NR 812.09(4)(o)
(o) The use of pitless adapters, pitless units, above ground discharge units, vermin-proof caps and seals and any treatment equipment to be installed directly in a well. The department may prohibit the use of any water supply equipment if the department finds there is substantial evidence that the equipment poses a significant hazard to safe drinking water or the groundwater. The department shall state its findings and conclusions in writing to the manufacturer, the licensed well drillers or pump installers, or both, and the industry representatives including the Wisconsin Water Well Association and the Wisconsin Pump and Well Suppliers Association. The effective date of the prohibition will have a 6 month delay for any well casing pipe product or a 12 month delay for other water supply equipment.
NR 812.09(4)(p)
(p) The installation of a pressure tank with a volume greater than 1,000 gallons.
NR 812.09(4)(q)
(q) The installation of a heat exchange or cathodic protection drillhole.
NR 812.09(4)(r)
(r) The continued operation of a well or drillhole that meets the criteria in
s. NR 812.26 (2) that requires permanent abandonment of the well or drillhole.
NR 812.09(4)(s)
(s) The development of surface water for use as a potable water supply.
NR 812.09(4)(v)
(v) The use of a nonpressure storage vessel other than a surge tank.
NR 812.09(4)(w)
(w) The construction or reconstruction of a well on a property that is listed on the department's geographic information system registry of closed remediation sites.
NR 812.09 Note
Note: The Department of Natural Resource's GIS Registry of Closed Remediation Sites can be found at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/rr on the DNR's internet site. Information that appears on the GIS Registry of Closed Remediation Sites can also be accessed by calling the nearest regional DNR office.
NR 812.09(5)
(5) Approval verification. A well driller, well constructor, pump installer or contractor shall obtain a copy of the approval for any activity identified in
sub. (4) prior to the initiation of any work on a well, pump installation or water system. When necessary and appropriate the department may grant a verbal approval to a well driller, pump installer or contractor to initiate an activity before obtaining a written copy of the approval provided the conditions of the approval are complied with.
NR 812.09(6)
(6) Permit verification. A well driller, well constructor, pump installer or contractor shall obtain required permits from counties authorized to administer this chapter under
ch. NR 845.
NR 812.09 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (4) (intro.), (a) 1., (4) (l), (5) and (6); cr. (4) (u) and (v),
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, September, 1994, No. 465; r. (4) (u),
Register, September, 1996, No. 489, eff. 10-1-96;
CR 00-111: cr. (4) (w),
Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 11-1-01; correction to (6) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., July 2002 No. 559.
NR 812.10
NR 812.10
Well driller and well constructor requirements. NR 812.10(1)(1)
License. Well drillers shall hold a valid Wisconsin well drilling license. The name of the well driller and the well drilling license number shall be displayed on all well drilling rigs used in the construction of wells. The letters and numbers shall be at least 2 inches in height with at least 1/4 inch wide brush stroke. The identification shall have a sharp color contrast with the background on which it is applied. The identification shall remain legible.
NR 812.10(2)
(2) Location. Well drillers and well constructors shall be responsible for proper location of a well. Wells shall be located in sanitary locations and meet the separation requirements specified in
s. NR 812.08. Separation distance requirements to possible sources of contamination will not be waived because of property lines. Wells may not be constructed within 1,200 feet of a landfill site without a variance. Variances from location requirements require approval. Well drillers and well constructors shall contact the diggers hotline not less than 3 business days prior to constructing or reconstructing a well on a property. If the property is located within the service area of a municipally owned water system, the well driller or well constructor shall contact the department before constructing or reconstructing a well, to determine if the property on which the well is or will be located is listed on the department's geographic information system registry of closed remediation sites.
NR 812.10 Note
Note: The Department of Natural Resource's GIS Registry of Closed Remediation Sites can be found at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/rr on the DNR's internet site. Information that appears on the GIS Registry of Closed Remediation Sites can also be accessed by calling the nearest regional DNR office.
NR 812.10(3)
(3) Equipment and materials. Well drillers and well constructors shall be adequately equipped to comply with the well construction requirements of
ss. NR 812.11 to
812.16 and Tables I-IV. All materials installed in a well shall be new, unused and approved for use, except as specified in
s. NR 812.26 (5). The department may prohibit the use of any material or equipment that poses a significant hazard to public health, safe drinking water or groundwater.
NR 812.10(4)
(4) Construction methods. Well drillers and well constructors shall comply with this chapter in the construction and reconstruction of all wells. Adequate protection shall be provided for the top of the drillhole and the top of the well casing pipe to prevent surface contamination from entering the well during the drilling operation and when the driller is not at the drilling site. Well construction methods are depicted in figures 51 to 75.
NR 812.10(5)
(5) Special casing areas. Well drillers and well constructors shall comply with the well casing pipe depth requirements in special well casing pipe depth areas established by the department where aquifers have been contaminated or in other special areas. A list of the special well casing pipe depth areas and the special casing pipe depth requirements may be obtained from the department.
NR 812.10 Note
Note: In some of these special casing areas, wells are approved by the department on a case by case basis. There are other areas where special well construction requirements are necessary. These areas include sites on the department's geographic information system registry of closed remediation sites, as identified in s.
NR 812.12 (15).
NR 812.10(6)
(6) Grouting and sealing. Well drillers and well constructors shall be responsible for completing all grouting and sealing requirements using the mixtures and methods of
s. NR 812.20. Grouting methods are depicted in figures 11 to 18.
NR 812.10(7)
(7) Development and test pump. Well drillers and well constructors shall, upon completion of the well, develop and test pump the well according to
s. NR 812.22. The well shall be pumped and developed until the water is practicably clear and free of sand, and until a stable pumping water level is established.
NR 812.10(8)
(8) Noncomplying wells. When a well driller or well constructor has constructed a well not initially located or constructed in compliance with this chapter, the well driller or well constructor shall pay all costs for bringing the well into compliance with this chapter,including abandonment costs, other than those costs that would have been charged for an initial complying construction.
NR 812.10(9)
(9) Problem wells. The well driller or well constructor shall return to the well site to attempt to correct problems when a potable well produces bacteriologically unsafe water; when a well produces sandy or turbid water; or when failure of the well occurs due to a caving or sloughing formation. The well driller or well constructor shall return within 90 days after the well is completed or 30 days after the well is placed in service, whichever is longer. If noncomplying construction was not the cause of the problem, a fee may be charged by the well driller or well constructor for corrective work.
NR 812.10(10)
(10) Notification of contaminated wells. Well drillers and well constructors shall notify the well owner if the well driller or well constructor becomes aware that the water from the well contains contaminates in excess for the primary drinking water standards in
ch. NR 809.
NR 812.10(11)
(11) Completion of the well. The well driller or his or her agent shall collect a water sample, using his or her test pump, the well owner's pump, air-lift equipment or a bailer, from any new or newly reconstructed potable well within 30 days of completion and have the sample analyzed for coliform bacteria at a laboratory certified by DATCP for bacteriological analysis of potable water and having an agreement with the department for submission of copies of lab result forms. The department recommends that the sample also be analyzed for nitrate. The well driller or well constructor shall disinfect, flush and seal the well. The well driller shall furnish a water sample result to the well owner within 10 days of the well driller's receipt of the result. The well driller or well constructor shall submit a well construction report to the well owner and to the department within 30 days following the date of well completion.
NR 812.10 Note
Note: The well driller or agent is required to have the water sample analyzed for bacteria. However, in some areas of Wisconsin the useable aquifer is contaminated throughout its entire vertical extent, so it may not be possible to obtain a bacteriologically safe water sample.
NR 812.10 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (5), (9) and (11),
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, September, 1994, No. 465;
CR 00-111: am. (2),
Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 11-1-01.
NR 812.11
NR 812.11
Well construction equipment & materials. NR 812.11(1)(1)
Adequacy of equipment. Well drillers and well constructors shall be adequately equipped to enable him or her to fully comply with all legal requirements applicable to any well construction, reconstruction or well abandonment undertaken by him or her.
NR 812.11(1)(a)
(a) Drill bits. The diameter of drill bits shall be within 1/4, of the diameter of any drillhole to be constructed. A drill bit more than 1/4, smaller in diameter than the diameter of an upper enlarged drillhole to be constructed, may not be worked around within the drillhole to construct the specified diameter of the drillhole.
NR 812.11(1)(c)
(c) Mud balances. When rotary drilling mud and cuttings or clay slurry are used to seal the annular space of a well as specified by Tables I and II, a mud balance shall be used to determine that the mud weight is at least 11 pounds per gallon.
NR 812.11(1)(d)
(d) Test pumps. A test pump shall be used to perform a well yield test upon completion of the well. A well yield test may be conducted using air-rotary equipment.
NR 812.11(2)
(2) Materials. All materials permanently installed in a well shall be new, unused and approved for use except as specified in
s. NR 812.26 (5). Lead compounds used to lubricate and seal drill stem joints or any equipment entering a well may not be used. Materials containing lead having a lead content greater than 8% by weight, may not be installed in a well. Component parts of manufactured products containing lead shall not have a lead content of more than 5% of the total product weight. "Lead wool" or other products containing more than 8% lead may not be used as seals in the bottom of an open-ended well casing pipes or as screens terminating in coarse formations.
NR 812.11(2)(b)
(b) Drive-shoes. When a well casing pipe is driven, a drive-shoe shall be welded or threaded to the bottom of the well casing pipe according to
s. NR 812.12 (5). Couplings may not be used for drive-shoes. When the upper enlarged drillhole extends 20 feet or more into bedrock and the annular space is cement grouted before the lower drillhole is constructed, the use of a drive-shoe is optional.
NR 812.11(2)(d)
(d) Screens. Screens shall meet the requirements of
s. NR 812.13 (1) (e). Lead bottom seals are prohibited. Brass screens may not have a lead content of more than 8%.
NR 812.11(2)(f)
(f) Centering guides. Centering guides or drive shoes used as centering guides shall be installed in well casing pipe in bedrock wells as specified in
s. NR 812.14 (1) (f).
NR 812.11(2)(g)
(g) Drilling aids. Only approved drilling aids may be used in well construction and reconstruction. Approval of drilling aids is based on, but not limited to toxicity, groundwater contamination potential and expected effectiveness of the materials. A list of approved drilling aids is available from the department upon request.
NR 812.11 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, September, 1994, No. 465.
NR 812.12
NR 812.12
General drilled type well construction requirements. NR 812.12(1)(1) Every well shall be planned and constructed so that it:
NR 812.12(1)(a)
(a) Will be adapted to the geologic and groundwater conditions of the proposed well site to ensure full utilization of every natural protection against contamination of the water bearing formation or formations and to exclude possible sources of contamination.
NR 812.12 Note
Note: In some areas of Wisconsin the useable aquifer is contaminated throughout its entire vertical extent. In such areas, it may not be possible to obtain bacteriologically safe water.
NR 812.12(1)(c)
(c) Will provide an adequate and contaminant free water supply, where the natural geologic and groundwater conditions allow.
NR 812.12(2)
(2) The construction of drilled wells shall comply with:
NR 812.12(2)(c)
(c) The requirements of Table I or II for low capacity potable wells, except school or wastewater treatment plant wells, but including noncommunity wells and nonpotable wells, or
NR 812.12(2)(d)
(d) The requirements of Tables III and IV for potable high capacity, wastewater treatment plant and school wells.
NR 812.12 Note
Note: The requirements of Tables I-IV are based on the geologic formation encountered at or near the ground surface, the geologic formation in which the well terminates, the type of drilling method used, the depth to which the upper enlarged drillhole extends into bedrock, for bedrock wells, and the static water level for unconsolidated formation wells. For specific requirements relating to percussion method drilling and rotary method drilling, see ss.
NR 812.13 and
812.14, respectively.
NR 812.12(3)
(3) A greater depth of well casing pipe shall be provided in special well casing pipe depth areas designated by the department where well histories show contamination extends to a greater depth. In some of these areas department approval shall be obtained for each well prior to construction.
NR 812.12 Note
Note: A list of special well casing pipe depth areas and the required depths may be obtained from the department upon request. Greater depth of well casing pipe is recommended for wells constructed on high density tiered lots where possible contamination sources exist on neighboring up-slope lots. Additional requirements for more stringent well construction methods are found in sub. (15), regarding sites listed on the GIS Registry of Closed Remediation Sites.
NR 812.12(4)
(4) Steel well casing pipe shall meet the requirements of
s. NR 812.17. Steel well casing pipe assembled with welded joints shall have beveled ends and all joints shall be welded according to the welding requirements outlined in
s. NR 812.18.
NR 812.12(5)
(5) A drive-shoe shall be welded or threaded to the bottom of any string of well casing pipe to be driven including driving to a firm seat in bedrock when well casing pipe is set in an upper enlarged drillhole, except when the upper enlarged drillhole extends 20 feet or more into bedrock and the annular space is cement grouted before the lower drillhole is constructed, the use of a drive-shoe is optional. A drive-shoe is not required for any temporary outer casing. Thermoplastic well casing pipe may not be driven.
NR 812.12(6)
(6) The well driller or well constructor shall complete the well construction such that the well casing pipe extends at least 12 inches above the final ground grade, above a pumphouse or building floor or above any concrete or asphalt platform installed at or above the established ground surface. In addition, for wells in floodplains, the top of the well casing pipe shall terminate at least 2 feet above the regional flood elevation. A well may not be constructed in a floodway on property that is either undeveloped or on property that has buildings but no existing potable well.
NR 812.12(10)
(10) The construction of flowing wells shall also comply with the construction requirements of
s. NR 812.15.
NR 812.12(11)
(11) Water used in the construction, reconstruction or redevelopment of wells shall be clear water obtained from an uncontaminated source. The water shall be disinfected with chlorine with a residual of 100 mg/l (parts per million) to reduce the effort involved in the final disinfection of the well and to reduce the possibility of groundwater contamination. The chlorine concentration may be mixed according to Table B in
s. NR 812.22 (4) (d). The drilling fluid shall be maintained with a free-chlorine residual of 10 mg/l (parts per million) during drilling.
NR 812.12(12)
(12) Well construction shall be interrupted for at least 12 hours following placement of cement grout in the annular space between the well casing pipe and the upper enlarged drillhole or between a liner pipe and a lower drillhole and the well casing pipe.
NR 812.12(13)
(13) Nonpotable wells shall be constructed according to the requirements for low capacity potable wells, except that well casing pipe 12 inches in diameter and larger used for nonpotable wells may have a lesser wall thickness than is required by Table V for the diameter of the well casing pipe used provided the pipe has a minimum wall thickness of 0.250 inches and is adequate in strength to make the well structurally sound. The drilling mud requirements during well drilling and the sodium bentonite annular space sealing requirements do not apply to nonpotable high capacity wells constructed with reverse rotary methods.
NR 812.12(14)
(14) Starter drillholes 10 feet deep or less are not upper enlarged drillholes. Starter drillholes need not meet the minimum requirements for upper enlarged drillholes.
NR 812.12(15)
(15) More stringent well construction methods including but not limited to deeper well casing pipe depth settings are required by the department for wells constructed through formations where contaminant levels exceed the drinking water standards in
s. NR 812.06, and may be required when there is groundwater contamination exceeding
ch. NR 140 enforcement standards on a property that is listed on the department's geographic information system registry of closed remediation sites. When drilling in areas where there are contaminated formations, and on properties where the well driller or well constructor has been notified that the property is listed on the department's geographic information system registry of closed remediation sites, consultation with the department is required. If required by the department, special well construction methods shall be utilized when constructing or reconstructing wells located on properties that are listed on the department's geographic information system registry of closed remediation sites.
NR 812.12 Note
Note: The Department of Natural Resource's GIS Registry of Closed Remediation Sites can be found at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/rr on the DNR's internet site. Information that appears on the GIS Registry of Closed Remediation Sites can also be accessed by calling the nearest regional DNR office.
NR 812.12(16)
(16) When a quarry is within 1,200 feet of any proposed well, the upper enlarged drillhole and well casing pipe depth requirements shall be referenced from the bottom of the quarry. When the bottom of the existing or proposed quarry is or will be at an elevation higher than the elevation of the ground surface at the well site, this requirement does not apply.
NR 812.12(17)
(17) When a sinkhole or an outcrop is within 250 feet of any proposed well, additional depth of the upper enlarged drillhole and well casing pipe may be necessary. Consultation by the well driller or well owner with the department is recommended.
NR 812.12(18)
(18) Drill cutting samples from high capacity, school and wastewater treatment plant wells shall be collected at 5-foot depth intervals and at each change in geological formation. The samples shall be submitted to the Wisconsin geological and natural history survey for preparation of a certified log of the well.
NR 812.12(19)
(19) When percussion drilling methods are used to construct a well as specified in
s. NR 812.13 (2) or
812.14 (2), rotary air methods may be used to construct an upper enlarged drillhole in noncaving formations to a depth not to exceed 20 feet, or may be used to construct a drillhole to facilitate the driving of temporary outer casing providing the drillhole is the same or smaller diameter as the outside diameter of the temporary outer casing and does not extend deeper than the 40-foot depth.
NR 812.12(20)
(20) When percussion drilling methods are to be used to construct a well as specified in
s. NR 812.13 (2) or
812.14 (2), rotary-mud circulation techniques may be used to construct an upper enlarged drillhole below which the well casing pipe may be driven providing:
NR 812.12(20)(a)
(a) The drillhole is at least 2 inches larger in diameter than the nominal well casing pipe diameter,
NR 812.12(20)(c)
(c) The drillhole is kept full of drilling mud and cuttings while the well casing pipe is driven.
NR 812.12(21)
(21) When using percussion methods for the construction of nonpotable high capacity wells and for low capacity wells except school and wastewater treatment plant wells, the minimum diameter of the upper enlarged drillhole may be reduced from 4 inches larger in diameter than the nominal diameter of the well casing pipe to 2 inches larger in diameter than the nominal diameter of the well casing pipe when:
NR 812.12(21)(a)
(a) Steel well casing pipe assembled with welded joints is used, and
NR 812.12(21)(b)
(b) The annular space sealing material is placed by using an approved pressure method.
NR 812.12 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (1) (c), (3), (13), (15), (16), Tables I and II, cr. (1) (e),
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94;
CR 00-111: am. (15),
Register October 2001 No. 550, eff. 11-1-01.
NR 812.13
NR 812.13 Drilled wells terminating in unconsolidated formations, i.e., usually sand or gravel or both. Unconsolidated formation wells shall be constructed according to the requirements in
s. NR 812.12 and as follows:
NR 812.13(1)(a)(a) The minimum diameter for all drilled wells in unconsolidated formations, based on nominal size of well casing pipe is:
