Calaveras County Municipal Code Art. VI Inactive Wells

A. Reports of completion made in accordance with Section 13751 (b), California Water Code, shall be submitted to the director within thirty days of construction, reconstruction or destruction of any water well or test hole.

B. Reports of completion shall not be made available for inspection by the public, but shall be made available to governmental agencies for use in conducting studies, or to any person who obtains written authorization from the owner of the well. However, any report associated with a well located within two miles of an area affected or potentially affected by a known unauthorized release of a contaminant or pollutant shall be made available to any person conducting an environmental cleanup study associated with the unauthorized release, if the study is conducted under the order of a regulatory agency. Any report released to any person conducting an environmental cleanup study shall not be used for any purpose other than for the purpose of conducting the environmental cleanup study.

C. The well contractor shall submit a report of completion for any well that was drilled but for which well construction was not completed. The report of completion shall clearly explain the reason for any non-completion.

D. The well contractor shall ensure that the information contained in a report of completion is complete, accurate and correct.

E. The report of completion shall document that all work was completed in accordance with standards set fourth in this chapter including any additional permit conditions required by the director.

F. The director may temporarily suspend the issuance of additional well permits to a well contractor, if the well contractor has failed to submit any report of completion that is required pursuant to this chapter within the time period specified for such submission.

G. This section shall not be deemed to release the well contractor, or authorized agent thereof, from the requirement to file a report of completion with the state department of water resources or from compliance with the provisions of California Water Code, Sections 13750.5 through 13755, relating to notices and reports of completion or any other applicable county, state or federal regulation.

(Ord. No. 2946, § 1, 5-6-2008).

A. All inactive wells shall be maintained in such a manner that:

1. The well has no defects that will impair the quality of any water in the well or in any aquifer that is penetrated by the well;

2. The well has a cover that provides a watertight seal and cannot be removed without the use of special equipment or tools;

3. The well is clearly visible and can be readily located;

4. The well can be readily identified as a well; and

5. The area surrounding the well is kept clear of brush, debris and waste materials.

B. The director may declare that a well, that has been inactive for five years, is abandoned and require the well to be properly destroyed.

(Ord. No. 2946, § 1, 5-6-2008).

A. If a well contractor ceases work on a well and abandons the project before the annular seal or the surface seal is installed, the well contractor shall seal the borehole temporarily and notify the director, in writing within fifteen days, of the abandonment and of the reason for the abandonment.

B. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to ensure that work on any uncompleted well, on property belonging to the owner, is completed in a timely manner and in compliance with requirements set forth in this chapter.

C. If a well contractor temporarily ceases work on a well, the well contractor shall ensure that the annual space is not left open any longer than fourteen days following cessation of work on the well.

D. The director may declare that an uncompleted well is abandoned and require the well to be properly destroyed.

E. The director may exercise, as is deemed necessary, any enforcement authority available under applicable provisions of the Civil Code or any county ordinance enacted pursuant to Section 25845 of the Government Code or as set forth in this chapter to ensure that the status of an uncompleted well is resolved.

(Ord. No. 2946, § 1, 5-6-2008).