Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Natural Resources
Title R655 - Natural Resources, Water Rights
Rule R655-4 - Water Wells
Section R655-4-17 - Shallow Water Well Construction Requirements

Universal Citation: UT Admin Code R 655-4-17

Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024

17.0 General. Shallow water wells at a depth of 30 feet or less shall be constructed and equipped by a licensed well driller pump installer, or shallow water well constructor. Shallow water wells shall be constructed using methods and materials that will result in a well that is safe for the public and environment and not a source of subsurface leakage, waste, or contamination of the groundwater resource. The well drilling and construction requirements for wells deeper than 30 feet found in Section R655-4-11 do not apply to shallow water wells that are 30-feet deep or less.

17.1 Approved Products, Materials, and Procedures. Any product, material or procedure designed for use in the drilling, construction, cleaning, renovation, development, or abandonment of shallow water production wells shall be designed for that purpose and be safe for the public and environment.

17.2 Shallow Water Well Casing. It shall be the sole responsibility of the well driller or shallow water well constructor to determine the suitability of any type of well casing for the particular well being constructed.

17.2.1 Casing Stick-up. The well casing shall extend a minimum of 18 inches above finished ground level and the natural ground surface should slope away from the casing. A secure sanitary, weatherproof mechanically secured cap, seal, or a completely welded cap shall be placed on the top of the well casing to prevent contamination of the well.

17.3 Surface Seals. A surface seal shall be installed in the annular space between the well casing and borehole wall from ground surface to an appropriate depth to protect the well from surface water contamination. The seal shall also prevent the upward movement of artesian waters within the annular space around the well casing.

17.3.1 Seal Material. The seal material shall consist of neat cement grout, sand cement grout, or unhydrated bentonite such as granular, tabular, pelletized, or chip bentonite, as defined in Section R655-4-2.

17.4 Access Port. Every shallow water well shall be equipped with a usable access port so that the position of the water level, or pressure head, in the well can be measured at all times.

17.5 Static Water Level, Well Development, and Well Yield. To fulfill the requirements of Subsection R655-4-4 (4.5.2), new wells designed to produce water shall be developed to remove sediment and materials introduced during construction and to restore the natural groundwater flow to the well to the extent possible. After a water production well is developed, a test should be performed to determine the rate at which groundwater can be reliably produced from the well. Following development and testing, the static water level in the well should also be measured. Static water level, well development information, and well yield information shall be noted on the official submittal of the well log by the licensee.

17.6 Pump Work. All pump installations shall be completed in such a manner as to prevent waste and contamination of groundwater by pollution material entering the well from pumping equipment, casing connectors, fittings, piping, sanitary seals or caps.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Utah 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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