Current through August 26, 2024
(1) GENERAL. Any
potable or nonpotable well, reservoir, or spring shall be located:
(a) So the well and its surroundings can be
kept in a sanitary condition.
(b)
So that the well, reservoir or spring is protected from surface water flow and
flooding, and located at the highest point on the property consistent with the
general layout and surroundings if reasonably possible.
(c) As far away from any known or possible
contaminant source as the general layout of the premises and the surroundings
allow.
Note: Section PSC 114.234(6) requires that a
horizontal clearance of at least 3/4 of the vertical clearance of the
conductors, including overhead power lines to the ground required by Rule 232
shall be maintained between open conductors and wells. Persons installing wells
must comply with this requirement.
(d) Such that any potential contaminant
source, not identified in this section or in Table A, is a minimum of 8 feet
from the well, reservoir, or spring.
(e) So that it is reasonably accessible with
proper equipment for cleaning, treatment, repair, testing, inspection and any
other maintenance that may be necessary.
(f) In a manner to meet the additional
location and construction specifications of s.
NR 812.12(3) and (4).
(g) Such that the location of a spring meets
the requirements under s.
NR 812.25.
(1m) GENERAL PROHIBITIONS. No person may
locate a well, reservoir, spring, or a contaminant source in a manner that
fails to comply with any requirements established in this section.
(2) RELATION TO BUILDINGS. In relation to
buildings, all of the following apply to the location of any potable or
nonpotable well:
(a) No well may be located
directly in line with a rainwater downspout outlet or other clear water
discharge.
(b) When a structure is
built over a drilled well, the structure shall have an easily removable access
hatch, or provide other practicable access to allow for pulling and servicing
the pump. The well casing pipe shall extend at least 12 inches above the
ground-grade or above the ground-grade floor of the building and shall be
sealed watertight at the point where it extends through the floor.
(c) No well may be located, nor a building
constructed, such that the well casing pipe will terminate in a basement or
extend through the basement of any building or terminate under the floor of a
building having no basement. A well may not terminate in or extend through a
crawl space.
(d) The top of a well
casing pipe may terminate in a walkout basement if all of the following
conditions are met:
1. It is possible to walk
directly outside from the walkout basement without walking upstairs or
upslope.
2. The surface of the
ground around the outside exit door of the walkout basement slopes down away
from the door.
3. The well and pump
installation are accessible for repair and removal.
4. The well produces water free from
contaminant levels in excess of the standards specified in s.
NR 812.06.
5.
The well casing pipe depth meets the requirements of ss.
NR 812.13(2) and 812.14(2).
6. The well and pump installation are in
compliance with all other requirements of this chapter.
7. The walkout basement is not subject to
flooding.
8. The walkout basement
is not in a floodway or floodplain.
(e) A well may not terminate in or extend
through a crawl space having a below grade depression or excavation.
(f) If a well must be located in a driveway,
parking area, walkway, or other high traffic area due to lot size or to meet
minimum required separation distances between the well and contaminant sources,
the well may be contained within a driveway ramp structure without department
approval providing the driveway ramp meets the specifications of s.
NR 812.36. A driveway ramp may not be constructed or
located in a floodway or floodplain.
(g) A yard hydrant may not be installed
within or on a well.
(3)
RELATION TO FLOODPLAINS.
(a) A well may be
constructed, reconstructed or replaced in a floodfringe provided that the top
of the well is terminated at least 2 feet above the regional flood elevation
for the well site. The regional flood elevation is determined by the city,
village, or county floodplain zoning ordinance.
(b) A well may be reconstructed or replaced
in a floodway provided that the top of the well is terminated at least 2 feet
above the regional flood elevation for the well site.
(c) A new well may not be constructed in a
floodway unless allowed by s.
NR 116.12(1) (f) and city, village, or
county ordinance.
(4)
RELATION TO CONTAMINATION SOURCES. A well driller or well constructor may not
construct or reconstruct a well, install a reservoir, or develop a spring that
is less than the minimum separation distance from a possible contaminant source
as specified in Table A. The minimum separation distances of this subsection do
not apply to dewatering wells approved under s.
NR 812.09(4)
(a). Greater separation distances may be
required for wells requiring plan approval under s.
NR 812.09.
Separation distance requirements to possible contaminant sources may not be
waived because of property lines. Separation distances shall be measured from
the edge of the well, reservoir or spring, to the nearest edge of the
contaminant source or as specified in Table A. - See PDF for table - See PDF
for table
1) Separation distances to manure
and manure containment structures are also defined in Natural Resource
Conservation (NRCS) technical standards and chs.
NR 151, 243 and 812. The
separation distances in each may be different. When installing a well on a
farm, especially an AFO (animal feeding operation) consult with the owner, the
technical standards, and all applicable administrative code provisions to
identify other well separation distances that may exist.
2) The separation distance from a POWTS
dispersal component does not apply if the component has been abandoned in
accordance with s.
SPS 383.33.
3) See s.
NR 812.12(4) for well construction
requirements for wells to be constructed within 500 feet of a quarry.
4) This category includes sand and salt
mixtures if the salt content of the mixture is 5% or more.
5) The separation distance requirements for
pond shorelines do not apply to synthetically lined decorative yard ponds
located on residential lots.
(5) HEAT EXCHANGE DRILLHOLE SEPARATION
DISTANCES. Minimum separation distances between any heat exchange drillhole,
water supply wells, and existing sources of contamination; or between new
sources of contamination and existing heat exchange drillholes shall be
maintained as described in this subsection. Separation distance requirements to
possible sources of contamination will not be waived because of property lines.
Minimum separating distances are ten feet between a heat exchange drillhole and
each of the following:
(a) Non-municipal
water supply well.
(b) Onsite waste
disposal system.
(c) Buried fuel
storage tank.
