NR 812.25(2)(c)
(c) The spring shall be capable of producing water that is continuously free from coliform bacterial contamination and free of contaminants in excess of the drinking water standards in
s. NR 812.06.
NR 812.25 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (1) and (2) (a) 1.,
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94.
NR 812.26
NR 812.26
Well and drillhole abandonment. NR 812.26(1)(1)
Purpose. The permanent abandonment of unused or contaminated wells or drillholes and noncomplying water systems is an important step in the protection of the local groundwater quality. Wells, especially those with structural defects, may act as conduits for the vertical movement of contamination from or near the ground surface to the groundwater or from one aquifer to another.
NR 812.26(2)(a)(a) The owner shall permanently abandon a well or a drillhole under any of the following conditions unless the department approves the continued use of the well or drillhole:
NR 812.26(2)(a)1.
1. The well water is contaminated with biological agents, bacteriological, viral or parasitic, and 3 attempts at batch chlorination fail to eliminate the problem,
NR 812.26(2)(a)3.
3. The well or drillhole construction or well location does not comply with the minimum standards of this chapter, or
NR 812.26(2)(a)4.
4. The well or drillhole has been taken out of service or has not been used for 3 or more years and is not needed by the owner in the immediate future as a source of water for human consumption, sanitary purposes, commercial use or for stock watering. As an alternative, the owner may temporarily abandon the well according to
sub. (4).
NR 812.26(2)(b)
(b) The department may require the owner to abandon a well or drillhole under the following conditions:
NR 812.26(2)(b)1.
1. The well water is contaminated with a substance in exceedence of the drinking water standards specified in
s. NR 812.06
NR 812.26(2)(b)2.
2. The well was not constructed by the well owner or by a licensed well driller, or
NR 812.26(2)(c)
(c) A well driller or well constructor shall abandon a well or drillhole, which he or she constructed or reconstructed, under the following conditions except when the department approves the continued use of the well or drillhole:
NR 812.26(2)(c)1.
1. The well construction or well location does not comply with the minimum standards of this chapter at the time the well was constructed, or
NR 812.26(2)(c)2.
2. The drillhole is an unsuccessful attempt to construct or reconstruct a well.
NR 812.26(2)(d)
(d) The department may require any person who has abandoned a well not in compliance with this section to return and take corrective action so that the well is abandoned by him or her in a complying manner.
NR 812.26(3)
(3) Requirements for wells removed from service. Any well or drillhole removed from service shall be properly abandoned according to the criteria and procedures in this section except as exempted by
s. NR 123.23 (3) (c) or by the department. Any well or drillhole removed from service shall be properly abandoned prior to any demolition or construction work on the property. A well driller or well constructor who removes a well from service shall inform the well owner that the department requires that any well removed from service be permanently abandoned according to the requirements of this section. A well driller or well constructor shall report any well he or she removes from service on the well construction report for any replacement well he or she constructs on the property.
NR 812.26(4)
(4) Temporary abandonment requirements. Any well to be temporarily abandoned shall meet the minimum requirements of this chapter and shall be able to produce a bacteriological safe water sample if the well is potable. When a well is temporarily abandoned, the owner shall notify the department. To temporarily abandon a well, the top of the well casing pipe shall be sealed with a watertight cap threaded onto the top of the well casing pipe or drive pipe or with a steel plate welded watertight to the top of the well casing pipe. If the pump or well seal is watertight, the pump may be left in place.
NR 812.26(5)
(5) Well or drillhole casing pipe. The well casing pipe or drillhole casing pipe shall be left in place when a well or drillhole is permanently abandoned, except under
par. (a),
(b),
(c),
(d) or
(e) and only if the well or drillhole is sealed as the well casing pipe is pulled; and if any concrete or neat cement grout that settles in the drillhole is replaced.
NR 812.26(5)(a)
(a) The well casing pipe may be removed from a dry drillhole and reinstalled in a well on the same property within 30 days of original drillhole construction,
NR 812.26(5)(b)
(b) The well casing pipe may be removed from a well or drillhole as part of reconstruction ordered or requested by the department. The well casing pipe may only be reinstalled on the same property if the reconstruction takes place within 120 days of the original construction,
NR 812.26(5)(c)
(c) The well casing pipe may be removed from a dewatering well or a drillhole. Such well casing pipe may only be reused for dewatering wells.
NR 812.26(5)(d)
(d) The well casing pipe may be removed from a recently constructed well or drillhole and reused if the well casing pipe is inspected and approved for reuse by a department representative.
NR 812.26(5)(e)
(e) The well casing pipe may be removed from a well or a drillhole if the well or drillhole is completely filled with the abandonment material before the well casing pipe is pulled.
NR 812.26(6)(a)(a) All debris, pumps, piping, ungrouted liner pipe and any other obstruction known to be in the well or drillhole shall be removed if possible before the well or drillhole is permanently abandoned.
NR 812.26(6)(b)
(b) In a badly fractured or highly permeable geologic formation sodium bentonite drilling mud may be circulated in the drillhole or in the well prior to permanent abandonment procedures are undertaken.
NR 812.26(6)(c)
(c) The sealing material to be used in permanently abandoning a well or drillhole between 2-½ inches and 30 inches in diameter shall be placed through a conductor (tremie) pipe or by means of a dump bailer except when approved chipped bentonite is used. Conductor (tremie) pipe used shall be any of the following:
NR 812.26(6)(c)2.
2. Rubber-covered hose reinforced with braided fiber or steel and rated for at least 300 psi, or
NR 812.26(6)(c)3.
3. For use at depths less than 100 feet, thermoplastic pipe rated for at least 100 psi including:
NR 812.26(6)(d)
(d) The bottom end of the conductor pipe shall be submerged in the sealing material at all times. A conductor pipe shall also be used for wells or drillholes greater than 30 inches in diameter if water remains trapped above the sealing material as it is applied.
NR 812.26(6)(e)
(e) The flow from a flowing well or drillhole shall be reduced as much as possible with a packer, by extending the well casing pipe, or by other approved means including those depicted in figures 20 to 22 before it is permanently abandoned.
NR 812.26(6)(f)
(f) Abandonment of wells or drillholes with inadequate grouting or sealing of the annular space outside the well casing pipe shall be performed to ensure complete sealing of the annular space. Techniques are situation dependent and may include reaming a new annular space outside the well casing pipe, use of pressure grouting methods or perforation of the well casing pipe.
NR 812.26(6)(g)
(g) The well casing pipe and abandonment material may be terminated as much as 3 feet below the ground surface or to a depth below any future building foundation at the time of permanent abandonment.
NR 812.26(7)
(7) Permanent abandonment methods and materials. NR 812.26(7)(a)(a) Methods. Once obstructions have been removed from a well or a drillhole, it shall be permanently abandoned by filling, from the bottom up, with the materials specified in this paragraph and Table C with the use of a conductor (tremie) pipe, except where the use of a conductor pipe is specifically exempted, by using one of the following methods:
NR 812.26(7)(a)1.a.a. Drilled wells and drillholes or driven-point wells 2-1/2 inches or larger in diameter in unconsolidated formations shall be filled with neat cement grout, concrete (sand-cement) grout, concrete, or with clay or a sodium bentonite-water-sand slurry with a mud weight of at least 11 pounds per gallon or as in
subd. 3. When clay or sodium bentonite-water-sand slurry is used, the slurry shall have a sand content of at least 10%, but not more than 25% by volume of the slurry and at least the top 5 feet shall be filled with neat cement grout, concrete (sand-cement) grout, concrete or approved chipped bentonite.
NR 812.26(7)(a)1.b.
b. Driven-point wells and drillholes less than or equal to 2-½ inches in diameter completed in unconsolidated formations shall be filled with neat cement grout which may be poured or pumped down the drive pipe or drillhole. The use of a conductor pipe is not required. The drive pipe and screen may be removed before placement of the grout if the total well depth is 25 feet or less.
NR 812.26(7)(a)2.
2. `Filling wells and drillholes'. Wells and drillholes completed in bedrock formations shall be completely filled from the bottom up with neat cement grout, concrete grout, concrete or approved bentonite chips as provided in
subd. 3. As an alternative for uncontaminated bedrock wells and drillholes deeper than 250 feet, chlorinated, sand-free pea gravel may be used to fill the well or drillhole from the bottom up to the 250-foot depth provided that for wells or drillholes extending through more than one geologic formation, a neat cement grout, concrete or bentonite chip plug at least 40 feet thick is placed at the contact surface between the adjacent geologic formations. When pea gravel is used for this alternative, it may be poured without the use of a conductor pipe provided the well is sounded at 50-foot intervals to ensure that bridging of the gravel in the well does not occur.
NR 812.26(7)(a)3.
3. `Use of bentonite chips'. Approved slow-hydrating bentonite chips may be used to fill both unconsolidated formation and bedrock wells and drillholes by using instructions provided by the department with the following restrictions:
NR 812.26(7)(a)3.a.
a. For wells and drillholes 4-inch diameter and larger the total depth may not be deeper than 500 feet and the number of feet of standing water in the well or drillhole may not be more than 350 feet. As an alternative for uncontaminated wells and drillholes deeper than 250 feet, chlorinated, sand-free pea gravel may be used to fill the well or drillhole from the bottom up to the 250-foot depth provided that for wells or drillholes extending through more than one geologic formation, a bentonite chip plug at least 40 feet thick is placed at the contact surfaces between the adjacent geologic formations. When pea gravel is used for this alternative, it may be poured without the use of a conductor pipe provided the well is sounded at 50-foot intervals to ensure that bridging of the gravel in the well does not occur.
NR 812.26(7)(a)3.c.
c. Not allowed for any well or drillhole filled with drilling mud or bentonite slurry.
NR 812.26(7)(a)4.a.a. Dug or bored wells shall have the cover removed and the top 5 feet of curbing or concrete wall removed. Rock curbing may be caved into the drillhole as the well is being sealed only if done in a manner to prevent bridging. The well shall be filled using clean clay or silt, clean native soil, approved chipped bentonite, concrete, concrete (sand-cement) grout or neat cement grout if constructed in unconsolidated formations.
NR 812.26(7)(a)4.b.
b. Dug wells and drillholes constructed partially or completely into bedrock shall be filled with neat cement grout, concrete (sand-cement) grout, concrete or approved chipped bentonite to a point at least 2 feet above the top of the bedrock. The remainder of the well or drillhole may be abandoned using any of the materials listed in
subd. 4. a.
NR 812.26(7)(a)4.c.
c. Dug or bored wells 18 inches in diameter and smaller shall be filled by means of a conductor (tremie) pipe, except when bentonite chips are used as specified in
subd. 3. or when clean clay or silt or clean native soil is used and the dug or bored well is 25 feet deep or less.
NR 812.26(7)(a)5.
5. `Well pits'. When a well terminating in a pit is abandoned, the pit shall also be abandoned except when the pit is a subsurface pumproom (alcove) adjoining a basement. Pits shall be abandoned by perforating the floor, knocking out one wall and filling the pit with clean native soil less permeable than the soil surrounding the pit.
NR 812.26(7)(a)6.
6. `Non-pressure conduits'. When wells having non-pressure conduits are abandoned and filled, the basement end of the conduit shall be permanently sealed with a watertight cap or seal.
-
See PDF for diagram 
Figure 20. Inflatable packer method for permanently abandoning a flowing well.
-
See PDF for diagram Figure 21. Method for reducing flow in a flowing well by extending the well casing pipe before permanently abandoning the well.
-
See PDF for diagram Figure 22. Method for reducing flow in a flowing well by first adding gravel to the bottom before permanently abandoning the well.
TABLE C
NR 812.26(7)(b)1.1. Neat cement grout, concrete (sand-cement) grout, clay slurry or sodium bentonite slurry as described in
s. NR 812.20 (1) or approved chipped bentonite shall be used to permanently abandon wells and drillholes where the use of such materials are required in this section. Powdered bentonite may be added to neat cement grout up to a ratio of 5 pounds of bentonite per 94-pound bag of cement.
NR 812.26(7)(b)2.
2. Concrete shall consist of a mixture of cement, water, sand, and gravel in the proportion of one bag Portland cement (94 pounds) (ASTM C 150, Type I or API-10A, Class A), an equal measure of sand and an equal measure of gravel, by weight or by volume, and not more than 6 gallons of water. As an alternative, a commercially prepared mix may be used providing the mix has at least 6 bags of cement per cubic yard. The gravel size may not exceed 1/3 of the inside diameter of the conductor (tremie) pipe used for the well abandonment.
NR 812.26(8)
(8) Abandonment reports. An abandonment report shall be filed with the department within 30 days after the well or drillhole is abandoned. The abandonment report shall be filed by the person performing the abandonment on forms provided by the department and shall include a complete detailed description of location of the well, method of sealing, construction and geologic features, if known. Well drillers, well constructors and pump installers shall report to the department any unused or unabandoned wells or drillholes of which they have knowledge.
NR 812.26 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (2) (a) 4., (3), (6) (c) (intro.), (7) (a) (intro.) 1. b., 2., 3. a., 4. a. and c. and 5., cr. (2) (d), (7) (a) 6. and Table C,
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94.
NR 812.27
NR 812.27
Pump installer requirements. NR 812.27(1)
(1)
License requirement. Pump installers shall hold a valid Wisconsin license. A master plumber licensed under
ch. 145, Stats., may install a pressure tank without a pump installers license. The name and license number of the pump installer or pump installer firm shall be identified on the pump installation truck and similar equipment. The identification 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 812.27(2)
(2) Location requirement. Except when the reporting requirements of
s. NR 812.04 (2) are complied with, a pump may not be installed, replaced or serviced in a well that is not properly located according to the minimum location and separation requirements in effect at the time of construction and:
NR 812.27(2)(a)
(a) According to the minimum location requirements in effect at the time of installation of any potential source of contamination, if the source was installed more recently, or
NR 812.27(3)
(3) Pits. Existing pits and subsurface pumprooms shall comply with the conditions of a department approval to construct the pit or to the minimum standards of
s. NR 812.42 (2).
NR 812.27(4)
(4) Pitless adapters and units. Pump installers or persons installing pumps shall use approved pitless adapters and pitless units to make subsurface connection to wells as specified in
s. NR 812.31.
NR 812.27(5)
(5) Disinfection and well seals. The pump installer shall disinfect any potable well and water system according to
s. NR 812.22 (4) and
(5) upon completion of the original pump installation and thereafter anytime the well is entered for the purpose of installing, replacing or repairing any equipment located within the well. Following disinfection, the disinfectant shall be flushed according to
s. NR 812.22 (5). The disinfection and flushing shall be completed before the system is placed into service. The pump installer shall seal or cover the well with an approved vermin-proof cap or seal.
NR 812.27(6)
(6) Sampling and reporting requirements. The pump installer, or his or her agent, or the person who installed the pump, shall collect a water sample from a potable well within 30 days following completion of the original pump installation and thereafter anytime the well is entered for the purpose of installing, replacing or repairing any equipment located within the well, and shall have the sample analyzed for coliform bacteria at a lab certified by the DHS for bacteriological analysis of drinking water provided the laboratory has an agreement with the department for sending water sample reports to the department within 30 days after completion of the analysis. The department recommends that the sample also be analyzed for nitrate. The pump installer may designate the owner, the property lessee or any other person the pump installer chooses to designate to collect the sample and have it analyzed. The water sample result shall be furnished to the owner within 10 days of the receipt of the result by the pump installer.
NR 812.27(7)
(7) Notification of contaminated wells. Pump installers shall notify a well owner if the pump installer becomes aware that the water from the well contains contaminants in excess of the primary drinking water standards in
ch. NR 809.
NR 812.27(8)
(8) Bacteriologically unsafe wells. The pump installer shall return to the well site to attempt to correct a problem with a potable well that produces bacteriologically unsafe water. The pump installer shall return within 90 days after the pump installation is completed or 30 days after the pump is placed into service, whichever is longer. If noncomplying installation or disinfection was not the cause of the problem, a fee may be charged by the pump installer for any corrective work.
NR 812.27(9)
(9) Potable water supplies shall be protected to prevent back-flow, back-siphonage and cross-connections according to the requirements in
s. SPS 382.41.
NR 812.27 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (2), (4) to (6), cr. (8) and (9),
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94; correction in (9) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, September, 1996, No. 489; correction in (9) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2011 No. 672.
NR 812.28
NR 812.28
Pump and supply pipe. Pump discharge and supply piping shall conform to the specifications in
s. NR 812.17 for steel pipe or shall conform to the requirements in the "Pipe and Tubing for water services and private water mains" table in
ch. SPS 384, except that Type M copper pipe may not be installed underground. Pipe used for year-round installations shall be protected from freezing. Lead-based solder for pipe connections may not be used. The department recommends that galvanized pipe not be used when the water quality is known to be corrosive. Limitations on the use of plastic pipe are found in
ch. SPS 384. Plastic pipe may not be used for buried pipe in soils known to be contaminated with volatile organic chemicals. Plastic pipe may be used as drop pipe installed within a well or for discharge piping between the well and the building served, provided it meets
ch. SPS 384 standards and has a minimum pressure rating of 150 pounds per square inch. When plastic pipe extends through the seal of a well with an above-ground discharge, the portion of the plastic pipe extending above-ground from the well shall be protected from the sunlight or the plastic pipe used shall be of the type with inhibitors recommended for use in direct sunlight.
NR 812.28 Note
Note: The department recommends the installation of torque arresters on the drop pipe for submersible pumps.
NR 812.28 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am.
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94; corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, May, 2000, No. 533; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register December 2011 No. 672.
NR 812.29
NR 812.29
Height of finished well. For wells constructed after February 1, 1991, the pump installation shall be completed such that the watertight well casing pipe for all wells, except those located in a floodplain, shall terminate at least 12 inches above the established ground surface, above a pumphouse or building floor or above any concrete or asphalt platform surrounding the well casing. For wells in floodplains, the top of a well shall terminate at least 2 feet above the regional flood elevation. Pits may not be installed in a floodplain. Approval shall be obtained for termination of a well in a pit.
NR 812.29 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91.
NR 812.30
NR 812.30
Vermin-proof well caps and seals.
