Wis. Admin. Code NR 812.32
Pumps
Cite as Wis. Admin. Code NR § 812.32
Pumps.
(1) General pump installation requirements.
(a) General requirements. Pump installations shall be carried out so the pump installation will be:
1. Installed so it and its surroundings are in a sanitary condition.
2. Properly sized to provide the volume of water necessary, where obtainable, for an adequate water supply.
3. Designed to meet the well characteristics and not exceed the yield of the well except when the available aquifer is low producing.
4. Installed for operation without priming or breaking suction.
5. Installed in such manner as to provide adequate protection against contamination of the water supply from any surface or subsurface sources.
6. Installed in a manner so that it is accessible for maintenance, repair and removal.
(b) Pump lubrication. Pump motor lubricant or coolant oil shall be USDA or FDA approved food contact grade formulations.
(c) Discharge. Every pump shall be installed with an above-ground discharge, a subsurface pitless adapter or pitless unit, or a subsurface well casing pipe connection.
(d) Discharge to a water body. When water is pumped or flows to discharge into a body of water, the end of the discharge pipe shall be extended at least 2 pipe diameters above the highest elevation of the water.
(e) Electrical wiring. All well pump electrical installations shall conform to the Wisconsin Electrical Code, incorporated by reference in the Wisconsin Electrical Code, ch. SPS 316 , and the requirements specified in that chapter. In addition to these requirements, no electrical control box or any other electrical device shall be installed inside a well casing pipe, except where the device is directly incorporated into the manufactured pump assembly.
(f) Backflow prevention. For water systems with multiple wells interconnected to a common plumbing piping system, or when a nonpotable water supply line is installed upstream of the pressure tank on multiple wells or a single well, the department may require additional equipment to reduce the possibility of back-flow or back-siphonage between wells. This equipment may include a separate pressure tank for each well, additional check valves, air gaps, reduced pressure principle backflow preventers, pressure switches, and electronic pump control devices.
(2) Off-set pump installations.
(a) Buried suction pipes.
1. Buried suction pipes shall be enclosed in a pressurized conduit and the annular space between the 2 pipes shall be maintained under system water pressure at all times provided by a pipe extending from the pump watertight to the conduit.
2. When a suction pipe crosses a sewer, the suction pipe shall be laid according to the sewer separation requirements of sub. (4) .
3. Pressurized conduits may terminate at the end of a horizontal pipe entering a basement. Any unburied pump suction pipe in the basement not enclosed in a pressurized conduit shall be at least one foot above the basement floor. A pressure or box elbow may be used to extend the pressurized conduit to a point above the basement floor. Pressure or box elbows may be buried.
4. A shallow well pump shall discharge to a seal-cross fitting before being connected to a pressure tank. A control valve may not be installed in the discharge pipe between the pump and the seal-cross fitting.
(b) Pump height. The pump impeller or cylinder for off-set pumps shall be located at an elevation at least one foot above the basement, pit, or alcove floor.
(3) Pump intake setting. When a well is constructed in an unconsolidated formation, the pump intake shall be set at least 5 feet above the bottom of the well casing pipe or drive pipe casing or above the top of the screen. When a pump is replaced and set to a greater depth in a well, an attempt shall be made to ascertain the well construction so this requirement can be made. The pump shall provide an adequate quantity of water, where obtainable, for the intended purpose of the well.
(4) Buried discharge lines from submersible pumps.
(a) Pressure requirements. Buried discharge lines from submersible pumps shall meet the requirements of s. NR 812.28 and shall be maintained under system pressure at all times. Check valves may not be placed in the pump discharge pipe beyond a buried section of pipe between a well and a pressure tank. The check valves shall be located at the top of the submersible pump, or in that portion of the discharge pipe before it becomes buried, or on the spool of a spool-type pitless unit.
(b) Separation from sewers.
1. When a water discharge line crosses a sanitary sewer, the water discharge line piping within 5 feet of the point of crossing shall be installed in accordance with any of the following requirements:
a. At an elevation at least 12 inches above the top of the sewer measured from the bottom of the water line.
b. At least 18 inches below the bottom of the sewer measured from the top of the water line.
c. Within a waterproof sleeve made of materials as specified for sanitary building sewers in ch. SPS 384 .
2. When a water discharge line extends parallel or roughly parallel with a sewer, the water discharge line shall be separated a minimum distance from the sewer as follows:
a. Water discharge lines greater than 2 inches in diameter shall be separated at least 5 feet horizontally from a sanitary sewer, measured from center to center of the 2 pipes.
b. Except as provided under subd. 2. c. , water discharge lines 2 inches or smaller in diameter shall be separated at least 24 inches horizontally from a sanitary sewer, measured from center to center of the 2 pipes.
c. Water discharge lines 2 inches in diameter and smaller may be installed less than 24 inches horizontally separated from a sanitary sewer if the bottom of the water discharge line is installed at least 12 inches above the sewer, except that portion of the water discharge line within 5 feet of the point where the line enters the building may be less than 12 inches above the sewer.
d. A water discharge line shall be separated from a storm sewer by at least 6 inches.
(c) Back-flow and back-siphonage prevention. When a well is installed with a submersible pump and an above ground discharge, it shall contain an UL approved check valve and an air-vacuum relief valve prior to any buried portion of the discharge pipe. When water is pumped to a pond or other body of water, the end of the pump discharge pipe shall be terminated at least 2 feet above the highest elevation of the water in the pond or other body of water.
(d) Other locational restrictions. A water discharge line shall be separated at least 10 feet horizontally from a POWTS treatment, holding, or dispersal component, including a septic or holding tank or any in-ground, at-grade, or mound soil absorption unit.
(5) Pumps located beside or over the well.
(a) Shallow-well suction pumps, deep-well piston pumps, and deep-well jet pumps. If the pump unit does not effectively seal the top of the well casing pipe and the well pump suction pipe or jet pump piping emerges from the top, a threaded fitting or a seal with an expandable rubber or neoprene gasket shall be provided between the well casing pipe and the well pump suction pipe or jet pump piping.
(b) Lineshaft turbine pumps.
1. ‘General sealing requirements.’ Lineshaft turbine pumps shall be mounted on the well or over the well casing pipe on a pump platform or well casing pipe flange so as to effectively seal the top of the well. Any opening through the pump discharge head shall be sealed watertight.
2. ‘Specific sealing requirements.’ The discharge head for a lineshaft turbine pump may be installed over the well casing pipe under the following conditions:
a. A minimum 12 inch high concrete pump platform shall be poured surrounding the well casing pipe. The well casing pipe shall project at least one inch up into the pump discharge head.
b. If the pump discharge head does not have enough recess to extend down over the well casing pipe at least one inch, a cast iron or steel subbase sanitary ring at least one inch thick shall be bolted to the base of the discharge head and installed surrounding the well casing pipe. A compressible neoprene gasket shall be installed between the base of the discharge head and the sanitary ring or subbase unless the metal surfaces are machined. As an alternative a flange may be welded to the top of the well casing pipe.
c. If a concrete pump platform is not to be poured surrounding the well casing pipe, a steel flange shall be welded watertight to the top of the well casing pipe. The base of the discharge head shall be bolted to the casing flange and a compressible neoprene gasket shall be installed between the 2.
d. The well casing pipe may be enlarged above grade to accommodate the pump column flange, by fillet welding or threading a steel flange plate watertight to the top of the well casing pipe. A piece of larger diameter pipe meeting Table B requirements shall then be fillet welded watertight to the top of the flange plate. The pump discharge head shall then be installed as provided in subd. 2. a. to c.
3. ‘Lubrication of lineshaft turbine pumps.’
a. Water lubricated lineshaft turbine pumps shall be used for potable wells. In water levels deeper than 50 feet, the pump column bearings shall be pre-lubricated prior to pump start up. Lubrication during pump backspin shall be provided if necessary. Water for lubrication of pumps shall be supplied by piping connected to a supplemental pressure system of the potable water supply. Water lubricated lineshaft turbine pumps are recommended for nonpotable wells.
b. Oil lubricated lineshaft turbine pumps may be used for potable wells when the pumping water level is deeper than 250 feet except when the pump operation is expected to lower the water level in the well to a depth less than 5 feet above the bottom of the well casing pipe. Oil lubricated lineshaft turbine pumps may be used for wells provided the lubricants are USDA or FDA approved food contact grade formulations.
(6) Discharge lines from lineshaft turbine pumps.
(a) Pressurized. Discharge lines from lineshaft turbine pumps that are maintained under system pressure at all times shall contain an air-vacuum relief valve preceding a check valve. A well vent shall be installed in the pump base. High capacity well pump installation is depicted in Figure 3 of ch. NR 812 Appendix .
(b) Nonpressurized. Discharge lines from lineshaft turbine pumps shall contain an UL approved check valve and an air-vacuum relief valve near the pump, and prior to any buried portion of discharge pipe. When water is pumped to a pond or other body of water, the end of the pump discharge pipe shall be extended at least 2 feet above the highest elevation of the water in the pond or other body of water.
(7) Hand pumps. Hand pumps shall be installed in accordance with all of the following requirements:
(a) Pump heads. Hand pump heads shall be designed and fabricated so there are no unprotected openings, other than the spout, to the interior of the pump. The waterspout shall turn downward and be closed on top. If a separate watertight port is provided for priming, it shall be sealed watertight when not being used.