Closed Loop Well System Permit Requirements

Section 920.200  Closed Loop Well System Permit Requirements a)         Permit.  A permit to construct, modify or seal a closed loop well system shall be obtained from the Department, approved local health department or approved unit of local government prior to performing the work. b)         Application.  Application for a permit shall be made on the forms provided by the Department.  All applications for permits shall include a plan and drawing of the proposed construction.  At a minimum, the plan shall include: 1)         Name and address of the owner of the closed loop well system; 2)         Closed loop well contractor's registration number and name; 3)         The location of the closed loop well system, geographical location of the site using global positioning equipment and a description including county, city, street address, subdivision lot number, township, range, section and directions to the site (i.e., highway number, secondary roads, signs to follow, etc.). Changes in location of the closed loop well system shall be approved by the issuing party prior to construction; 4)         Type of facility to be served (e.g., single family residence, apartment building, business, factory, school); 5)         The number and depth of the closed loop boreholes; 6)         A drawing indicating lot size, location of property lines, and distances from proposed closed loop well system construction to water wells, septic tanks, abandoned wells, property lines, seepage fields, sewers, and all other sources of contamination, if they are within 200 feet of any closed loop well. c)         Expiration.  A permit shall be void if construction has not commenced within one year after date of issuance. d)         Closed Loop Well System Permit Fee.  The fee to be paid to the Department for a permit to construct or modify each individual closed loop well system shall be $100 for the first 10 closed loop well boreholes drilled and $10 for each additional  borehole drilled.  The fee to be paid to the Department for a permit to abandon each individual closed loop well system using up to 10 closed loop wells shall be $100 and $10 for each additional closed loop well after 10.  A unit of local government or local health department having an approved ordinance in accordance with Section 920.160 shall set its own fees for permits to construct, modify or seal an abandoned closed loop well system. e)         The Department, approved local health department or approved unit of local government will grant permit requests that meet the requirements of the Act and this Part. f)         Notification.  Any closed loop well contractor who constructs, modifies or seals a closed loop well for which a permit has been issued under this Part shall notify the Department, approved unit of local government or approved local health department by telephone or in writing at least two days prior to commencement of the work. g)         Within 30 days after a closed well system is completed or abandoned and sealed, the closed loop well contractor shall submit a report of the completion or sealing on a form prescribed by the Department, approved local health department or approved unit of local government. h)         Variance 1)         If conditions exist at a proposed installation site that preclude compliance with this Part, a variance shall be requested and shall be approved before well construction begins. The closed loop well contractor may request a variance by submitting to the Department or an approved  unit of local government or local health department a written request outlining a specific proposal to be used in lieu of compliance with this Part.  The request shall include a plot plan of the property, showing lot size, the location of sewers, septic tanks, buildings, seepage fields, and other sources of contamination on the property and adjacent property, with distances shown to the proposed closed loop well.  A description of geologic and soil conditions shall also be included.  The Department or approved local health department will approve the variance if the proposal is in accordance with accepted public health and sanitary engineering principles and practices. The Department or approved local health department will notify the applicant in writing of its decision either to grant or deny the variance. 2)         Examples of location problems that would preclude compliance with this Part would be the proposed location of a well too close to septic tanks, buildings, sewer lines or barnyards. 3)         Examples of public health and engineering principles that would be considered in issuing a variance would be ground surface conditions, depth of the water table, location of sources of contamination, ability of the existing soil to remove bacteria, and geologic conditions.