HAR §11-23-09. Siting and pre-construction requirements

(a) Any new injection well, other than subclass D injection wells, shall be sited beyond an area which extends at least one-quarter mile from any part of a drinking water source. This inc:ludes not only the sur-face expression of the water supply well, tunnel or spring, but also all portions of the subsurface collection system which may extend laterally, either at right or inclined angles to the ground surface. The area of protection shall be delineated by a reasonably smooth curve drawn to connect the points extending one-quarter mile beyond the most extensive portions of the drinking water source and its collection system. (b) Where the surface expression of an existing drinking water source drawing from an artesian aquifer is located in an exempted caprock aquifer, a new injection well, other than a subclass D injection well, shall be located, in addition to subsection (a) of this section, outside an area measuring one-half mile wide, which is bisected by a line running hydrologically upgradient from the surface expression of the drinking water source to the UIC boundary line. This condition also applies to any future drinking water source which may be sited in an exempted aquifer. (c) For a proposed injection well which is sited mauka of the UIC boundary line, in addition to meeting the minimum distance requirement in subsection (a) of this section, the department shall require the applicant to submit water quality data representative of local conditions as part of the application. Where water quality data is lack_ing or insufficient to determine the areal water quality, the deP.artment may require the applicant to collect representative water samples from the injection well during construction. The samples shall be collected and analyzed, in accordance with standards and methods established in chapter 11-20, entitled "Rules Relating To Potable Water Systems". The parameters for which values shall be identified are, at least, the following: (1) Chloride concentration, (2) Total dissolved solids (TDS), and (3) Coliform - Total; if found, then fecal and streptococcus determinations. (d) The variety of injection wells and their uses dictate a variety of construction designs consistent with those uses, and precludes specific construction standards for each type of injection well outlined in this chapter. However, an injection well shall be designed for its intended use, in accordance with good engineering practices as recommended by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply's "Water System Standards", dated March, 1977. 23-11 Sll-23-09 (e) Vertical migration resulting in undesirable mixing of fluids from aquifers of substantially different water quality (due to improper well construction or use of an injection well) shall be prevented by preserving the integrity of the confining zone or zones by grouting or some other method acceptable to the department. (f) If a large void, such as a lava tube or solution cavity, is encountered during drilling, where the drill rod drops more than three feet, measures shall be taken to prevent unacceptable migration of the injected fluids. The owner shall either verify that the void does not slope inland or construct the well in such a manner that wastes are not injected directly into the void. For the first option, a test boring which verifies the void's inclination inland of the wellsite shall be drilled. For the second option, the section of the well casing which passes through the void shall be without openings. Either the perforated casing shall be replaced with solid casing, or the holes in the casing shall be sealed by grouting or in some other manner approved by the department. The owner shall notify the department to arrange discussion and approval of any corrective actions. Scheduling of the procedures shall be arranged so that the departmental staff may observe the remedial operations. The final responsibility for remedial design, implementation and performance shall rest with the consulting engineer. (g) Departmental staff shall have the right to enter property during normal working hours, without advance notification, for the purpose of observing injection well construct.ion methods ancl progress. . [Eff. _7/6/84; . am and • comp NOV 12 :Jg2 J (Auth: HRS S340E-2) (Imp: HRS SS340E-2 and 340E-9, 40 CFR SS144.12, 144.51 and 146.6) Sll-23-10 Provision for artesian aquifer protection. ( a) Where an injection well is located in a caprock formation which overlies volcanic USDW under artesian pressure, the following conditions shall be applied: (l) A buffer zone of at least fifty feet of the confining materials (caprock) or other impermeable substance, shall remain between the bottom of the injection well and the top of the volcanic aquifer, and (2) Injection pressure, as measured at the feed elevation or well head, shall remain below the hydrostatic pressure of the volcanic aquifer (the artesian head) or two p.s.i., whichever is greater. (b) The locations of artesian aquifer areas are described generally. The major areas, which have an extensive caprock formation, include: 23-12 S11-23-10 ( 1) The southern coastal plains of Oahu, from Kahe Pt. (West Beach) to Wailea Pt. (Lanikai); (2) The windward (eastern) coastal plains of Oahu, from Makalii Pt. (Punaluu) to Waialee; (3) The northern coastal plains of Oahu, from Haleiwa to Mokuleia; and ( 4) The Mana Plain on western Kauai, from Polihale to Kekaha. Other artesian aquifer areas are found in valleys, where alluvium or other sedimentary material has been deposited to significant depths. (c) If the ratio of the depth of the proposed injection well, to the estimated depth of caprock less fifty feet, is 1:2 or less, the applicant need not extend the depth of the injection well or wells in order to verify caprock thickness, prior to completion at the shallower proposed depth. The department shall estimate the depth of caprock by comparing lithology from logs of borings in the vicinity. If, however, artesian aquifer conditions are encountered, the applicant shall have the options as set forth in subsection (f). The following is a table showing the depths needed to achieve the 1:2 ratio: Proposed depth of injection well: 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Minimum depth of caprock: _ 10 -so 90 100 110 130 i5o 110 190 210 230 250 (d) If the ratio of the depth of the proposed injection well, to the estimated depth of caprock less fifty feet, is greater than 1:2, the applicant shall have the depth of the injection well temporarily extended by fifty feet to verify that artesian aquifer conditions are not encountered within that range. The fifty feet of extended hole shall be properly sealed by the tremie method, with a cement slurry that contains no more than five gallons of water per ninety-four pound sack of cement. (e) Where a test well is planned for either a single injection well or a multiple well field, the depth of the test well shall be extended fifty feet into confining materials beyond the proposed depth of the deepest well. If the test well is intended to be operational, the lower fifty feet shall be properly sealed as detailed in subsection (d) of this section. (f) Where artesian aquifer conditions are unexpectedly encountered, the applicant may choose to: (l) Abandon and properly seal the injection well with neat cement and request approval for a new location; or 23-13 S11-23-10 (2) Modify the depth of the injection well or wells so that it conforms with subsection (a)(l), [Eff. 7/6/84; am and comp NO\' 1 2 i992 ] (Auth: HRS S340E-2) (Imp: HRS S340E-2, 40 CFR SS144.ll and 144.12) Sll-23-11 Ooerating conditions. (a) No injection well shall be operated, modified or otherwise utilized without a UIC permit issued by the department. Only subclass C wells that meet the requirements of section ll-23-12(f) shall be exempt from obtaining a UIC permit to operate. (b) No person shall construct, operate, maintain, convert, plug, abandon or conduct any other injection activity in a manner which allows the movement of fluid containing a contaminant into underground sources of drinking water, if the presence of that contaminant may cause a violation of any national or state primary drinking water rule or may otherwise adversely affect the health of one or more persons. (c) All injection wells shall be operated in such a manner that they do not violate any of the department's administrative rules under title 11, Hawaii Administrative Rules, regulating various aspects of water quality and pollution, and chapters 342-B, 342-D, 342-F, 342-H, 342-J, 342-L, and 342-N, HRS. The rules include: ( 1) Chapter 11-20, "Rules Relating To Potable Water Systems"; (2) Chapter 11-62, "Wastewater Systems"; and (3) Chapter 11-55, "Water Pollution Control". (d) The operation of all injection wells shall also conform to any limitations on quantity and quality of the injected fluid as are deemed appropriate by the director for the purposes of this chapter. (e) If at any time the department learns that an injection well may cause a violation of primary drinking water rules, the department shall order the injector to take such actions as may be necessary to prevent the violation, including, where required, cessation of operation of the injection well. ( f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the department shall issue a cease and desist order, effective immediately, upon receipt of information that a contaminant which is present in, or likely to enter, a system, or underground source of drinking water, supplying water for human consumption, poses an imminent and substantial danger to the health of a person or persons. (Eff. 7/6/84; am and comp NOV 121992] (Auth: HRS S340E-2) (Imp: HRS SS340E-2 and 340E-4, 40 CFR SS144.11, 144.12, 144.24, 144.25, 144,31, 144.40 and 146.52) 23-14 S11-23-12