South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-71 - Well Standards
Section 61-71.H - MONITORING WELLS
Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 61-71.H
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024
1. Requirements For All Permanent and Temporary Monitoring Wells.
a. Due to the nature and purpose
of a monitoring well, the depth and location requirements in respect to surface
water bodies, potential contamination sources, etc., are variable, and shall be
approved on a case-by-case basis by the Department. All monitoring wells shall have
Department approval prior to installation or abandonment. Prior to the construction
of any monitoring well, the following information shall be completed on a form
provided and/or approved by the Department and shall be submitted to the Department:
(1) Proposed well location(s) on a scaled map or
plat;
(2) Proposed well construction
details;
(3) Intended purpose of the
well(s);
(4) Well owner's name and
mailing address;
(5) Property owner's
name and mailing address, if different from the well owner;
(6) Mailing address and county of location where
monitoring wells are to be installed, if different from the well owner's or property
owner's address;
(7) Proposed parameters
to be analyzed; and,
(8) Proposed
drilling date.
If any of the information provided to the Department changes, the Department shall be notified at least 24 hours prior to well construction.
b. All monitoring wells
shall be drilled, constructed, maintained, operated, and/or abandoned to ensure that
underground sources of drinking water are not contaminated.
c. All monitoring wells shall yield water samples
and water levels that are representative of the zone monitored.
d. The well owner shall submit all analytical data
and water levels obtained from each monitoring well to the Department within 30 days
of receipt of laboratory results unless another schedule has been_approved by the
Department.
e. Any monitoring well which
is destroyed, rendered unusable, or abandoned, shall be reported to the Department,
and shall be properly abandoned, revitalized, or replaced as appropriate or as
required by permit or regulation.
f. A
Water Well Record Form 1903 or other form provided and/or approved by the Department
shall be completed and submitted to the Department within 30 days after well
completion or abandonment. At a minimum, the form shall contain the following
information:
(1) Name and address of
facility/owner;
(2) Surveyed or global
positioning system location, in latitude and longitude or Universal Transverse
Mercator coordinates, of monitoring well(s) on a scaled map or plat;
(3) Driller and certification number;
(4) Date drilled;
(5) Driller's or Geologist's log;
(6) Total depth;
(7) Screened interval;
(8) Diameter and construction details;
(9) Depth to groundwater with date and time
measured;
(10) Surveyed elevation of
measuring point with respect to an established benchmark.
(11) Monitoring well approval number issued by the
Department.
g. Monitoring
wells constructed and reported to satisfy permitting or other regulatory
requirements are not required to submit duplicate reports under this
regulation.
h. Any well that acts as a
source of contamination shall be repaired or permanently abandoned immediately after
receipt of notice from the Department.
2. Additional Requirements for Permanent Conventionally Installed Monitoring Wells
a.
Grouting.
(1) These monitoring wells shall be
grouted from the top of the bentonite seal to the land surface.
(2) Grout is to be composed of neat cement, a
bentonite cement mixture, or high solids sodium bentonite grout.
(a) Neat cement grout shall be composed of Class
A, Type I Portland Cement mixed with not more than seven (7) gallons of clean water
per bag (one cubic foot or 94 pounds) of cement with a density of 15 to 16 pounds
per gallon, or to manufacturer's specifications
(b) Bentonite-cement grout shall be composed of
powdered bentonite (less than 5% by weight) mixed at not more than 8 gallons of
water to the bag, with a density of 14 to 15 pounds per gallon, or to manufacturer's
specifications.
(c) High solids sodium
bentonite grout shall have a minimum of 20% solids and be mixed per manufacturer's
specifications with water and/or other required additives.
(3) The diameter of the drilled hole shall be
large enough to allow for a minimum of 1.5 inches of annular space on all sides of
the casing for forced injection of grout through a tremie pipe.
(4) All grouting shall be accomplished using
forced injection to emplace the grout. When emplacing the grouting material, the
tremie pipe shall be lowered to the bottom of the zone to be grouted. The tremie
pipe shall be kept full continuously from start to finish of the grouting procedure,
with the discharge end of the tremie pipe being continuously submerged in the grout
until the zone to be grouted is completely filled.
(5) A cement or aggregate reinforced concrete pad
at the ground surface of appropriate durability and strength, considering the
setting and location of each well, that extends six inches beyond the borehole
diameter and six inches below ground surface is required. The pad shall be capable
of preventing infiltration between the surface casing and the borehole to the
subsurface.
b. Construction
and Materials
(1) Casing shall be of sufficient
strength to withstand normal forces encountered during and after well installation
and be composed of material so as to minimally affect water quality
analyses.
(2) Casing shall have a
sufficient diameter to provide access for sampling equipment.
(3) A properly hydrated bentonite seal with a
minimum thickness of twelve inches directly above the filter pack shall be used, if
the well has a filter pack.
(4) The
monitoring well intake or screen design shall minimize formational materials from
entering the well. The filter pack shall be utilized opposite the well screen as
appropriate so that parameter analyses will be minimally affected.
(5) A locking cap or other security devices to
prevent damage and/or vandalism shall be used.
(6) Monitoring wells completed below grade shall
be in a watertight vault with a well cap to prevent infiltration of surface water
into the well.
c. Well
Identification.
All monitoring wells shall be properly labeled with an identification plate immediately upon well completion. The identification plate shall be constructed of a durable, weatherproof, rustproof, material. The identification plate shall be permanently secured to the well casing or enclosure floor around the casing where it is readily visible. The identification plate shall be permanently marked to show:
(1) Company
name and certification number of the driller who installed the well;
(2) Date well was completed;
(3) Total depth (feet);
(4) Casing depth (feet);
(5) Screened interval;
(6) Designator and/or identification
number.
d. Development.
Development shall be complete when the well produces water typical of the aquifer being utilized.
e. Abandonment
Abandonment shall be by forced injection of grout or pouring through a tremie pipe starting at the bottom of the well and proceeding to the surface in one continuous operation. The well shall be filled with either with neat cement, bentonite-cement, or 20% high solids sodium bentonite grout, from the bottom of the well to the land surface.
3. Additional Requirements for Permanent Direct Push Monitoring Wells
a. Direct Push Wells cannot
be installed below a confining layer unless it can be demonstrated to the
satisfaction of the Department that cross-contamination of the aquifer systems can
be prevented.
b. Grouting.
(1) These monitoring wells shall be grouted from
the top of the bentonite seal to the land surface.
(2) Grout is to be composed of neat cement, a
bentonite cement mixture, or high solids sodium bentonite grout.
(a) Neat cement grout shall be composed of Class
A, Type I Portland Cement mixed with not more than seven (7) gallons of clean water
per bag (one cubic foot or 94 pounds) of cement with a density of 15 to 16 pounds
per gallon, or to manufacturer's specifications
(b) Bentonite-cement grout shall be composed of
powdered bentonite (less than 5% by weight) mixed at not more than 8 gallons of
water to the bag, with a density of 14 to 15 pounds per gallon, or to manufacturer's
specifications.
(c) High solids sodium
bentonite grout shall have a minimum of 20% solids and be mixed per manufacturer's
specifications with water and/or other required additives.
(3) The diameter of the annular space shall be
large enough to allow for forced injection of grout through a tremie pipe.
(4) All grouting shall be accomplished using
forced injection to emplace the grout. When emplacing the grouting material, the
tremie pipe shall be lowered to the bottom of the zone to be grouted. The tremie
pipe shall be kept full continuously from start to finish of the grouting procedure,
with the discharge end of the tremie pipe being continuously submerged in the grout
until the zone to be grouted is completely filled.
(5) A cement or aggregate reinforced concrete pad
at the ground surface of appropriate durability and strength, considering the
setting and location of each well, that extends six inches beyond the borehole
diameter and six inches below ground surface is required. The pad shall be capable
of preventing infiltration between the surface casing and the borehole to the
subsurface.
c. Construction
and Materials
(1) Casing shall be of sufficient
strength to withstand normal forces encountered during and after well installation
and be composed of material so as to minimally affect water quality
analyses.
(2) Casing shall have a
sufficient diameter to provide access for sampling equipment.
(3) The monitoring well intake or screen design
shall minimize formational materials from entering the well. The well screen or
intake shall be designed so that parameter analyses will be minimally
affected.
(4) A locking cap or other
security devices to prevent damage and/or vandalism shall be used.
(5) Monitoring wells completed below grade shall
be in a watertight vault with a well cap to prevent infiltration of surface water
into the well.
d. Well
Identification.
All monitoring wells shall be properly labeled with an identification plate immediately upon well completion. The identification plate shall be constructed of a durable, weatherproof, rustproof, material. The identification plate shall be permanently secured to the well casing or enclosure floor around the casing where it is readily visible. The identification plate shall be permanently marked to show:
(1) Company
name and certification number of the driller who installed the well;
(2) Date well was completed;
(3) Total depth (feet);
(4) Casing depth (feet);
(5) Screened Interval;
(6) Designator and/or identification
number.
e. Development.
Development shall be complete when the well produces water typical of the aquifer being utilized.
f. Abandonment
(1) Permanent Direct Push Wells that do not
penetrate a confining layer shall be abandoned by removing all casing from the
subsurface and be grouted by forced injection through a tremie pipe from the total
depth to the land surface, or by forced injection or pouring of neat cement,
bentonite-cement, or 20% high solids sodium bentonite grout through a tremie pipe
starting at the bottom of the well and proceeding to the surface in one continuous
operation.
(2) Direct Push Wells that
penetrate a confining layer shall be abandoned by forced injection or pouring of
neat cement, bentonite-cement, or 20% high solids sodium bentonite grout through a
tremie pipe starting at the bottom of the well and proceeding to the surface in one
continuous operation.
Additional Requirements For Temporary Monitoring Wells
a. Construction and Materials
(1) Casing shall be of sufficient strength to
withstand normal forces encountered during and after well installation and be
composed of material so as to minimally affect water quality analyses.
(2) Casing shall have a sufficient diameter to
provide access for sampling equipment.
(3) The monitoring well intake or screen design
shall minimize formational materials from entering the well. The filter pack or
intake shall be utilized opposite the well screen as appropriate so that parameter
analyses will be minimally affected.
b. Operation and Maintenance
All temporary monitoring wells shall be sealed with a watertight cap or seal until abandoned. Temporary monitoring wells shall be maintained such that they are not a source or channel of contamination before they are abandoned.
c. Abandonment.
(1) All temporary monitoring wells shall be
abandoned within 5 days of borehole completion.
(2) A conventionally drilled temporary well shall
be abandoned by forced injection of neat cement, bentonite-cement, or 20% high
solids sodium bentonite grout through a tremie pipe starting at the bottom of the
well and proceeding to the surface in one continuous operation.
(3) A Temporary Direct Push Well that does not
penetrate a confining layer shall be abandoned by forced injection of neat cement,
bentonite-cement, or 20% high solids sodium bentonite grout through a tremie pipe
after the sampling device has been removed.
(4) A Temporary Direct Push Well that penetrates a
confining layer shall be abandoned by forced injection of neat cement,
bentonite-cement, or 20% high solids sodium bentonite grout through the sampling
device as the sampling device is removed from the sub-surface. Abandonment shall
occur during the initial withdrawal from the original push borehole and not by a
separate tremie tool after the sampling device has been removed to ensure the breech
in the confining layer is permanently sealed.
Use of Water Wells as Monitoring Wells.
Due to the variability involved, the use of a potable water well as a monitoring well shall be approved by the Department on a case-by-case basis.
Non-Standard Monitoring Wells
Due to the variability involved, the use of construction methods, techniques, or monitoring well designs not covered in this regulation shall be approved by the Department on a case-by-case basis.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina 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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