Redlands Municipal Code Ch. 13.42 Well Drilling

The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards for construction, reconstruction, abandonment and destruction of all wells relating to ground water protection in order to protect underground water resources, and to provide safe drinking water. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

A. Required: No person or entity, as principal agent or employee, shall dig, drill, bore, drive, reconstruct or destroy: 1) a well that is or has been used to produce or inject water; 2) a cathodic protection well; 3) an observation well; or 4) an exploration well; without first filing a written application to do so with the department of health services (DEHS), receiving, and retaining a valid permit as provided herein.

B. Application For Permit: Applications for permits shall be submitted to DEHS and shall include the following:

1. A plot plan showing the location for the well with respect to the following items within a radius of five hundred feet (500') from the well:

a. Property lines, location and ownership of all parcels and easements,

b. Sewage or waste disposal systems or works for carrying or containing sewage or waste,

c. All intermittent or perennial, natural or artificial bodies of water or watercourses,

d. The approximate drainage pattern of the property,

e. Other wells, including abandoned wells,

f. Access road(s) to well site;

2. Location of the subject property, legal description, assessor's parcel number and street address;

3. The contractor's name and state license classification/number constructing the well;

4. The proposed or probable depth of the well;

5. The proposed minimum depths and types of casing and probable minimum depth of perforations to be used if such data can be reasonably projected;

6. The proposed use of the well;

7. Where the proposed work is a reconstruction or destruction of a well, the following, if available: total depth, depth and type of casing used, depth of perforations, well log, and any other pertinent information available;

8. Description of proposed method of reconstruction or destruction of well;

9. Location and classification of any past or present solid, liquid, or hazardous waste disposal sites within two (2) miles of the proposed well;

10. Other information as may be reasonably necessary for DEHS to determine if the underground waters will be adequately protected.

C. Conditions Of Approval: Permits shall be issued after compliance with the standards provided in this chapter. Plans shall be submitted to DEHS demonstrating compliance with such standards. Permits may include conditions and requirements found by DEHS to be reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. Completion bonds, contractor's bonds, cash deposits, or other adequate security may be required to ensure all projects are performed completely and properly to protect the public's health and safety and the integrity of underground water resources.

D. Denial: Where DEHS determines that the standards of this chapter have not been met, it shall deny the application. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

No person or entity shall engage in any activity listed in section 13.42.020 of this chapter except as provided herein, and where required by state law with a valid license in accordance with the California state contractor's license law (chapter 9, division 3 of the Business and Professions Code), as appropriate to the activity to be engaged in. Such person or entity shall register with DEHS prior to commencing any activity regulated by this chapter. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

Standards for the construction, reconstruction, destruction or abandonment of wells shall be the standards recommended in the "California Department Of Water Resources Bulletin No. 74-81", chapter II, as may be amended by the state from time to time and is incorporated herein by reference. For cathodic protection wells, the standard shall be those recommended in chapter II of the "California Department Of Water Resources Bulletin No. 74-1", as amended from time to time and is incorporated herein by reference. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

The location, design and monitoring of lateral wells shall be in accordance with the standards recommended in the state of California, state department of health, water sanitation section publication "Requirements For The Use Of Lateral Wells In Domestic Water Systems", as may be amended and is incorporated herein by reference. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

Domestic water well sites shall be inspected and approved by DEHS before any construction activities thereat. Wells serving systems under direct jurisdiction of the state department of health services may receive site approval from that agency. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

A. It is unlawful for any person or entity to drill, dig, excavate or bore any water well at any location where sources of pollution or contamination are known to exist, existed, or otherwise substantial risk exists that water from that location may become contaminated or polluted even though the well may be properly constructed and maintained. Every well shall be located an adequate distance from all potential sources of contamination and pollution as follows:

• 1. Sewers, watertight septic tank, or pit privy, fifty foot (50') minimum;
• 2. Subsurface sewage leach lines or leach fields, one hundred foot (100') minimum;
• 3. Cesspool or seepage pit, one hundred fifty feet (150') minimum;
• 4. Animal or fowl confined, one hundred feet (100') minimum;

5. Any subsurface sewage disposal system discharging five thousand (5,000) gallons per day or more, two hundred feet (200') minimum;

6. Minimum distances from other sources of pollution or contamination shall be determined by DEHS upon investigation and analyses of the probable risks involved.

B. Where particularly adverse or special hazards are involved, the foregoing distances shall be increased or special approved means of protection, particularly in the construction of the well, shall be provided as determined by DEHS. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

Any person or entity who has drilled, dug, excavated or bored a well subject to this chapter shall within thirty (30) days after completion of the drilling, digging, excavation or boring of such well, furnish DEHS a complete log of such well. This log shall include depths of formations, character, size distribution, color for all lithological units penetrated, as well as the type of casing, the depth of the well, the number and location of the perforations in the casing and any other data required by DEHS. Where insufficient subsurface information is available from other reliable sources as to certain formations, DEHS may require inspection of the well log during any phase of the well's construction and may require modifications of the remaining planned work to achieve the purposes of this chapter. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

A. Water Well Surface And Annular Sealing: All water wells hereafter drilled, dug, excavated or bored shall be provided with: a watertight reinforced concrete slab at least six inches (6") thick and with the top being a minimum of four inches (4") above the higher of the ground level or floor level at the well site. The slab shall extend horizontally at least three feet (3') from the center of the well casing in all directions and be adequately sloped to drain surface water away from the well casing. Annular seals for agricultural and individual domestic wells shall extend at least twenty feet (20') below the ground surface. For community water supply wells, annular seals shall extend at least fifty feet (50') below the ground surface.

B. Sample Spigot: A sample spigot shall be provided on the pump discharge line of any water well used as a public water supply adjacent to the pump and on the distribution side of the check valve.

C. Check Valve: A check valve shall be provided on the pump discharge line adjacent to the pump for all water wells.

D. Water Well Disinfection Pipe: All community water supply wells and individual domestic wells shall be provided with a pipe or other effective means through which chlorine or other approved disinfecting agents may be introduced directly into the well. The pipe shall extend at least four inches (4") above the finished grade and shall contain a threaded or equivalently secured cap on it.

E. Water Well Master Meter: A master meter or other suitable measuring device shall be located at each source facility and shall accurately register the quantity of water delivered to the distribution system from all community water supply wells serving a public water supply system.

F. Air Relief Vent: An air relief vent, if used, shall terminate downward, be screened, and otherwise be protected from contaminating material entering. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

Every new, repaired or reconstructed community water supply well or individual domestic well, after completion of construction, repair or reconstruction, and before being placed in service, shall be thoroughly cleaned of all foreign substances. The well gravel used in gravel packed wells, pipes, pump, pump column, and all well water contact equipment surfaces shall be disinfected by a DEHS approved method. Such violation shall remain in the well and upon all relevant surfaces for at least twenty four (24) hours. Disinfection procedures shall be repeated until microbiologically safe water is produced, as set forth by California Administrative Code, title 22, "Domestic Water Quality And Monitoring". (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

Water from all new, repaired, and reconstructed community water supply wells shall be tested for, and meet standards for, microbiological, chemical, physical, and radiological quality in accordance with California Administrative Code, title 22, "Domestic Water Quality And Monitoring". (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

An inspection shall be requested of DEHS at least twenty four (24) hours in advance of:

A. The filling of the annular space or conductor casing. Upon failure to notify DEHS, approved geophysical tests including sonic log and gamma ray log tests shall be conducted at the owner's expense to substantiate that an annular seal has been properly installed;

B. After installation of the surface protective slab, pumping, and other required equipment;

C. Immediately before and during the destruction of the well; immediately after the well destruction;

D. Any other operation or condition stipulated on the DEHS permit. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

No water from new, repaired or reconstructed well shall be used until the well is given a final approval by DEHS. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

If after thirty (30) days of abandonment, the owner of an abandoned well has not declared to DEHS the well for proposed reuse per section 13.42.150 of this chapter, then the well shall be destroyed per section 13.42.020 of this chapter. If any well is found by DEHS to be a hazard, whereby its continued existence is likely to cause damage to the ground water, or to the public health and safety, DEHS shall direct the owner to destroy the well within a stated period. At the time of removal of a pump, the casing shall be provided with an adequate cap at the surface and shall be maintained so that it will not be a hazard to health or safety until such time that the abandoned well is properly sealed from the bottom to the top. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

Where a well is unused or its disuse is anticipated, the owner may apply to DEHS in writing stating an intention to use the well again for its original or other approved purpose. DEHS shall review such a declaration and may grant an exemption from certain of the provisions of section 13.42.140 of this chapter, provided no undue hazard to public health or safety is created by the continued existence of the well. Thereafter, an amended declaration shall be filed annually with DEHS. The original or subsequent exemption may be terminated for cause by DEHS at any time. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)

It is unlawful for any person or entity to violate any provision of this chapter. (Ord. 2110 § 1, 1990)