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. NR 812.30(1)(1)
Requirements and department approval criteria. New wells shall be sealed or covered with an approved weather and vermin-proof compression type well cap or seal installed on or in the top of the well casing pipe. Examples are depicted in figures 23 and 24. All well cap or seal approvals shall be based on materials of construction, method of venting, effectiveness of gasket, ease of removal for inspection of the inside of the well and method of attachment to the well casing pipe. Stud bolts are preferred. The nuts and bolts shall be made of material such that corrosion is minimized. A list of approved models is available from the department.
NR 812.30 Note
Note: Requirements for vermin-proof caps and seals for existing wells are listed in s.
NR 812.42 (8).
NR 812.30(2)
(2) Well seal type. When a sanitary well seal is used to cover the upper well terminal, it shall have a one-piece top plate. A split top plate seal may not be installed unless it is enclosed in a substantial, permanent weather-proof shelter meeting the requirements of
s. NR 812.40.
NR 812.30(3)
(3) Well vent. A screened downward facing well vent or other vent shall be provided for the well cap or seal for all drilled wells except when the well is a flowing well and the well head must be maintained watertight. The well vent pipe or vent opening shall provide at least 0.25 square inches of open area, excluding the area occupied by the material of the screen. Vent pipes extending above the well casing pipe shall terminate in a downward facing bend and shall be screened. Screens shall be made of material not easily corroded and shall be firmly seated in the vent opening. Vent openings incorporated as part of the underside of an approved well cap or seal are allowed.
NR 812.30(4)
(4) Hold-down device. Well caps or seals may not be used as a hold-down device to prevent submersible pump discharge piping from coming off a pitless adapter or unit. A locking clamp or other similar approved device may be used to hold the submersible pump discharge pipe in place.
NR 812.30(5)
(5) Conduit for electrical cable. Pump electrical cable shall be protected in a metal or plastic conduit. The conduit shall be threaded tightly into the well cap or seal or shall be sealed in an equivalent manner. If the electrical wires are buried beside the well, the bottom of the conduit shall extend 3 feet below the ground surface, platform or floor and shall be sealed watertight. If the conduit extends from the well seal to a basement, the end of the conduit shall be sealed in a watertight, vermin-proof manner.
NR 812.30 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (1), (3) and (5),
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94.
NR 812.31
NR 812.31
Pitless adapters and pitless units. Pump installers or persons installing pumps shall use pitless adapters or pitless units approved by the department to make subsurface connections to wells. Nonpressure conduits may not be used, unless a variance is granted by the department.
NR 812.31 Note
Note: In areas especially prone to lightning strikes to wells having submersible pumps, the department will grant variances to the prohibition against nonpressure conduits.
NR 812.31(1)
(1) Department approval criteria. The design criteria on which pitless adapter or pitless unit approvals are based include, but are not limited to, materials of construction, thickness of pipe or tubing, thickness of other component parts, method of fabrication, method of connection and the integrity of the seal to the well casing pipe. The department may require additional standards and tests, including minimum pressure test performance, that the department deems necessary to demonstrate the sanitary integrity of any adapter or unit submitted for department approval. A list of approved models is available from the department. Pitless receiver tanks, factory-assembled pitless units, both short and full length models are depicted in figures 25 to 28.
NR 812.31(2)(a)(a) A pitless subsurface pipe connection to a well casing pipe shall be made with an approved weld-on, clamp-on or bolt-on pitless adapter or an approved factory-assembled pitless unit. Approved weld-on adapters or approved pitless units shall be welded or threaded to the well casing pipe according to
sub. (3) or
(4). All welding shall be performed in accordance with
s. NR 812.18. An approved clamp-on or bolt-on pitless adapter may only be installed for a well that will serve a single family residence. An approved clamp-on or bolt-on adapter may only be installed by a pump installer. It shall be installed according to any approval conditions and according to the manufacturer's instructions.
NR 812.31 Note
Note: The Department will reevaluate the effectiveness of clamp-on and bolt-on adapters over time and may request information from pump installers concerning location of installations, manufacturer's name and model number.
NR 812.31(2)(b)
(b) The inside diameter of a pitless unit may not be smaller than the inside diameter of the well casing pipe. No part of a pitless adapter may extend into the inside of the well casing pipe so that setting or removal of the pump, pump piping or other appurtenances is impeded.
NR 812.31(2)(c)
(c) An above-ground discharge shall be provided for all school and high capacity wells except that an approved pitless unit or an approved weld-on pitless adapter may be installed if the welded or threaded joints are pressure tested for leakage as depicted in figure 29 or by a comparable testing procedure. The adapter or unit joints shall be tested and proven watertight under a pressure of not less than 14 psig. The pressure shall be maintained for at least 30 minutes. The pump installer shall notify the department at least 24 hours before testing, so that a department employee may witness the test.
NR 812.31(2)(d)
(d) An above-ground discharge shall be provided for crystalline (granite) bedrock wells approved for installation of 25 or less feet of well casing pipe. When installing the above-ground discharge, the required neat cement grout surrounding the well casing pipe may not be removed.
NR 812.31(3)
(3) Pitless unit connections to steel well casing pipe. NR 812.31(3)(a)(a) When a well casing pipe is not terminated at the desired depth for the installation of an approved factory assembled pitless unit, the well casing pipe shall be cut off at the desired height, and the pitless unit may be welded or threaded and coupled to the top of the well casing pipe by one of the following methods:
NR 812.31(3)(a)1.
1. Cutting off the well casing pipe squarely, providing a bevel for the top of the well casing pipe and welding the beveled end of the unit to the beveled end of the well casing pipe.
NR 812.31(3)(a)2.
2. Cutting threads on the top of the well casing pipe with a pipe die and threading a full-standard recessed coupling watertight to the threaded end of the unit and to the top of the well casing pipe.
NR 812.31(3)(a)3.
3. Welding a pipe nipple, having threads on one end, beveled on the other end and meeting the requirements of
s. NR 812.17 (2), to the cut off top beveled end of the well casing pipe and threading a full-length standard recessed coupling watertight to the threaded end of the unit and to the nipple. The top of the well casing pipe and the bottom of the pipe nipple to be welded shall both have beveled ends. If the pitless unit has female threads, the unit may be threaded watertight directly to the threaded end of the nipple.
NR 812.31(3)(a)4.
4. Reaming out the threads of a full standard recessed coupling, at least 1/3 the length of the coupling, and welding the coupling to the top of the cut-off well casing pipe with a fillet weld on the inside or the outside contact surface of the coupling.
NR 812.31(3)(b)
(b) When installing an approved factory assembled pitless unit, the following restrictions shall be followed:
NR 812.31(3)(b)1.
1. The threaded lower end of a pitless unit may not be welded to the cut-off end of a well casing pipe.
NR 812.31(3)(b)2.
2. The threaded ends of a short model, factory-assembled pitless unit may not be welded to the top of a cut-off well casing pipe nor to the section of riser pipe extending from the unit to ground grade, except that the unit may be welded to the cut-off well casing pipe and to the riser pipe if the ends of the unit, the well casing pipe, and the riser pipe are cut and beveled according to
par. (a) 1.
NR 812.31(3)(b)3.
3. Factory-assembled pitless units, including those fabricated with pitless receiver tanks, may not be connected to the well casing pipe by means of a compressible joint.
NR 812.31(4)
(4) Pitless unit and pitless adapter connections to thermoplastic well casing pipe. NR 812.31(4)(a)(a) Steel well casing pipe, pitless units or pitless adapters may not be welded after they are attached to thermoplastic well casing pipe. The thermoplastic coupling shall be threaded onto the pitless unit before it is solvent cemented to the top of the thermoplastic well casing pipe. This is depicted in Figure 31.
NR 812.31(4)(b)
(b) Only approved lubricant specifically intended for use with thermoplastic well casing pipe may be used with threaded couplings used for pitless units and pitless adapters. A threaded joint shall be tightened no more than one full turn using a strap wrench.
NR 812.31(4)(c)
(c) Threaded couplings may only be used for installation of pitless units or pitless adapters after placement of the well casing pipe.
NR 812.31(4)(d)
(d) The portion of the well casing pipe above a short length pitless unit shall be steel or thermoplastic well casing pipe meeting the requirements of
s. NR 812.17.
NR 812.31(4)(e)
(e) When thermoplastic well casing pipe is extended above the depth of the buried pump discharge line, the thermoplastic pipe shall be contained in a pumphouse or in an oversized steel pipe extending from below the frost depth to the top of the thermoplastic pipe.
NR 812.31(4)(f)
(f) A permanent tag bearing the message "plastic well casing pipe" shall be attached to the top of the well.
NR 812.31(5)
(5) Pitless receiver tanks. Pitless receiver units shall be approved by the department.
NR 812.31(5)(a)
(a) Steel buried tanks that are part of an approved pitless unit shall have a minimum wall thickness of 1/4-inch and shall have an identifying seal, label or plate showing the manufacturer's name and model number.
NR 812.31(5)(b)
(b) An approval shall be obtained for the installation of a buried pitless receiver tank having a gross volume greater than 1,000 gallons.
NR 812.31 History
History: Cr.
Register, January, 1991, No. 421, eff. 2-1-91; am. (intro.), (1), (2) (a), (b) and (d), (3) (a) 3., (5) (a) and Figure 28, cr. (5) (intro.),
Register, September, 1994, No. 465, eff. 10-1-94.
NR 812.32(1)(a)(a) The installation of pumps shall be planned and carried out so the pump will be:
NR 812.32(1)(a)1.
1. Installed so it and its surroundings are in a sanitary condition;
NR 812.32(1)(a)2.
2. Properly sized so as to provide the volume of water necessary, where obtainable, for an adequate water supply;
NR 812.32(1)(a)3.
3. Designed to meet the well characteristics and not exceed the yield of the well except when the available aquifer is low producing;
NR 812.32(1)(a)5.
5. Installed in such manner as to provide adequate protection against contamination of the water supply from any surface or subsurface sources.
NR 812.32(1)(a)6.
6. Installed in a manner so that it is accessible for maintenance, repair and removal.
NR 812.32(1)(b)
(b) Pump motor lubricant or coolant oil shall be USDA or FDA approved food contact grade formulations.
NR 812.32 Note
Note: Such formulations are usually based on National Formulary, white food grade mineral oil or inhibited propylene glycol with FDA approved components.
NR 812.32(1)(c)
(c) Every pump shall be installed with an above-ground discharge such as depicted in figure 32, an approved subsurface pitless adapter or pitless unit such as depicted in figure 33 or an approved subsurface well casing pipe connection.
NR 812.32(1)(d)
(d) When water is pumped or flows to discharge into a body of water, the end of the discharge pipe shall be extended at least 2 pipe diameters above the highest elevation of the water.
NR 812.32(2)(a)1.1. Buried suction pipes shall be enclosed in a pressurized conduit and the annular space between the 2 pipes shall be maintained under system water pressure at all times provided by a pipe extending from the pump watertight to the conduit.
NR 812.32 Note
Note: In areas especially prone to lightning strikes to wells having submersible pumps, the department will grant variances to the prohibition against nonpressure conduits.
NR 812.32(2)(a)2.
2. When a suction pipe crosses a sewer, the suction pipe shall be laid according to the sewer separation requirements of
s. NR 812.32 (4).
