South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-44 - Individual Residential Well and Irrigation Well Permitting
Section 61-44.C - GENERAL

1. Individual residential wells and irrigation wells shall be constructed or abandoned by well drillers who are licensed for such purposes by the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. The licensing required by the subsection does not apply to owners constructing or abandoning wells on their own property for their own personal use only.

2. All individual residential wells and irrigation wells shall be constructed or abandoned in accordance with this regulation, Regulation Regulation 61-71, Well Standards, and all other applicable laws, regulations, and standards.

3. The Department must conduct necessary inspections, to the maximum extent as resources allow, to ensure compliance with the provisions of this regulation. The owner shall grant access to the well construction site to the Department at reasonable times for the purpose of conducting such inspections. The inspection program will primarily be conducted by Department personnel located in the District Environmental Quality Control offices. Inspections shall be conducted at the time of construction when possible. The purpose of inspections is to determine compliance with the Well Standards R.61-71 and this regulation. The inspections shall include, at a minimum, determining: 1) proof of coverage under the general permit, 2) compliance with siting requirements, 3) the presence or absence of an adequate grout seal and compliance with other critical construction standards outlined in R.61-71, and 4) eventual timely submittal of the well record form. Violations of the cited regulations noted during the inspection shall result in enforcement action in accordance with established Department procedures. The Department shall develop an inspection manual which outlines the complete inspection process for Department personnel in accordance with the requirements of this regulation and the Well Standards R.61-71. Interested parties may provide input into development and annual updating of the inspection manual. After one year's training and experience, each district well inspector shall conduct a minimum of 200 inspections annually of individual residential or irrigation wells with a Department goal to inspect a majority of wells constructed under this regulation. Owners shall be provided a copy of the Department's inspection results.

4. The Department shall prepare an annual report detailing activities funded by individual residential well and irrigation well fees including the number of wells issued coverage under the general permit, number of inspections, inspection results, fees collected, and number of enforcement actions. This report shall be submitted to the South Carolina Legislature and the South Carolina Groundwater Association and be available for the general public.

5. Each well driller must meet bonding requirements as established by the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. The Department shall have full access to a well driller's bond to correct a violation of this regulation and/or Regulation Regulation 61-71, Well Standards, where, as part of a Department enforcement action, a well driller is unwilling or unable to take required corrective actions. The bonding provisions required by the subsection does not apply to owners constructing or abandoning wells on their own property for their own personal use only.

6. Irrigation wells shall not be permitted at a residence unless another source of potable water serving the residence is proposed or exists.

7. The Department is authorized to develop a "General Permit" for individual residential well and irrigation well activities.

8. This regulation will become effective 60 days after Legislative approval.