8 Ill. Adm. Code 675.90
Investigating a Complaint
Section 675
Section 675.90 Investigating
a Complaint
a) A land occupier or person whose well fails to produce a
normal, uninterrupted supply of water due to the water level in the source
aquifer falling below the critical groundwater level elevation may file a
complaint with the District in which the affected well is located. If the
affected well is located in a District adjacent to Kankakee, Iroquois,
Tazewell, or McLean and the high capacity well is located in one of those
Districts, then the complaint may be filed in the District where the high
capacity well is located. What constitutes a normal supply of water shall be
determined by information on the well provided by the land occupier or person
filing the complaint and scientific data on the aquifer, hydrology, and geology
of the area provided by the Illinois State Water Survey and Illinois State
Geological Survey. The complaint shall be filed in writing.
b) The written complaint shall contain the following information
concerning the complainant's own well:
1) Complainant's name, address, and phone number;
2) Date the complaint is filed;
3) Legal description of the location of the effected well,
including county, township, range, and section (quarter/quarter);
4) General location description (e.g., nearby buildings or
landmarks);
5) Well identification (i.e., name or number if assigned);
6) Well depth (in feet);
7) Well causing diameter (inches), depth to bottom (feet), weight
and thickness;
8) Well screen length (feet), diameter (inches), and depth to
bottom (feet);
9) Well pump type, gallons per minute capacity, head rating,
horse power, and power source;
10) Type of aquifer utilized (e.g., consolidated, unconsolidated,
confined, or unconfined);
11) Present static water level and original static water level,
along with the dates measured, name of the person who obtained these
measurements, and the method used to obtain the measurement; and
12) A description of the kind of access available at the well
head through which the well water level can be measured and when access to the
well can be made. Access to the well's head for measurement purposes shall be
made available by the well owner before any measurements can be taken.
13) Use of the well:
A) If for domestic use, the number of people served and total
number of additional wells in use;
B) If for agricultural use, the number of people and farm
animals served. If used for irrigation, the total acres, crop rotation, acres
to be irrigated, type of irrigation equipment, travel speed, maximum capacity
in gallons per minute, and total number of additional wells in use;
C) If for municipal or non-community (e.g., seasonal resort)
use, the total population, average daily withdrawal, and total number of
additional wells in use; or
D) If for industrial use, purpose for which water is used,
average daily withdrawal, and total number of additional wells in use.
14) Name, address, and phone number of the contractor who drilled
the well;
15) Normal yield in gallons per minute, pumping water level, and
date measured;
16) Description of the problem;
17) Suspected cause of the problem;
18) Past well problems
19) Estimated number of gallons required per day; and
20) A copy of the well log with pump performance curve (if
available). The Illinois State Water Survey and Illinois State Geological
Survey can be contacted for a copy of the well record if one exists in their
files.
c) Within two (2) working days after receiving a written
complaint, the District shall schedule a visit to the complainant's well to
investigate and determine if the complaint is valid. Access to the
complainant's well by the District, the Illinois State Geological survey, and
the Illinois Department of Agriculture, shall be permitted by the complainant
for investigative purposes. Employees of the before-stated agencies who are
investigating the complaint may request permission from any land occupier or
person owning a high capacity well that is located within a one mile radius of
the affected well for an on-site investigation of that well when data is needed
to determine if the high capacity well is affecting the complainant's well. In
order to be considered a valid complaint, the investigation must confirm all of
the following points:
1) The well is failing to furnish a normal uninterrupted supply
of water.
2) The failure of the well to furnish its normal supply of water
is caused by a lowering of groundwater levels in the area below the critical
groundwater elevation, and not by physical equipment malfunctions, such as a
faulty pump, a clogged well screen, a cracked or corroded drop pipe, a
collasped well casing, or a malfunctioning pressure tank. If it is suspected
during the investigation that a physical equipment malfunction is the problem,
the investigation shall be suspended until this can be determined by a licensed
water well drilling contractor, water well installer, or plumber.
3) The well and its equipment meet or exceed the recommended
guidelines set forth in Section 675.80. Wells in violation of the Illinois
Water Well Construction and Pump Installation codes shall be brought into
compliance to validate the complaint.
d) The soil and water conservation district may request technical
assistance from the Illinois State Water Survey and the Illinois State
Geological Survey in conducting the investigation and writing the report. The
request shall be in writing, and include a copy of the complaint form.
e) The District shall prepare a written report based upon the
findings of the investigation. The written report shall describe the findings
of the District with respect to the validity of the complaint, a description of
the problem, the probable causes of groundwater impacts with regard to the
affected well, the probable causes for groundwater deficiencies, conclusions,
and a recommended plan of action.
f) A copy of the report shall be made available upon request.