system, and
implement such processes as needed to ensure proper disinfection of the
system.
(3) The gallons of water to
be disinfected shall be determined by calculating the total capacity of the
private water system including water stored in a well casing, pressure tanks,
existing plumbing and attached fixtures, and all related storage.
(4) Authorized disinfectants shall be used in
accordance with the manufacturer's requirements. When sodium or calcium
hypochlorite is used, an initial disinfection solution between one hundred and
five hundred milligrams per liter shall be used, and control of pH is
recommended as determined by field testing methods.
(5) Disinfectants shall be distributed
throughout the well and distribution system, including the borehole and washing
the sides of the casing, and if necessary to ensure complete disinfection, into
the aquifer.
(6) Disinfectants
shall remain in the system an adequate amount of time to ensure proper
disinfection or in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Where
required, control of the pH of the water shall be implemented to ensure proper
disinfection. When sodium and calcium hypochlorite is used as a disinfectant
without pH control, the contact time shall be a minimum of eight
hours.
(7) Upon completion of the
disinfection process, all disinfectants shall be purged from the well and the
distribution system. Discharge of purged disinfectants into sewage treatment
systems must be minimized.
(G) If a water sample result obtained from a
sample collected at the point of discharge of the private water system exceeds
the bacterial standards in paragraph (N) of rule
3701-28-04 of the Administrative
Code, the private water systems contractor and the owner of the private water
system shall ensure that the entire private water system is disinfected, in
accordance with disinfection requirements stated in paragraphs (E) and (F) of
this rule, prior to placing that private water system into service.
(H) When two consecutive samples
exceed the maximum contaminant levels
specified in paragraph (N) of rule
3701-28-04 of the Administrative
Code for coliform CFU or MPN, escherichia coli,
or primary pathogenic microorganisms, or the presence of opportunistic bacteria
of concern are identified from water samples collected at the point of
discharge of the private water system, the following enhanced disinfection
procedures shall be used by the private water system
contractor or contractors in a phased approach prior to the board of health or
the director initiating an investigation into to the compliance of well
construction:
(1) The system shall be
evaluated by the registered private water systems contractor to determine any
necessary corrections or repairs to the system. Necessary corrections or
repairs should be made to the system prior to additional enhanced disinfection
steps being performed;
(2)
The casing and borehole walls shall be physically or
chemically cleaned;
(3)
All debris, loose materials and biological slimes shall
be removed from the well;
(4) The well shall be
disinfected by the registered private water systems contractor using an an
approved disinfectant solution, in accordance with paragraphs (E) and (F) of
this rule;
(5) The
introduction of a volume of the chlorine disinfectant solution, as described in
paragraph (E) of this rule, that is two or three times the total volume of
water stored in the casing into the well to displace chlorinated water into the
aquifer; or
(6) The private water systems contractor
or contractors shall document all corrective work
or disinfection procedures implemented and submit a
completion form to the board of health describing any corrections or repairs
made to the system and the specific enhanced disinfection procedures
utilized.
(I)
Except when a board of health investigation has
determined that a private water well has been constructed in compliance with
this chapter, continuous disinfection shall not be installed on any new or
existing private water system well that is not otherwise required by this
chapter.
(J) All water samples shall be collected and processed
in accordance with rule
3701-28-04 of the Administrative
Code.
