Maintenance and Service Criteria for Public Water Wells

Maintenance and Service Criteria for Public Water Wells. A. General – Installation of pumps and well equipment shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation and this regulation. All pumps and well equipment shall be designed and installed so as to prevent contamination of the well. (1) Licensing – Pump installation shall be performed either by a Water Well Contractor holding an unrestricted license or by a restricted licensee who specializes in pump installation and well service. (2) Location of pressure tanks and switches – Pressure tanks and switches located above ground shall be on a concrete slab or preformed pad or blocks. Tanks and switches installed below grade shall be in a concrete pit or basement designed to be adequately drained, unless approved for direct burial. A pressure tank may be buried provided the tank is designed for that type installation. Tanks to be installed inside the bore of a water well must be designed for that purpose and approved by the Commission. (3) Temporary seal – If the pump and well equipment are not installed immediately upon completion of drilling, all openings to the well must be closed to prevent pollution or vandalism. After pump installation, all open spaces must be sealed off to prevent contamination of the ground water. (4) Drop pipe, wire, etc. – All drop pipe, wire, pumps, and other pumping equipment to be installed in the well shall either be new or be disinfected with a solution of at least 50 mg/l free chlorine; and it shall be installed in such a manner as to permit removal and repair of all equipment. If equipment or tools are lost in the well and not recovered, a statement describing the item or items lost shall be attached to the well completion report submitted to MDEQ. (5) Prevention of contamination – Pumping equipment shall be installed in such a manner as to prevent the entrance of contamination into the ground water. Discharge pipes shall be fitted with devices which will prevent the entrance of small animals. (6) Check valves – Pumping equipment installed and used in conjunction with Chemigation, which is the practice of injecting agricultural chemicals into irrigation lines in order to mix and distribute the chemicals with the water flowing through the irrigation system, shall have either two check valves, or other means of backflow prevention as may be approved by MDEQ, installed between the well head and the point of introduction of any chemicals. B. Submersible pump installation (1) Check valves – Submersible Pumps shall have no less than 2 check valves installed. One check valve must be installed above ground. (2) Wire -- Wire shall be secured to the drop pipe in a manner which will support the weight of the wire and keep the wire close to the pipe. (3) Clamps -- All clamps used shall be all stainless steel. C. Jet pump installation (1) Check valves -- Jet Pumps shall have a check valve installed on the discharge side of the pressure tank. (2) Clamps - All clamps used shall be all stainless steel. D. Turbine pump installation (1) Steel column pipe for line shaft turbine pumps – Steel column pipe for turbine pump irrigation wells shall be standard weight flanged or threaded steel pipe. (2) Plastic column pipe may be used for turbine pump installation provided the pipe is designed and manufactured for that purpose. E. Pressure systems – All pressure systems will have a pressure relief valve installed between the well seal and pressure switch. F. Power and control wiring - Licensees may run power and control wiring from a disconnect box to water well equipment. A license issued pursuant to this regulation does not authorize the licensee to alter the existing electrical service to any building or structure or perform any other electrical work covered by the National Electric Code (NEC) or local building codes.