San Bernardino County Municipal Code Art. 3 Water Wells

The purpose of this Article is to provide minimum standards for construction, reconstruction, abandonment and destruction of all wells relating to groundwater protection in order to: (a) protect underground water resources, and (b) provide safe water to persons within San Bernardino County. Pursuant to the authority cited in Chapter 1 of this Environmental Health Code (E.H. Code), the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) of the County of San Bernardino shall enforce the provisions of this Article within this jurisdiction.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

(a) 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 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 500 feet 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 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 Article. 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 Article. 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 Article have not been met, it shall deny the application.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

No person or entity shall engage in any activity listed in § 33.0631 of this Article except as provided herein, and where required by State law with a valid license in accordance with the California State Contractor’s License Law (Business and Professions Code Chapter 9, Division 3), 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 Article.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

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 hereby incorporated herein by reference. For cathodic protection wells, the standard shall be those recommended in Chapter 11 of the California Department of Water Resources Bulletin No. 74-1, as amended from time to time and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

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 Use of Lateral Wells in Domestic Water Systems, as may be amended and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

Domestic water well sites shall be inspected and approved by DEHS before any construction activities thereat. Wells serving systems under the direct jurisdiction of the State Department of Health Services may receive site approval from that agency.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

It shall be 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:

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

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. 3105, passed - -1986)

Any person or entity who has drilled, dug, excavated or bored a well subject to this Article shall furnish DEHS a complete log of such well within 30 days after completion of the drilling, digging, excavation or boring of such well, or prior to final inspection of the completed well, whichever occurs first. This log shall include depths of formation, 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 Article.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

(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 thick and with the top being a minimum of four inches above the higher of the ground level or floor level at the well site. The slab shall extend horizontally at least three feet 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 20 feet below the ground surface. For community water supply wells, annular seals shall extend at least 50 feet 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 be extended at least four inches above the finished grade and shall contain a threaded or equivalently secured cap upon 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. 3105, passed - -1986)

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 solution shall remain in the well and upon all relevant surfaces for at least 24 hours. Disinfection procedures shall be repeated until microbiologically safe water is produced, as set forth by Administrative Code Title 22, “Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring.”

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

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 Administrative Code Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15, “Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring.”

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

An inspection shall be requested of DEHS at least 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 a well; immediately after the well destruction;

(d) Any other operation or condition stipulated on the DEHS permit.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

No water from a new, repaired, or reconstructed well shall be used until the well is given a final approval by DEHS.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

If after 30 days of abandonment, the owner of an abandoned well has not declared to DEHS the well for proposed reuse per § 33.0644, then the well shall be destroyed per § 33.0631 of this Article. If any well is found by DEHS to be a hazard, whereby its continued existence is likely to cause damage to groundwater, 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. 3105, passed - -1986)

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 § 33.0643 of this Article 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. 3105, passed - -1986)

It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to violate any provision of this Article. All enforcement procedures, remedies, and penalties of Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of this E.H. Code shall apply to this Article, and are in addition to all others provided by law.

(Ord. 3105, passed - -1986)

§§ 33.646—649 (Reserved).