Water Stewardship

Code of Practice for Construction, Testing, Maintenance, Alteration and Closure of Wells, Province of British Columbia

prepared by
Interim Water Well Drilling Advisory Committee
October 4, 1994

Note: this document is a historical document and has now been replaced by the Ground Water Protection Regulation (GWPR). It is provided here as useful guidelines for those items the GWPR does not yet address (e.g., pump installation) but the GWPR supersedes the guidelines.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PART 1: DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions of Words and Phrases

PART 2: PURPOSE AND APPLICATION

Section 2.1 Purpose
Section 2.2 Application

PART 3: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Section 3.1 Water Supply Wells
Section 3.2 Investigatory, Monitoring and Environmental Wells
Section 3.3 Other Types of Wells
Section 3.4 Exempted Wells
Section 3.5 Variances
Section 3.6 Safety Considerations

PART 4: GENERAL STANDARDS FOR WELL CONSTRUCTION SECTION

Section 4.1 Preamble
Section 4.2 Well Site Locations
Section 4.3 Sanitary Protection of Wells
Section 4.4 Flowing Artesian Conditions
Section 4.5 Well Construction Reports
Section 4.6 Drilling Fluids
Section 4.7 Temporary Capping

PART 5: STANDARDS FOR WELL CASING SELECTION AND INSTALLATION

Section 5.1 General Considerations
Section 5.2 Steel Casing
Section 5.3 Thermoplastic Well Casing
Section 5.4 Casing Diameter
Section 5.5 Casing Seating

PART 6: STANDARDS FOR WELL SCREENS AND ARITIFICAL FILTER PACK CONSTRUCTION

Section 6.1 General Considerations
Section 6.2 Artificial Filter Pack Construction

PART 7: STANDARDS FOR WELL SEALING

Section 7.1 General Considerations

PART 8: STANDARDS FOR WELL DEVELOPMENT AND REHABILITATION

Section 8.1 General Considerations
Section 8.2 Water for Well Development and Rehabilitation
Section 8.3 Acids and Other Chemicals
Section 8.4 Sand and Silt Content

PART 9: STANDARDS FOR WELL TESTING

Section 9.1 General Considerations
Section 9.2 Industrial, Irrigation and Community Supply Wells
Section 9.3 Well Testing Reports

PART 10: STANDARDS FOR WELL DISINFECTION

Section 10.1 General Considerations

PART 11: STANDARDS FOR WATER SAMPLE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Section 11.1 General Considerations

PART 12: STANDARDS FOR PERMANENT WELL, TESTWELL AND TESTHOLE CLOSURE

Section 12.1 General Considerations
Section 12.2 Well Closure Reports

PART 13: STANDARDS FOR WELLHEAD COMPLETION AND PUMP INSTALLATIONS

Section 13.1 General Considerations
Section 13.2 Well Pump Installation Reports

SCHEDULE A: CERTIFICATE OF VARIANCE FORM

SCHEDULE B: WELL CONSTRUCTION REPORT FORM

SCHEDULE C: TEMPORARY GEOTECHNICAL TEST BORINGS AND MONITORING WELLS FORM

SCHEDULE D: WELL TESTING AND WELL PUMP INSTALLATION REPORT FORM

SCHEDULE E: WELL CLOSURE REPORT FORM

INTRODUCTION

The Code of Practice for Construction, Testing, Maintenance, Alteration and Closure of Wells is published by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (now called Ministry of Environment) in support of ground water regulations under the Water Act. The Code has been developed through the work of the Interim Water Well Drilling Advisory Committee whose members reflect the expertise of government agencies involved in ground water management activities and the well drilling industry including well drillers, well pump installers and professional ground water consultants.

Comments and inquiries on the use of the Code and suggestions for improvement are encouraged and should be sent to:

Ground Water Division
Water Protection Section
Ministry of Environment
PO Box 9341 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria B.C. V8W 9M1

E-mail:Groundwater Web WLAP:EX

As Code revisions are developed in response to submissions, the availability of new information and changing technologies, these will be made available for public review and comment before inclusion in any subsequent editions.

REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

The Code of Practice augments and follows the general format of the 1982 Ministry of Environment publication entitled Guidelines for Minimum Standards in Water Well Construction, Province of British Columbia. Where there are any differences between various sections of these documents those outlined in the Code of Practice take precedence.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (now called Ministry of Environment) acknowledges the many individuals who contributed to the preparation of this Code and who reviewed the drafts in the process. Appreciation is extended to the members of the Interim Water Well Drilling Advisory Committee namely:

V. Amirault, Apprenticeship Branch, Ministry of Skills, Training and Labour

B. Ingimundson, Thurber Engineering Ltd.

D. Johanson, A. Kohut, P. Wilkinson, Water Management Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks

E. Livingston, Pacific Hydrology Consultants Ltd.

J. Mankowski Jr., Langley Water Wells

S. Martin, Ministry of Health

R. McNichol, Aqua-Flo Testing & Equipment Ltd., (BCGWA rep.)

K. Slade, Drillwell Enterprises Ltd. (BCGWA rep.) *

W. Soglo, Geotechnical Operations, Ministry of Transportation and Highways

G. Vlchek, Cariboo Water Wells Ltd., (BCGWA rep.) *

* (BCGWA rep.) British Columbia Ground Water Association representative

PART 1: DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions of Words and Phrases

In this Code, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:

altering a well or alteration of a well means modifying, changing, deepening, rehabilitating, cleaning, surging, redeveloping a well and may include redrilling, removal and replacement of screens, casings and sealant materials;

annular space or annulus means the space below the top of the well between two well casings or between the outermost casing and the surrounding materials;

aquifer means a geologic formation, group of formations or portion of a formation that is capable of storing and yielding beneficial amounts of ground water to wells and points of natural discharge such as springs and wetlands;

artesian conditions means conditions where the water level in a well rises above the water-bearing zone where the water was encountered during construction of the well;

Code or Code of Practice means the Code of Practice for Construction, Testing, Maintenance, Alteration and Closure of Wells, Province of British Columbia;

decommissioning a well means the permanent safe closure, removal or complete sealing of a well with sealants or other materials to preclude its use for any current or future purpose;

drilled well means a well excavated by mechanical means utilizing rotary, cable tool or auger, drilling methods;

driller, digger, well driller or drilling contractor means a person, firm or agency which undertakes the construction or altering of a well;

dug well means a large diameter well normally excavated to a shallow depth in unconsolidated materials by means of hand tools, a bucket auger or power shovel;

flowing artesian well means a well in which artesian conditions were encountered during construction and the water level rises above the top of the well and flows at the ground surface;

geotechnical test boring means a well completed primarily for the purpose of obtaining geologic, or geotechnical data about subsurface soil, water and/or rock conditions;

hydrofracturing means injecting water into a bedrock well under high pressure to break and open fractures in the rock to facilitate flow of ground water into the well;

monitoring well means a well designed to obtain representative ground water quality samples and/or to measure the water level over the screened interval or intake point ;

non-flowing artesian well means a well in which artesian conditions were encountered during construction and the water level rises above the top of the water yielding zone but does not reach the top of the well or the ground surface;

observation well means a well designed to obtain ground water level information over an extended period of time;

piezometer means a well designed to measure the hydraulic potential (water level elevation) at a specific point in the subsurface;

professional ground water engineer or professional ground water geologist means a person registered as a professional engineer or professional geoscientist with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia and having demonstrated and specialized training and experience in ground water hydrology, design and construction of water supply wells;

sealant means a non-toxic, commercially available product or mixture of products such as: bentonite clay, bentonite clay and water mixtures, bentonite clay, sand and water mixtures, neat cement grout, sand cement grout or concrete grout, that when set in place has a very low permeability;

temporary geotechnical test borings or temporary monitoring wells means wells of such purpose that are constructed and utilized for a period of less than one year and then abandoned;

water supply well means a well intended for or used for water supply purposes where the water is being used or may be used for human consumption, irrigation, food processing, livestock production, aquaculture and industrial supply purposes;

well means an excavation or conduit in the ground and includes any casing, screens, cap, valves, grout liners and seals, pertaining to that excavation or conduit;

well closure report means a written record of the measures taken in decommissioning a well;

well construction report means a written record of the drilling, construction and altering of a well;

well testing report means a written record of the results of any testing of the pumping capacity of a well;

well pump installation report means a written record of the type, specifications and setting of a well pump installed in a well.

PART 2: PURPOSE AND APPLICATION

2.1 Purpose

This Code of Practice outlines the minimum standards required under the Water Act for the construction, testing, maintenance , alteration and closure of wells in the Province to safeguard the integrity of ground water and water supplies from wells, to insure efficient use of ground water and to insure these activities are undertaken in an environmentally safe manner which precludes ground water contamination and protects human health and safety.

2.2 Application

The Code of Practice applies to all wells constructed in the province as defined in the Water Act and includes for example; dug wells, drilled wells, auger holes, elevator shafts, geotechnical test borings, monitor wells, and piezometers. The Code has been prepared for well owners, owners of land upon which wells are situated, persons and communities using ground water and wells for various purposes, well drillers and other persons or agencies engaged in or supervising well drilling, construction, testing, maintaining, altering and closing wells in the Province of British Columbia.

PART 3: GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Water Supply Wells

Unless otherwise specified, all sections of the Code of Practice apply to water supply wells.

3.2 Investigatory and Monitoring Wells

Certain provisions of the Code of Practice apply specifically to wells constructed for investigatory purposes and ground water monitoring including; geotechnical test borings, monitor wells, observation wells, piezometers and testholes. These provisions are specified in appropriate sections of the Code of Practice where they exist.

3.3 Other Types of Wells

Wells constructed for waste injection purposes, ground water remediation, ground water recharge, landfill gas extraction, heat pump applications and monitoring in zones of ground water contamination may need additional and more stringent requirements not specified in these standards.

3.4 Exempted Wells

The Code of Practice does not apply to wells made to obtain or explore for petroleum, natural gas, minerals, geothermal resources, products of mining or quarrying, or for injecting natural gas, air, water or any substance to produce petroleum or natural gas or for investigating subsurface storage potential for petroleum, natural gas or other products.

3.5 Variances

In situations where variations in local geologic and ground water conditions or unforeseen circumstances during construction, altering, testing or decommissioning of a well precludes compliance with any aspect of the Code of Practice, an Application for a Certificate of Variance as outlined in Schedule A shall be submitted to the nearest Water Management office outlining the nature and reasons for any non-compliance.

3.6 Safety Considerations

Under the Occupational First Aid Regulations of the Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia, Well Digging or Drilling are activities listed as a Class"A" Hazard. Certain specified First Aid Requirements with regard to training, supplies, equipment and transportation for injured workers may apply at any particular worksite depending upon the number of workers involved. Persons undertaking well construction must be aware of the potential hazards when working with heavy equipment and must take appropriate safety precautions.

PART 4: GENERAL STANDARDS FOR WELL CONSTRUCTION

4.1 Preamble

Appropriate construction methods shall be utilized for the particular type of well to be constructed taking into consideration the purpose of the well, planned depth and where known, the geologic setting, nature of materials to be penetrated, and characteristics of the water-bearing zones to be encountered.

4.2 Well Site Locations

The site of a proposed water supply well shall not be:

(a) within a horizontal distance of 3 metres (10 feet) of an existing building; and

(b) within a horizontal distance of 30 metres (100 feet) of any probable source of contamination or point of waste discharge to the ground, such as a privy vault, cesspool, septic effluent field, manure heap, stable or pigsty and;

(c) within a horizontal distance of 120 metres (400 feet) of any cemetery or dumping ground;

unless sufficient evidence is provided by a professional ground water engineer or professional ground water geologist that the geologic and hydrologic conditions and well construction design and construction will preclude the movement of any contaminants to the well intake and where any Application for a Certificate of Variance under consideration is approved by the Ministry of Health.

4.3 Sanitary Protection of Wells

(a) All wells shall be completed in a manner which will preclude the inadvertent movement of any fluid directly into the top opening of the well or entering the well through an annular space along the outside of the well casing. Where an annular space exists between the outside well casing and the surrounding materials at or below the ground surface the annular space shall be filled with an appropriate and effective sealant.

(b) All dug wells shall be completed with an appropriate and effective sealant of a minimum thickness of 10 cm around the well casing from ground surface to a depth of 1.0 metres. Only clean uncontaminated natural materials shall be used as backfill around the well casing.

(c) Where contamination exists or there is a possibility of contamination, all water supply wells drilled into bedrock, clay, hardpan or other relatively stable unconsolidated material shall be completed with an appropriate sealant which extends from surface through these formations and in the case of a bedrock well, extending 1.0 metres into competent bedrock.

4.4 Flowing Artesian Conditions

(a) Before commencing the drilling of any well, the drilling contractor or driller shall determine whether the area in which he/she proposes to drill has a history of flowing wells or artesian conditions or there is a possibility that flowing artesian conditions are likely to be encountered. Unless the driller has first hand-experience in the area, that person shall enquire about the possibility of flowing artesian conditions by contacting the nearest Water Management office.

(b) Where a well is to be drilled in an area that has a history of flowing wells, the driller shall notify the owner of the planned well and the owner of the property on which the well is to be constructed of the potential hazards and it shall be assumed that the well being drilled has the potential of being a flowing well and it shall be drilled in such a manner so as to enable the driller to stop any flow of water that might occur from a flowing well. Notwithstanding (a) above, the driller shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent any well from flowing out of control.

(c) No uncased holes shall be drilled in a known area of flowing artesian conditions. Under expected flowing artesian conditions, a well or other drill hole shall be started with a surface casing, seated by appropriate means into the confining layer above the artesian aquifer so as to prevent uncontrolled flow at surface or below surface from taking place around the well casing into an aquifer overlying the confining layer.

(d) Where a drill hole encounters unexpected flowing artesian conditions, the driller, or another qualified driller, shall take control of the site and equipment shall not be removed from the site until the artesian flow is controlled. The driller shall advise the owner of the well and land owner and contact the nearest Water Management office at the earliest instance to report the situation and plans to control the flow. Immediate action shall be taken to prevent flow becoming uncontrolled or, in the event that flow is already out of control, the driller shall bring the flowing well under control by any means necessary. Where uncontrolled flow occurs in an uncased drill hole, drill pipe (rods, augers) shall be left in the hole so that the exact location of the hole in the confining layer is known.

(e) Where a flowing artesian well (or other hole) has been brought under control and the flow has been shut in, the condition at the well head shall be observed for at least two days by the driller in order to detect any leakage outside the casing or between casings. Such leakage shall be stopped by the driller taking appropriate action.

(f) All completed flowing wells shall be equipped with a device to completely control the flow of water from the well. After the installation of the control device, the driller shall stop the flow of water by the closing of the control valve and shall ensure that no water escapes up the annulus between the casing and the borehole. If water does escape, the annulus should be effectively sealed. The driller shall determine the shut-in pressure by an appropriate method and record the measurement on the well construction report.

(g) The owner of a flowing well shall ensure that the well is at all times fitted with a locked and protected control device and the well shall not be allowed to flow in excess of the requirements of the well owner and any authorized amount under licence.

(h) Where flowing artesian conditions have been encountered in an area and where such conditions have not previously been known, they shall be reported at the earliest instance to the nearest Water Management office with details of the well construction and a description of the control measures which have been taken.

(i) Where a flowing well is completed in a region of the province where extreme conditions of cold may prevail, the wellhead shall be covered, insulated and heated where necessary to prevent freezing and damage of the flow control device which could lead to an uncontrolled flow situation.

4.5 Well Construction Reports

(a) The driller or owner of any well shall complete a well construction report for any well that is constructed, altered or rehabilitated. The well construction report shall contain the following minimum information:

date construction, alteration or rehabilitation was completed;
type of work conducted;
purpose of well;
name and address of the owner of the well;
legal description and PID (parcel identifier) of the property on which the well is located;
location of the well on the property with sketch;
well identification number where available;
method of construction, alteration or rehabilitation;
description, depth and thickness of geologic materials encountered during construction or alteration;
depth and diameter of the well;
type of casing materials used;
type and location of intake or screen opening;
location of major water-bearing zones;
estimated yields of water-bearing zones;
presence of any poor quality water or gas encountered;
results of any hydrofracturing undertaken;
indication of the quality of any water encountered and presence of any non-potable water encountered;
location and thickness of any sealant placed in or around the well;
name, address and signature of person completing the work;
distance to the nearest potential source of contamination.

(b) The well driller shall provide the well owner with a legible copy of the well construction report and the original well construction reports of all wells with the exception of temporary geotechnical test borings and temporary monitoring wells shall be submitted by the driller to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management within 90 days after the well is constructed or altered.

(c) Well construction reports shall be submitted in the written format as shown in Schedule B or an equivalent digital format acceptable to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management.

(d) A listing, as per Schedule C, of all temporary geotechnical test borings and temporary monitoring wells, completed in any one year shall be submitted by the person firm or agency undertaking the drilling to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management within 90 days of the end of the calendar year including information on:

name and address of person, firm or agency undertaking the drilling;
purpose of drilling;
the depth of each test boring or monitor well;
legal description and PID of the property on which the test boring or monitor well is located or location by latitude and longitude (2 second accuracy).

4.6 Drilling Fluids

(a) Only fresh non-polluted or fresh disinfected water shall be used for all drilling fluid preparations. Drilling fluids shall comply with industry standards and practices and shall be applied and used as recommended by the manufacturer. No toxic or hazardous substances are to be added to the drilling fluid at any time. The quality of the drilling fluid shall be maintained by the driller to prevent contamination of all water-bearing and potential water-bearing formations in the bore hole.

(b) All water used in construction of a water supply well shall contain a minimum 50 ppm (mg/L) chlorine.

(c) All lubricants used on drill pipe, bits, casings or other downhole applications shall be free of any toxic or harmful contaminants.

4.7 Temporary Capping

All wells that will not be placed immediately in service or which will be left uncompleted for any period or which will be removed from service temporarily, shall be capped by the owner of the well with a heavy gauge, unpriable, vented and welded, locked cap or cover.

PART 5: STANDARDS FOR WELL CASING SELECTION AND INSTALLATION

5.1 General Considerations

(a) All well casings shall be of new material or like new condition.

(b) Casing shall be of sufficient strength and composition to resist pressure exerted by the surrounding materials and other forces imposed during installation, and to resist rapid corrosion by soil and water environments.

(c) Casing thickness shall be selected in accordance with good design practice and experience as applied to conditions found at the well site.

(d) All casing that is driven shall be of steel material.

(e) All joints in all casings shall be water-tight.

(f) Joints in steel casing shall be welded or screwed couple joints and shall have the same structural integrity as the casing itself.

(g) Welded joints shall be at least as thick as the wall thickness of the well casing and be fully penetrating.

(h) Only thermoplastic casing that is approved for use in the delivery of potable water shall be used in the construction of water supply wells.

5.2 Steel Casing

The minimum wall thickness for steel casing for various diameters for use in water supply wells shall be no less than those shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Minimum Wall Thicknesses for Steel Casing for Use in Water Supply Wells

Casing Size		Outside Diameter		Wall Thickness
Inches	mm	Inches	mm	Inches	mm
1.5	38	1.900	48	0.109	2.8
2	51	2.375	60	0.109	2.8
2.5	64	2.875	73	0.120	3.0
3	76	3.500	89	0.125	3.2
4	102	4.500	114	0.188	4.8
6	152	6.625	168	0.188	4.8
8	203	8.625	219	0.250	6.4
10	254	10.750	273	0.250	6.4
12	306	12.750	324	0.250	6.4
14	356	14.000	356	0.312	7.9
16	406	16.000	406	0.344	8.7
18	457	18.000	457	0.375	9.5
20	508	20.000	508	0.375	9.5
Over 20				0.375	9.5

5.3 Thermoplastic Well Casing

The minimum wall thickness for thermoplastic casing for various diameters for use in water supply wells shall be no less than those shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Minimum Wall Thicknesses for Thermoplastic Casing for Use in Water Supply Wells

Casing Size		Outside Diameter		Wall Thickness
Inches	mm	Inches	mm	Inches	mm
4.5	114	4.950	126	0.248	6.3
5	127	5.563	141	0.214	5.4
6	152	6.625	168	0.255	6.5
8	203	8.625	219	0.332	8.4
10	254	10.750	273	0.365	9.3
12	305	12.750	324	0.406	10.3

5.4 Casing Diameter

(a) The selected diameter of a well shall be adequate to accommodate the anticipated size of pump necessary to meet the supply demand and maximize efficiency of the pumping unit and the expected pump life.

(b) The minimum inside diameter for water supply wells that are drilled shall not be less than 4.5 inches (11.43 cm).

5.5 Casing Seating

In cases where the bedrock contact is less than 18 feet from the surface and there exists or there is a possibility of contamination of the well or underlying aquifers, the use of a single unsealed casing is not permitted. In such cases an adequate seal shall be obtained by utilizing a temporary oversized surface casing which is at least 2 inches greater diameter than the permanent well casing and completed to a minimum depth of 3 feet (1 metre) into competent bedrock. Prior to or upon completion of the open hole drilling, a permanent casing shall be sealed into the bedrock by the driller with an appropriate and effective sealant set from the bottom of the oversized hole to the surface of the bedrock. The annular space between the permanent casing and the surrounding materials shall be filled with an appropriate sealant from the bedrock surface to the ground surface or level of the pitless adapter where utilized, while the temporary casing is withdrawn.

PART 6: STANDARDS FOR WELL SCREENS AND ARTIFICIAL FILTER PACK CONSTRUCTION

6.1 General Considerations

All water supply wells drilled into loose unconsolidated formations and unstable bedrock formations shall be completed by the driller in a manner which does not result in the well producing significant amounts of sand or silt during pumping or which would result in infilling of the well. Properly designed and manufactured well screens shall be utilized for all major water supply wells which are drilled.

6.2 Artificial Filter Pack Construction

Artificial filter packs shall consist of clean and washed natural materials such as silica sand, sand, or pea gravel. Selected materials shall be adequately sized and graded to form an effective filter that promotes well efficiency and precludes any significant production of sand during pumping.

PART 7: STANDARDS FOR WELL SEALING

7.1 General Considerations

(a) Upon construction all wells shall be completed and effectively sealed by the driller with appropriate sealant materials to:

prevent undesirable and non-potable water entering the well from the surface or a subsurface zone;
prevent contamination of the well or any aquifers penetrated by the well;
prevent the movement of water between aquifers penetrated by the well;
protect well casings from corrosive water;
prevent the sealant being washed away under flowing or non-flowing artesian condition.

(b) Appropriate sealant materials shall consist of non-toxic, commercially available products.

PART 8: STANDARDS FOR WELL DEVELOPMENT AND REHABILITATION

8.1 General Considerations

All water supply wells shall be developed and rehabilitated in a manner which will enhance the efficiency of the well, optimize well performance and minimize any production of sand during operation.

8.2 Water for Well Development and Rehabilitation

(a) Only fresh non-polluted or fresh disinfected water shall be introduced into a well for well development or rehabilitation including hydrofracturing . The quality of any water introduced during development or rehabilitation shall be maintained to prevent any contamination of the well and aquifer.

(b) All water used in development and rehabilitation shall contain a minimum 50 ppm (mg/L) chlorine.

8.3 Acids or Other Chemicals

(a) All acids or other chemicals used during development or rehabilitation of a well shall comply with industry standards for use and practice and shall be applied and used as recommended by the manufacturer.

(b) Where any acids or other chemicals have been used in a well, the well shall be pumped for a sufficient length of time to ensure that all traces of the acids or other chemicals are dissipated.

8.4 Sand and Silt Content

Sand and silt content of any water produced from newly constructed wells used for water supply shall not exceed concentrations which could :

(a) preclude the use of the water for its intended purpose;

(b) cause damage to the well or collapse of ground around the well;

(c) cause significant damage or premature wear to associated pumps and distribution systems.

PART 9: STANDARDS FOR WELL TESTING

9.1 General Considerations

(a) Upon completion of drilling and well construction, the capacity of a completed water supply well shall be estimated by the driller using a suitable method, depending upon the drilling equipment at the site. A test by the driller or digger of the well is not required where there is assurance that the well is soon to be tested by a well testing contractor.

(b) The minimum length of a well test shall be one hour including time for recovery.

static water level or rate of artesian flow;
time of start of test;
time of stop of test;
estimated rate or measured rate of water production;
water levels during production where possible;
water levels during water level recovery;
time of each observation;
method of water production (pumping, bailing, air-lifting, syphon).

(d) Data and results on the testing shall be entered on or attached to the well construction report and submitted in accordance with Section 4.5b.

9.2 Industrial, Irrigation and Community Supply Wells

In addition to the minimum testing requirements outlined in Section 9.1 all larger capacity water supply wells shall be tested upon completion or shortly thereafter by the well owner, at a steady pumping rate appropriate for the expected demand and for a sufficient length of time to establish a dependable estimate of the capacity of the well.

9.3 Well Testing Reports

(a) Where a water supply well is tested in excess of the requirements as outlined in Section 9.1 the person, firm or agency undertaking the testing shall complete a well testing report containing the following minimum information:

name and address of the owner of the well;
legal description and PID (parcel identifier) of the property on which the well is located;
location of the well on the property;
well identification number where available;
depth and diameter of the well;
static water level or rate of artesian flow at start of test;
date of test;
time of start of test;
time of stop of test;
rate of flow during test;
water levels during test;
water levels during water level recovery;
time of each observation;
observations of water levels in any nearby wells which can be used as observation wells;
method of water production (pumping, air-lifting, syphon);
pump setting during test;
type and model of pump;
name, address and signature of person completing the work.

(b) The owner of the well shall retain a legible copy of the well testing report and the original of the well testing report shall be submitted by the person, firm or agency undertaking the testing to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management within 90 days after the well is tested.

(c) Well testing reports shall be submitted in the written format as shown in Schedule D or an equivalent digital format acceptable to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management.

PART 10: STANDARDS FOR WELL DISINFECTION

10.1 General Considerations

(a) All water supply wells shall be disinfected by the drilling contractor following completion.

(b) Following Following installation of any temporary or permanent pump and fittings, the person installing the pump and fittings shall disinfect the well.

(c) Disinfection of the well shall be done by maintaining a minimum chlorine concentration of 100 ppm (mg/L) in the well with displacement into the formation for a minimum contact time of 3 hours.

PART 11: STANDARDS FOR WATER SAMPLE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

11.1 General Considerations

(a) Following construction, the water quality of all water supply wells shall be tested by the owner of the well to determine the suitability of the quality for the intended use.

water supply wells intended for human consumption shall be tested for both bacteriological and chemical quality;
bacteriological samples shall be taken after disinfection of the well has been completed and chlorine residual has been removed from the well.

PART 12: STANDARDS FOR PERMANENT WELL, TESTWELL AND TESTHOLE CLOSURE

12.1 General Considerations

(a) Any well that is to be permanently abandoned immediately after construction or at a later date shall be completely filled in such a manner to preclude any vertical movement of water within the well bore or within the annular space surrounding the well casing.

any well in which the casing, screens and liner are being removed, shall be flushed clean and filled with an appropriate sealant and clean fill materials to prevent any future contamination;
where poor water quality water is encountered, contamination exists or there is a possibility of contamination, any well in which casings, screens and liner cannot be removed or are to be left in place shall be perforated or ripped and grouted under pressure with an appropriate and effective sealant;
artesian wells must be effectively and permanently sealed in the confining stratum above the aquifer with an appropriate sealant to prevent any subsurface leakage. The remainder of the borehole shall be filled in accordance with (i) and (ii) above;
both geotechnical test borings and monitoring holes abandoned in consolidated and unconsolidated formations shall be treated in a site specific manner. Method of abandonment and choice of sealing and backfill materials shall be determined by the driller only after carefully considering borehole conditions and any immediate or future possibility of vertical movement of water and/or contaminant within the borehole.

12.2 Well Closure Reports

(a) Following the abandonment of a well, a well closure report shall be completed by the person, firm or agency undertaking the closure of the well. The well closure report shall contain the following minimum information:

name and address of the owner of the well;
legal description and PID (parcel identifier) of the property on which the well is located;
location of the well on the property;
reason for abandonment;
well identification number where available;
attached copy of well construction report where available;
depth and diameter of the well;
type of well (e.g. dug, drilled, sand point)
type of well casing or liner;
method of abandonment;
details of abandonment showing placement and amounts of sealants and fill material;
name, address and signature of person completing the work.

(b) The well owner shall retain a legible copy of the well closure report and the original well closure reports for all wells with the exception of temporary geotechnical test borings and temporary monitoring wells shall be submitted by the person, firm or agency undertaking the well closure to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management within 90 days of the well being closed .

(c) Well closure reports shall be submitted in the written format as shown in Schedule E or an equivalent digital format acceptable to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management.

PART 13: STANDARDS FOR WELLHEAD COMPLETION AND PUMP INSTALLATIONS

13.1 General Considerations

(a) Well casings for wells in use shall not be cut off below ground unless the well is completed with a pitless adapter or the well head is enclosed in a waterproof and drained pit and fitted with an enclosing cover.

(b) The well head shall be finished in a manner that ensures that all water drains away from the well head and not into the well.

(c) Thermoplastic casing shall be protected at the ground surface by a steel surface casing firmly anchored into the ground to prevent any damage to the plastic casing.

(d) All wells shall be fixed with a permanent and vented cap to prevent the entry of any contaminant or other undesirable material and not pose a safety hazard to any persons, livestock or wildlife.

(e) All pumping equipment shall be installed so that:

the pump, well and its surroundings can be maintained in a sanitary condition;
the pump is not placed in an unsupported open hole subject to caving conditions;
all pump installations which involve below surface wellhead works shall include waterproof pitless adapters or waterproof pits;
following pump installation, the well shall be disinfected in accordance with Section 10.1c.

13.2 Well Pump Installation Reports

(a) Following the installation of any temporary or permanent well pump in a water supply well, a well pump installation report shall be completed by the person, firm or agency installing the pump. The well pump installation report shall include the following minimum information:

name and address of the owner of the well;
legal description and PID (parcel identifier) of the property on which the well is located;
location of the well on the property;
well identification number were available;
depth and diameter of the well;
date of installation of pump;
type and model of pump;
pump setting;
name, address and signature of person completing the work.

(b) The well owner shall retain a legible copy of the well pump installation report and the original of well pump installation reports for all water supply wells shall be submitted by the person, firm or agency undertaking the installation to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management within 90 days of the well pump being installed.

(c) Well pump installation reports shall be submitted in the written format as shown in Schedule D or an equivalent digital format acceptable to the Victoria headquarters office of Water Management.