Definitions

01. Agricultural Runoff Waste. Excess surface water from agricultural fields generated during any agricultural operation, including runoff of irrigation tail water, as well as natural drainage resulting from precipitation, snowmelt, and floodwaters. (7-1-25) 02. Applicant. Any owner or operator submitting an application for permit to construct, modify or maintain an injection well to the Director. (7-1-25) 03. Application. The standard Department forms for applying for a permit, including any additions, revisions or modifications to the forms. (3-18-22) 04. Aquifer. Any geologic formation(s) that yields water to a well in sufficient quantities to make the production of water from the formation feasible for beneficial use. (7-1-25) 05. Beneficial Use. One (1) or more of the recognized beneficial uses of water including but not limited to, domestic, municipal, irrigation, hydropower generation, industrial, commercial, recreation, aquifer recharge and storage, stockwatering and fish propagation. (7-1-25) 06. Best Management Practice (BMP). A practice or combination of practices that are more effective than other techniques at preventing or reducing contamination of ground water and surface water by injection well operation. (3-18-22) 07. Board. The Idaho Water Resource Board. (7-1-25) 08. Casing. The permanent conduit installed in a well to provide physical stabilization, prevent caving or collapse of the borehole, maintain the well opening and serve as a solid inner barrier to allow for the installation of an annular seal. (7-1-25) 09. Cesspool. An injection well that receives untreated sanitary waste containing human excreta, and that sometimes has an open bottom and /or perforated sides. (7-1-25) 10. Coliform Bacteria. All of the aerobic and facultative anaerobic, gram-negative, non-spore forming, rod-shaped bacteria that either ferment lactose broth with gas formation within forty-eight (48) hours at thirty-five degrees Celsius (35C), or produce a dark colony with a metallic sheen within twenty-four (24) hours on an Endo-type medium containing lactose. (3-18-22) 11. Confining Bed. A body of impermeable or distinctly less permeable material stratigraphically adjacent to one (1) or more aquifers. (3-18-22) 12. Construct. To create a new injection well or to convert any structure into an injection well. (3-18-22) 13. Contaminant. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter. (3-18-22) IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 37.03.03 – Rules & Minimum Standards Department of Water Resources for the Construction & Use of Injection Wells Section 010 Page 4 14. Contamination. The introduction into the natural ground water of any physical, chemical, biological, or radioactive material that may: (3-18-22) a. Cause a violation of standards found in IDAPA 58.01.11, “Ground Water Quality Rule,” or IDAPA 58.01.08, “Idaho Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems” Section 050, whichever is more stringent; or (7-1-25) b. Adversely affect the health of the public; or (3-18-22) c. Adversely affect a designated or beneficial use of the State’s ground water. Contamination includes the introduction of heated or cooled water into the subsurface that will alter the ground water temperature and render the local ground water less suitable for beneficial use. (3-18-22) 15. Conventional Mine. An open pit or underground excavation for the production of minerals. (3-18-22) 16. Decommission (Abandon). Any well that has been permanently removed from service and filled or plugged in accordance with these rules so as to meet the intent of these rules. A properly decommissioned well will not: (7-1-25) a. Produce or accept fluids; (7-1-25) b. Serve as a conduit for the movement of contaminants inside or outside the well casing; or (7-1-25) c. Allow the movement of surface or ground water into unsaturated zones, into another aquifer, or between aquifers. (7-1-25) 17. DEQ. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. (3-18-22) 18. Deep Injection Well. An injection well that is more than eighteen (18) feet in vertical depth below land surface. (7-1-25) 19. Department. The Idaho Department of Water Resources. (3-18-22) 20. Director. The Director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources. (3-18-22) 21. Disposal Well. A well used for the disposal of waste into a subsurface stratum. (3-18-22) 22. Draft Permit. A prepared document indicating the Director's tentative decision to issue or deny, modify, revoke and reissue, terminate, or reissue a “permit.” Permit conditions, compliance schedules, and monitoring requirements are typically included in a “draft permit”. A notice of intent to terminate a permit, and a notice of intent to deny a permit are types of “draft permits.” A denial of a request for modification, revocation and reissuance, or termination is not a “draft permit.” (3-18-22) 23. Drilling Fluid. A heavy suspension used in drilling an “injection well,” introduced down the drill pipe and through the drill bit. (7-1-25) 24. Endangerment. An act that threatens contamination of a USDW aquifer which supplies or can reasonably be expected to supply drinking water to any domestic or public water system where the contamination may result in not complying with Ground Water Quality Standards or otherwise adversely affect human health. (7-1-25) 25. Exempted Aquifer. An “aquifer” or its portion that meets the criteria in the definition of USDW but which has been recategorized as “other” according to the procedures in IDAPA 58.01.11 “Ground Water Quality Rule”. (3-18-22) 26. Experimental Technology. A technology which has not been proven feasible under the conditions in which it is being tested. (3-18-22) IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 37.03.03 – Rules & Minimum Standards Department of Water Resources for the Construction & Use of Injection Wells Section 010 Page 5 27. Fluid. Any material or substance which flows or moves, whether in a semisolid, liquid, sludge, gaseous or any other form or state. (3-18-22) 28. Ground Water. Water below the land surface in a zone of saturation. (7-1-25) 29. Ground Water Quality Standards. Standards found in IDAPA 58.01.11, “Ground Water Quality Rule,” Section 200 or IDAPA 58.01.08, “Idaho Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems” Section 050, whichever is more stringent. (7-1-25) 30. Hazardous Waste. Any substance defined by IDAPA 58.01.05, “Rules and Standards for Hazardous Waste.” (3-18-22) 31. Indian Lands. “Indian Country” as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1151. That section defines Indian Country as: (3-18-22) a. All land within the limits of any Indian reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States government, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and, including rights-of-way running through the reservation; (3-18-22) b. All dependent Indian communities within the borders of the United States whether within the original or subsequently acquired territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits of a State; and (3-18-22) c. All Indian allotments, the Indian titles to which have not been extinguished, including rights-of- way running through the same. (3-18-22) 32. Individual Subsurface Sewage Disposal System. For the purpose of these rules, any standard or alternative disposal system that injects sanitary waste from single family domestic septic systems, or non-domestic septic systems which are used solely for the disposal of sanitary waste and have the capacity to serve fewer than twenty (20) people a day. (7-1-25) 33. Industrial Wastewater. All wastewater, treated or untreated, that is not defined as municipal wastewater. (7-1-25) 34. Improved Sinkhole. A naturally occurring crevice found in geologic settings that have been modified by man for the purpose of directing and emplacing fluids into the subsurface. (7-1-25) 35. Injection. The subsurface emplacement of fluids through an injection well. (3-18-22) 36. Injection Well. Any feature that is operated to allow injection that also meets at least one (1) of the following criteria: (7-1-25) a. A bored, or driven shaft whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension; (3-18-22) b. A dug hole whose depth is greater than the largest surface dimension; (3-18-22) c. An improved sinkhole; or (3-18-22) d. A subsurface fluid distribution system. (3-18-22) 37. Large Capacity Cesspools. Any cesspool used by a multiple dwelling, community, or regional system for the disposal of sanitary wastes (for example: a duplex or an apartment building) or any cesspool used by or intended to be used by twenty (20) or more people per day (for example: a rest stop, campground, restaurant or church). (7-1-25) 38. Modify. To alter the construction of an injection well, but does not include cleaning or redrilling operations which neither deepen nor increase the dimensions of the well. (3-18-22) IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 37.03.03 – Rules & Minimum Standards Department of Water Resources for the Construction & Use of Injection Wells Section 010 Page 6 39. Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells. Injection wells that receive or have received fluids from vehicle repair or maintenance activities, such as an auto body repair shop, automotive repair shop, new and used car dealership, specialty repair shop (transmission and muffler repair shop), or any facility that does any vehicular repair work. (3-18-22) 40. Municipal Wastewater. Wastewater containing sewage and associated solids, whether treated or untreated. Municipal wastewater, also known as domestic wastewater, may contain industrial wastewater. (7-1-25) 41. Open-Loop Heat Pump Return Wells. Injection wells that receive surface water or ground water that has been passed through a heat exchange system for cooling or heating purposes. (3-18-22) 42. Owner or Operator. The owner or operator of any facility or activity subject to regulation under these Rules. (7-1-25) 43. Permit. An authorization, license, or equivalent control document issued by the Department. (3-18-22) 44. Point of Beneficial Use. The top or surface of a USDW, directly below an injection well, where water is available for a beneficial use. (3-18-22) 45. Point of Diversion for Beneficial Use. Location of a producing well or spring where ground water is taken under control and diverted for a beneficial use. (7-1-25) 46. Point of Injection. The last accessible sampling point prior to waste being released into the subsurface environment through an injection well. For example, the point of injection for a Class V septic system might be the distribution box. For a drywell, it is likely to be the well bore itself. (3-18-22) 47. Radioactive Material. Any material, solid, liquid or gas that emits radiation spontaneously. Radioactive geologic materials occurring in their natural state are not included. (7-1-25) 48. Radioactive Waste. Any fluid that contains radioactive material in concentrations that exceed those listed in 10 CFR part 20, appendix B, table II, column 2. (7-1-25) 49. Recycled Water. Water treated by a wastewater treatment system and used according to these rules and IDAPA 58.01.17, “Recycled Water Rules.” (7-1-25) 50. Septic System. An injection well that is used to inject sanitary waste below the surface. A septic system is typically comprised of a septic tank and subsurface fluid distribution system or disposal system. (3-18-22) 51. Shallow Injection Well. An injection well that is less than or equal to eighteen (18) feet in vertical depth below land surface. (7-1-25) 52. Subsidence. The lowering of the natural land surface in response to: Earth movements; lowering of fluid pressure; removal of underlying supporting material by mining or solution of solids, either artificially or from natural causes; compaction due to wetting; oxidation of organic matter in soils; or added load on the land surface. (7-1-25) 53. Subsurface Fluid Distribution System. An assemblage of perforated pipes, drain tiles, or other similar mechanisms intended to distribute fluids below the surface of the ground. (3-18-22) 54. UIC. The Underground Injection Control program under Part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act, including an “approved State program.” (3-18-22) 55. Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW). An aquifer or its portion that: (7-1-25) a. Either supplies any public water system, contains a sufficient quantity of ground water to supply a IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 37.03.03 – Rules & Minimum Standards Department of Water Resources for the Construction & Use of Injection Wells Section 020 Page 7 public water system, or currently supplies drinking water for human consumption; and (7-1-25) b. Contains fewer than ten thousand (10,000) mg/l total dissolved solids and is not an exempted aquifer. (7-1-25) 56. Unreasonable Contamination. Endangerment of a USDW or the health of persons or other beneficial uses by injection. See “endangerment.” (3-18-22) 57. Wastewater. Combination of liquid or water and pollutants from activities and processes occurring in dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial plants, institutions, and other establishments, together with any ground water, surface water, and storm water that may be present; liquid or water that is chemically, biologically, physically or rationally identifiable as containing blackwater, gray water, or commercial or industrial pollutants; and sewage. (7-1-25) 011. -- 019. (RESERVED)