Section 812.42. Criteria for evaluation.

 

(1)   Location, well construction, pump installation, water quality, and sanitary condition. Each existing water system shall be viewed as an individual unit and its acceptability for use as a source of water shall be determined on the basis of its location, construction, pump installation, pump discharge piping arrangement, water quality, and sanitary condition. Existing installations shall be evaluated according to and shall comply with the requirements in effect at the time they were constructed or installed, or if constructed or installed prior to April 10, 1953, with the standards adopted on that date, except that installations shall meet the further well location, well construction, pump and pump discharge, water quality, pit, reservoir and dug well requirements of this section. The owner shall provide written documentation verifying the date of construction or installation or both. Water systems constructed or installed on or after February 1, 1991 shall meet the requirements of Subchapters I through III . Water systems constructed or installed prior to February 1, 1991 shall meet the requirements of this subchapter. Water systems having features not meeting the requirements of this section or the code in effect at the time of construction or installation if installed after April 10, 1953, shall be upgraded as specified in sub. (11) and s. NR 812.04 (2) according to requirements for new construction or installation, or shall be filled and sealed according to the criteria and requirements of s. NR 812.26 . The department may deny approval for operation of an existing well requiring approval under s. NR 812.09 (4) , if the well does not meet the construction requirements of this chapter for new wells:

(a) Location. The well location shall conform to the requirements in effect at the time the well was constructed, or to the location requirements of s. NR 812.08 . However, if a contamination source was installed after the well was constructed, the well location shall conform to the requirements in effect at the time of installation of the contamination source. If the well was constructed prior to April 10, 1953, it shall meet the separation distance requirements established on April 10, 1953, except those separation distance requirements that are no longer in effect. If a separation distance requirement is less in the current code than it was in the April 10, 1953 code, the lesser separation distance requirement applies. A well which meets the location requirements in effect at the time of construction, but does not meet the current location requirements of s. NR 812.08 may only be reconstructed with prior department approval.

(b) Well construction.

1. The well construction shall be in compliance with the construction requirements in effect at the time the well was constructed or shall be in compliance with the standards of ss. NR 812.09 to 812.15 , except if the well was constructed prior to April 10, 1953, in which case the well construction shall be in compliance with the standards adopted on April 10, 1953. A well constructed in violation of the requirements in effect at the time of construction, or a well constructed to meet the requirements in effect at the time of construction but not according to the construction requirements of ss. NR 812.09 to 812.15 , may only be reconstructed with prior department approval.

2. The well casing pipe shall meet the minimum wall thickness requirements of s. NR 812.17 Table V for its diameter and may not be in a deteriorated condition.

3. If the minimum well construction requirements of this paragraph are not met, the well shall be filled and sealed in accordance with s. NR 812.26 . For wells in basements or walkout basements, the well casing pipe depth shall be measured from the floor of the basement.

4. Except for where additional well casing pipe depth has been required for a variance or a special well casing depth area, unconsolidated formation wells, including both drilled and driven-point wells, shall have minimum well casing pipe depth settings of at least 25 feet below the ground surface, not including the screen; or, if the static water level is deeper than 15 feet, shall have minimum well casing pipe depth setting at least 10 feet below the static water level.

5. Except for where additional well casing pipe depth has been required for a variance or a special well casing depth area, bedrock wells shall have minimum well casing pipe depth settings below the ground surface as follows:

a. Twenty-five feet for wells terminating in sandstone, constructed before February 1, 1991; and 30 feet for wells terminating in sandstone, constructed on or after February 1, 1991.

b. Forty feet for wells terminating in limestone or dolomite.

c. Forty feet for wells terminating in bedrock other than sandstone, limestone or dolomite.

d. Sixty feet for wells terminating in limestone or dolomite, when the depth to bedrock is less than ten feet below the ground surface and the well was constructed on or after February 1, 1991.

(c) Water quality. A well should produce bacteriologically safe water and produce water free from contaminant levels in exceedence of the drinking water standards of s. NR 812.06 . If a well does not produce bacteriologically safe water or produces water containing contaminant levels in exceedence of the drinking water standards of s. NR 812.06 the department may require the water system to be upgraded to meet the requirements of this chapter or may require the well to be filled and sealed according to the criteria and requirements of s. NR 812.26 .

(2)   Pits and subsurface pumprooms (alcoves). Existing pits used only for the housing of valves are exempt from the requirements of this section except that a pit used for this purpose shall be watertight, may not be connected to a sewer, shall be drained to permeable soil or to the ground surface, and may not be subject to flooding. Existing well or pressure tank pits, alcoves and subsurface pumprooms constructed after April 10, 1953 shall comply with the minimum requirements of s. NR 812.36 (2) . When a well in a free-standing pit is filled and sealed, the pit shall be filled in accordance with s. NR 812.26 (7) (a) 5. unless the pit is a complying valve pit. When a well in a free-standing pit is extended above grade, the pit shall be filled in accordance with s. NR 812.26 (7) (a) 5. unless the pit is a complying valve pit. Pits and alcoves constructed on or before April 10, 1953 shall meet the following minimum requirements:

(a) Construction. The entire pit or subsurface pumproom structure, including the roof, shall be constructed of reinforced watertight poured concrete. If the pit or a subsurface pumproom pit connected to a basement (alcove) has a history of being continuously dry, walls of concrete block, brick, or stone with mortared joints may be accepted. The walls, floor and roof shall be crack-free and watertight. The junction of walls and floors and all openings in the structure shall be sealed watertight. The roof or deck shall be at or above the ground surface. Requirements for existing pits are depicted in figures 47 and 48.

(b) Access. The pit shall be provided with a manhole opening, having a raised curbing edge at least 4 inches higher than the pit roof. A structurally substantial, waterproof, overlapping, tight-fitting cover with skirted sides shall be provided for the manhole. A watertight, cast-iron manhole frame and cover bolted in place with a gasket may be substituted for a curbed manhole. A subsurface pumproom pit adjoining a basement or a pit not having the manhole centered over the well may have a section of well casing pipe installed directly above the well. This pipe shall be equal in size or larger than the well casing pipe and it shall be sealed with an approved well seal or cap.

(c) Drainage. The department recommends that a pit be drained by a separate, metal, gravity drain discharging to the ground surface or to a subsurface pocket of permeable sand or gravel. The drain pipe shall be watertight. If there is a backflow or seepage from the drain into the pit at any time, the drain shall be sealed. When a drain is not installed, the department recommends that the pit have a watertight sump. A subsurface pumproom (alcove) adjoining a basement may be drained to the basement if the basement is adequately drained. If the basement is not adequately drained, concrete shall be poured in the alcove so that the alcove floor is increased in height to one foot above the basement floor and if the well casing height no longer complies with par. (d) , it shall be extended in accordance with par. (d) 1. d. Well subsurface pumproom (alcoves) adjoining basements where the basement is subject to flooding shall be discontinued for use as a well pit and the well shall be filled and sealed according to s. NR 812.26 . The subsurface pumproom (alcove) need not be filled and sealed. Pit or alcove drains or sump pump discharge pipes may not be directly connected to a sewer or other plumbing system. If discharging to the ground surface, the end of the surface discharge pipe shall be screened.

- See PDF for diagram Figure 46. Pumphouse specifications.

- See PDF for diagram Figure 47. Minimum requirements for existing well pits.

(d) Well height. The well casing pipe shall terminate at least 6 inches above the floor of a pit or a subsurface pumproom pit (alcove) connected to a basement and shall be provided with an approved sanitary well seal.

1. If the well casing pipe does not extend at least 6 inches above the floor, the pit or alcove may remain in service only if all of the following apply:

a. The well location meets the minimum standards of sub. (1) (a) .

b. The well construction meets the minimum standards of sub. (1) (b) , verified by measuring the well casing pipe depth in accordance with sub. (7) (c) 3. , if no confirmable well construction report can be found for the well. Well details, including location, well casing pipe depth, total well depth, distances to possible contaminant sources and well owner information shall be entered on a form and submitted to the department in accordance with s. NR 812.22 (10) or 812.41 (4) .

c. The pit or alcove structure meets the requirements of this section.

d. The well casing pipe is extended up and out of the pit or alcove to 12 inches above the outside grade in accordance with sub. (12) . For situations where the well would create an obstruction, including in a stoop, sidewalk, breezeway, driveway, garage or patio, making it impractical to raise the well casing pipe up and out of the alcove, the well casing pipe may be raised to a height just below the ceiling of the alcove structure in accordance with sub. (12) .

2. If the pit is a subsurface pumproom (alcove) connected to a basement and the alcove floor is lower than the basement floor, the floor shall be raised to a height at least even with the basement floor by pouring concrete.

3. If the newly-poured alcove floor results in the well casing pipe terminating less than 6 inches above the floor, then the well casing pipe shall be extended as specified in sub. (2) (d) 1. d and in accordance with sub. (12) . If the well casing pipe is extended or the floor is raised, a four-inch high, two-inch thick concrete collar shall be placed around the well casing pipe just above where it extends out of the floor.

(e) Pit venting. Well pit vent pipes, if used, shall be located in opposite corners. One pipe shall extend to within one foot of the pit floor and the other extend only down through the pit roof. The upper end of each vent pipe shall extend watertight through the pit roof and terminate with a reverse bend and screened outlet.

(3)   Noncomplying pits.

(a) Noncomplying freestanding pit structures. When the free-standing pit structure does not meet the minimum construction requirements of sub. (2) or when water gains access to a pit through the floor or walls, the floor and at least one wall of the pit shall be perforated and the pit shall be filled after properly extending the well casing pipe above grade in accordance with sub. (12) or after properly filling and sealing the existing well according to s. NR 812.26 . Before the pit is filled, all water system features, including but not limited to, the pressure tank, pump, discharge piping, electrical wiring and conduit, and any treatment equipment shall be removed from the pit.

(b) Noncomplying subsurface pumprooms (Alcoves). If the pit is a subsurface pumproom (alcove) connected to a basement, the pit need not be filled, except when the alcove floor is lower than the basement floor, in which case the floor shall be raised to a height at least even with the basement floor by pouring concrete. To allow for easy removal of the pump for servicing or replacement, this casing extension may be made with the use of a threaded and coupled joint. If the well casing pipe is extended or the floor of the alcove is raised, a four-inch high, two-inch thick concrete collar shall be placed around the well casing pipe just above where it extends out of the floor.

(c) Other modifications to pit or alcove. Any other modifications to the pit or alcove allowed by the department shall be made in a manner to meet the requirements for pits in s. NR 812.36 .

(4)   Reservoirs.

(a) An existing reservoir shall be constructed of steel or reinforced concrete. If constructed with concrete, the roof shall be watertight, reinforced, poured concrete having a thickness of at least 5 inches. The walls and floor of the reservoir shall be watertight and constructed of reinforced, poured concrete or equivalent watertight construction.

(b) The manhole curbing shall extend at least 12 inches above the established ground grade. If the reservoir roof terminates above the established ground grade, the curbing shall terminate at least 6 inches above the reservoir roof. The manhole shall be provided with a waterproof, tight-fitting, overlapping metal cover with skirted sides.

(c) A reservoir overflow pipe shall be installed watertight just under the roof of the reservoir and entirely above the established ground grade. It shall terminate at a point at least 12 inches above the established ground grade with a screened, downturned elbow. If an existing overflow pipe is totally buried between the reservoir and its outlet, it shall be eliminated by properly sealing the pipe with concrete at the reservoir.

(d) A gravity discharge pipe to the reservoir shall extend entirely above established ground grade and through the roof of the reservoir or manhole curbing. Service pipe connections shall be sealed watertight. A pressurized service pipe may be connected to the reservoir below ground grade provided it is under a continuous pressure which is greater than the ground surface elevation.

(e) The reservoir shall meet the location requirements listed in Table A in effect at the time of its construction.

(f) When a below ground-grade reservoir or a buried pressure tank pit is to be abandoned, it shall be permanently filled and sealed when the well or drillhole is filled and sealed. The reservoir shall be filled according to the filling and sealing requirements of s. NR 812.26 (7) (a) 5. for well pits.

(g) The owner shall permanently eliminate, by filling and sealing, a reservoir if any of the following apply:

1. The location or construction of the reservoir does not meet the requirements of this chapter.

2. It poses a hazard to health or safety.

3. It has been taken out of service or has not been used for 2 or more years.

(h) A reservoir shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and provide water free of bacterial and chemical contamination.

(5)   Dug wells. An existing dug well may be continued in service only if it continuously produces water bacteriologically safe and containing contaminant levels below the drinking water standards of s. NR 812.06 . Use of dug wells is not recommended by the department. A dug well may not be reconstructed without approval. Existing dug wells shall meet the following minimum construction requirements:

(a) Curbing. The curbing of every dug well shall be of watertight reinforced poured concrete or at least 3/16 inch thick steel curbing with watertight joints. Fieldstone curbing may not be used. The curbing shall extend above grade at least 8 inches and be protected from flooding. An open annular space may not exist around the dug well curbing.

(b) Depth. If the well was dug after June, 1975, the watertight curbing shall extend to a depth of at least 25 feet below ground surface and the well shall produce bacteriologically safe water. If the well was dug prior to June, 1975, the watertight curbing shall extend to at least the 15-foot depth and the well shall produce bacteriologically safe water.

(c) Cover. The dug well cover shall be of watertight, reinforced concrete at least 5 inches thick and wide enough to overlap the curbing by at least 2 inches. It shall provide a tight seal and be free of joints. A steel well casing pipe sleeve meeting the requirement for potable well casing pipe in s. NR 812.17 shall extend watertight through the cover to provide access for installing the pump. The steel well casing pipe sleeve shall extend at least 8 inches above the cover and have a watertight seal.

(d) Equipment location. Pumping equipment or attachments may not be installed for a dug well so that access to the interior of the well will be required for maintenance or repair.

(6)   Pump and pump discharge installations. Pump installations installed prior to February 1, 1991 shall conform to the following requirements:

(a) Installations for water supplies serving a maximum total of 3 families in residential units shall meet the following requirements:

1. The subsurface connection to the well casing pipe may be made with an approved weld-on pitless adapter or with an approved pitless unit providing the adapter or unit is installed according to the requirements of s. NR 812.31 (1) , (2) (a) , (3) and (4) .

2.

a. Any buried suction pipe shall be contained in a sealed pressurized conduit or, a nonpressurized conduit, if the nonpressure conduit was installed before February 1, 1991. The nonpressure conduit shall meet the pipe requirements of Table V between the connection to the well casing pipe and a basement, or shall be properly connected to the well with an approved pitless adapter or pitless unit designed for and used with a concentric piping arrangement. Unprotected buried suction lines not enclosed in conduit may not be used.

b. Nonpressure conduit shall have been welded watertight or threaded watertight to the well casing pipe and shall be at least 4 inches in diameter and shall enter the basement such that the bottom of the conduit is at least 6 inches above the basement floor.

c. A nonpressure conduit may extend at an angle up through a basement floor, or up through a concrete slab floor of a building having no basement, provided the lowest end of the conduit extends to a height at least 6 inches above the floor.

3. Buried submersible pump discharge pipes connected to pitless adapters or pitless units shall conform to the specifications in s. NR 812.17 for steel pipe or shall conform to the requirements in the “Pipe and Tubing for water services and private water mains" table in ch. SPS 384 . This pipe shall be maintained under system pressure at all times. No check valve may be placed in the pump discharge line between a pitless adapter or unit and a pressure tank or other pressure vessel. The check valve shall be located either at the top of the submersible pump, in that portion of the discharge pipe within the well or on the spool of an approved spool-type pitless unit.

(b) Installation for water supplies serving installations other than schools, high capacity well installations and those installations identified in par. (a) shall meet the following requirements:

1. The subsurface connection to the well casing pipe may be made with an approved factory-assembled pitless unit providing the unit is installed according to the requirements of s. NR 812.31 (1) and (3) or (4) .

2. For off-set pump installations, any suction pipe shall be enclosed in a sealed pressurized conduit between the connection to the well casing pipe and a basement, or shall be connected to the well with an approved factory-assembled pitless unit designed for and having a concentric pressurized piping arrangement. Unprotected buried suction lines or suction lines enclosed in nonpressure conduits may not be used. The pipe for a pressurized conduit shall meet the requirements of Table V and shall enter the basement such that any pump suction pipe in the basement not enclosed in a pressurized conduit shall be at least 6 inches above the basement floor. The department recommends that the pump impeller or cylinder of pump units be located in basements not subject to flooding and be at least one foot above the floor. See figures 34-36 for pressurized conduit installations.

3. Buried submersible pump discharge pipes connected to pitless units shall meet the requirements of sub. (6) (a) 3.

4. When an existing offset pump installation using a nonpressure conduit has been or will be converted to a submersible pump installation, the nonpressure conduit shall be completely eliminated by cutting off the well casing pipe below the nonpressure conduit, extending the well casing pipe to at least 12 inches above grade in accordance with sub. (12) and installing pressurized discharge piping according to the requirements of ss. NR 812.28 , 812.31 , and 812.32 (4) .

(c) Pump installations for water supplies serving schools and high capacity wells shall be provided with an above-ground discharge meeting the minimum requirements of s. NR 812.32 (1) (a) , (5) , (6) and (7) , except when the high capacity or school approval allowed for alternate installation.

(d) Pit pump setting. A pump located in a conforming pit shall be installed to allow the sealing of the top of the well with an approved sanitary well seal.

(e) Hand pumps. Hand pumps may be continued in service if the pump base flange is bolted watertight to a well casing pipe flange and has a gasket seal; if the pump is firmly threaded to the well casing pipe for small diameter pipe; or if the structured base of the pump has recesses and is bolted to the top of the well casing pipe which is at least 2 feet above the regional flood elevation. The well casing pipe flange or the top of the well casing pipe shall terminate at the height indicated in sub. (7) .

(f) Pump connections to reservoirs. If water is pumped to a reservoir, the piping attachment to the pump shall be made with watertight pipe fittings. The discharge pipe from the pump shall enter the reservoir in a watertight manner through that portion of the structure extending above the ground grade, unless a subsurface reservoir supply pipe is connected to the well by an approved pitless adapter and the supply pipe can be maintained under a continuous pressure head which is greater than the ground surface elevation. In such case the supply pipe shall terminate near the bottom of the reservoir. A float control switch or low and high water level electrical pump-control elements may be provided to control the pump. A check valve may be installed only in the portion of the pump discharge pipe located within the well.

(g) Pump installations for flowing wells. Pump installations for flowing wells shall meet the requirements of s. NR 812.32 (9) .

(7)   Heights of existing wells.

(a) When a well is not terminated in a basement, in a walkout basement, in a pit, in an alcove or in a subsurface pumproom, the well casing pipe shall extend above grade as follows:

1. Low capacity wells, except school and wastewater treatment plant wells, constructed before February 1, 1991 shall terminate at least 8 inches above established ground grade,

2. High capacity, school and wastewater treatment plant wells shall terminate at least 12 inches above established ground grade, and

3. All wells constructed on or after February 1, 1991 shall terminate at least 12 inches above established ground grade.

4. All wells located in a floodplain shall extend at least 2 feet above the regional flood elevation for the well site.

(b) When the height of a well casing pipe does not meet the requirements of this section, it shall be extended in accordance with sub. (12) to a height at least 12 inches above ground grade or above the floor of a pumphouse; or, if applicable, 2 feet above the regional flood elevation. The well casing pipe may only be extended if the well meets the well casing pipe depth requirements of sub. (1) (b) . If it does not meet these requirements, the well shall be filled and sealed according to the requirements of s. NR 812.26 . If there is no confirmable well construction report available for the well the well casing pipe depth shall be measured. Well details, including location, well casing pipe depth, total well depth, distances to possible contaminant sources, and well owner information shall be entered on a form and submitted to the department in accordance with NR 812.22 (10) or 812.41 (4).

(c)

1. When a well is terminated in a basement a below-grade crawl space, in a walkout basement, in a pit, in an alcove or in a subsurface pumproom, the well casing pipe shall extend 6 inches above the floor of the structure.

2. When the height of a well casing pipe does not meet the requirements of this section, it shall be extended in accordance with sub. (12) to a height at least 12 inches above the floor of the structure, except that for wells located in pits and alcoves the well casing pipe shall be extended at least 12 inches above the outside ground grade. For situations where the well would create an obstruction, including in a stoop, sidewalk, breezeway, driveway, garage or patio, making it impractical to raise the well casing pipe up and out of the alcove, the well casing pipe may be raised to a height just below the ceiling of the alcove structure.

3. The well casing pipe may only be extended if the well meets the well casing pipe depth requirements of sub. (1) (b) . If it does not meet the requirements of sub. (1) (b) , the well shall be filled and sealed according to the requirements of s. NR 812.26 . The well casing pipe depth shall be measured before extending the well casing pipe, if there is no confirmable well construction report for the well. Well details, including location, well casing pipe depth, total well depth, distances to possible contaminant sources, and well owner information shall be entered on a form and submitted to the department in accordance with s. NR 812.22 (10) or 812.41 (4) .

(8)   Existing well seals and caps.

(a) An overlapping non vermin-proof cap or well seal shall be replaced in any of these situations:

1. The existing cap or seal, or the electrical conduit is broken or damaged,

2. The well is entered for the purpose of installing, replacing, or repairing the pump or any other equipment located within the well.

3. The well is entered for the purpose of reconstructing or rehabilitating the well.

(b) Wells constructed prior to February 1, 1991 may have been covered with overlapping caps rather than vermin-proof caps or seals, but may only continue to be covered with an overlapping cap until such time that there is entry into the well to perform water well drilling or pump installation work.

(c) Sanitary seals having solid or split-plate seals may be used, but split-plate seals may only be used if the well is enclosed in a pumphouse or a building.

(d) When a well cap or seal is replaced, it shall be replaced with an approved vermin-proof cap or an approved sanitary well seal. No open holes, other than the well vent, may exist in the cap or seal.

(e) Approved vermin-proof caps or approved sanitary well seals may be installed by licensed water well drillers or registered water well drilling businesses, or licensed pump installers or registered pump installing businesses.

(9)   Wells in basements and walkout basements.

(a) Wells in basements and below-grade crawl spaces, not including wells in subsurface pumprooms (alcoves).

1. Wells constructed after April 10, 1953 terminating in basements or wells constructed after July of 1951 terminating under a building addition shall be permanently filled and sealed according to the requirements of s. NR 812.26 .

2. W ells terminating in basements or below-grade crawl spaces shall be evaluated based on the sanitary safety of the well location and construction, pump installation and condition of the basement or below-grade crawl space in terms of the potential for the well to continuously produce water free from contaminants.

3. Screens may not be replaced on driven-point wells terminating in or extending through basements or below-grade crawl spaces. When a driven-point well screen needs replacement, the driven-point well shall be permanently filled and sealed according to the requirements of s. NR 812.26 . Any replacement well shall meet the requirements for new wells in this chapter.

4. Wells terminating in basements or below grade crawl spaces may remain in service if all of the following conditions are met:

a. The well was installed before April 10, 1953, the date after which wells in basements and below grade crawl spaces were no longer allowed.

b. If the well is a driven point, the point was never replaced after April 10, 1953, the date after which wells in basements and below grade crawl spaces could no longer be reconstructed.

c. The well produces water continuously free from contaminants in excess of the drinking water standards of s. NR 812.06 .

d. The well casing pipe depth meets the requirements of sub. (1) (b) .

e. The well and pump installation are in compliance with all other requirements of this chapter.

(b) Wells in walkout basements. Wells terminating in walkout basements may remain in service if all of the following conditions are met:

1. It is possible to walk directly outside from the walkout basement without walking upstairs or upslope.

2. The surface of the ground around the outside exit door of the walkout basement slopes down away from the door.

3. The well and pump installation are accessible for repair and removal.

4. The well produces water continuously free from contaminants in excess of the drinking water standards of s. NR 812.06 .

5. The well casing pipe depth meets the requirements of sub. (1) (b) .

6. The well and pump installation are in compliance with all other requirements of this chapter.

7. The walkout basement is not subject to flooding

8. The walkout basement is not in a floodway or floodplain.

(10)  D riveway ramps. A well may terminate within a driveway ramp, with or without a variance, before October 1, 2014, if the installation complies with the requirements for driveway ramps in Subchapter III .

(11)   Work on existing installations.

(a) Pits or Well Deepening. Before extending any well casing pipe out of a pit, or deepening a well constructed by another individual, the water well driller or the pump installer shall measure the well casing pipe depth to verify that the casing depth complies with the rules in effect at the time the well casing was installed including any special well casing depth area requirements or variances, if no confirmable well construction report can be found for the well. Well details, including location, well casing pipe depth, total well depth, distances to possible contaminant sources, and well owner information shall be entered on a form and submitted to the department in accordance with s. NR 812.22 (10) or 812.41 (4) .

(b) Sample Faucet. When doing any pump work involving replacement of the pressure tank, or work involving the water supply piping inside the basement or building, upstream of the pressure tank, the pump installer shall install a complying sample faucet if one is missing. The pump installer shall also replace any sample faucet that does not comply with the requirements of s. NR 812.34 , including any faucet that was installed before February 1, 1991 and including replacement of any threaded sample faucet with a sample faucet without threads. The pump installer or well owner may not file the threads off a noncomplying sample faucet.

(c) Casing Height.

1. When doing any water well work or pump installing work that involves entry into a well located outside a building, the water well driller or pump installer shall extend the well casing pipe to at least:

a. 12 inches above grade for any well that is less than 8 inches above grade and was installed before February 1, 1991.

b. 12 inches above grade for any well that is less than 12 inches above grade and was installed on or after February 1, 1991.

2. When the well casing height above grade does not comply with subd. 1. a. or b. , the water well driller or the pump installer shall measure the well casing pipe depth to verify that the well casing pipe depth complies with the rules in effect at the time that the well was constructed, if there is no confirmable well construction report available for the well. Well details, including location, well casing pipe depth, total well depth, distances to possible contaminant sources and well owner information shall be entered on a form and submitted to the department in accordance with s. NR 812.22 (10) or 812.41 (4)

3. The extension of the well casing pipe shall be in accordance with sub. (12) .

(d) Vermin-Proof Well Cap or Seal. When doing any water well work or pump installing work that involves entry into a well, the water well driller or pump installer shall replace any non-vermin proof well cap with an approved vermin-proof cap or sanitary well seal.

(e) Nonpressure Conduit. When any water well drilling work or pump installing work is performed involving entry into a well that has a nonpressure conduit, the water well driller or pump installer shall evaluate the integrity of the nonpressure conduit and its connection to the well casing pipe by performing a pressure test. If the nonpressure conduit fails the pressure test, the installation shall be changed to a pitless connection. The nonpressure conduit shall be completely eliminated by cutting off the well casing pipe below the nonpressure conduit and extending the well casing pipe to at least 12 inches above grade and installing pressurized discharge piping according to the requirements of ss. NR 812.28 , 812.31 and 812.32 (4) . The extension of the well casing pipe shall be in accordance with sub. (12) .

(f) Corrections. The features in pars. (a) to (e) must be corrected and may not be noted on a noncomplying features form instead of correcting the noncomplying feature or testing the nonpressure conduit.

(12)   Well casing height extensions for steel well casing pipe.

(a) The well casing pipe in the ground may only be extended up if it has the minimum wall thickness for its diameter according to the requirements of s. NR 812.17 Table V and is not in a deteriorated condition. If it does not meet these requirements, the well shall be filled and sealed according to the requirements of s. NR 812.26 . The well casing pipe extension (riser pipe) shall meet the requirements of s. NR 812.17 (2) and shall be attached to the top of the existing casing by one of the following methods:

1. Cutting off the well casing pipe in the ground squarely, providing a bevel for the top of the well casing pipe and making a watertight weld between the beveled end of the well casing pipe and the beveled end of the riser pipe.

2. Cutting threads on the top of the well casing pipe and the bottom of the riser pipe with a pipe die and using a full-standard recessed threaded coupling to provide a watertight connection between the two pipes.

3. Welding a properly-sized, snug-fitting, pipe nipple, beveled on the lower end and having threads on the upper end, and meeting the requirements of s. NR 812.17 (2) , to the beveled end of the well casing pipe. The top of the well casing pipe and the bottom of the pipe nipple to be welded shall both have beveled ends. The pipe nipple shall be welded on the inside and the outside contact surfaces of the pipe nipple. The riser pipe shall be threaded to the top of the pipe nipple.

4. Reaming out the threads of a full standard recessed coupling, at least 1/3 the length of the coupling, and welding the coupling to the top of the cut-off well casing pipe with a fillet weld on the inside and outside contact surfaces of the coupling. The riser pipe shall be threaded into the top of the coupling.

5. The threaded lower end of a riser pipe may not be welded to the cut-off end of a well casing pipe.

6. Riser pipe may not be connected to the well casing pipe by means of a compressible joint.

(13)   Disinfection, flushing and sampling. When working on existing water wells or pump installations, the well and water system shall be disinfected, flushed and sampled in accordance with ss. NR 812.22 and 812.41 .

History: Cr. Register, January, 1991, No. 421 , eff. 2-1-91; am. (1) (intro.), (a), (b), (2) (intro.), (a), (d), (5) (b), (6) (a) 2., (b) 2., (e), (7) (intro.) (9) (a) 1., cr. (4) (f), (6) (b) 4., (g), (7) (e), Register, September, 1994, No. 465 , eff. 10-1-94; correction in (6) (a) 3. made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register, May, 2000, No. 533 ; CR 00-111 : am. (1) (b), Register October 2001 No. 550 , eff. 11-1-01; correction in (6) (a) 3. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672 ; CR 13-099 : am. (1) (title), (intro.), (a), renum. (1) (b) to (b) 1., cr. (1) (b) 2. to 5., am. (1) (c), (2) (title), (intro.), (a), (c), renum. (d) to (d) 1. to 3. and am., renum. (3) to (3) (a) to (c), am. (4) (f), cr. (4) (g), (h), am. (6) (intro.), renum. (6) (a) 2. to 2. a., b. and am., cr. (6) (a) 2. c., am. (6) (b) 4., r. (7) (a), renum. (7) (intro.) to (7) (a), (7) (b) to (e) to (7) (a) 1. to 4., cr. (7) (b), (c), renum. (8) to (8) (b) to (d) and am., cr. (8) (a), (e), am. (9) (a) (title), 1., renum. (9) (a) 2. to (a) 2., 3. and am., cr. (9) (a) 4., am. (9) (b) (intro.), 2., 3., cr. (9) (b) 5. to 8., cr. (10) to (13) Register September 2014 No. 705 , eff. 10-1-14; correction in numbering (11) (c) to (f) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., correction in (3) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., corrections in (2) (d) 1. b., (11) (c) 2., (f) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., September 2014 No. 705.

Note

Approval has been required to construct a pit since April 10, 1953. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 - See PDF for diagram Figure 48. Requirements for an existing pit connected to a basement (subsurface pumproom). Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Unprotected buried suction lines have never been allowed by the Wisconsin Well and Pump Code. Nonpressurized conduits were only allowed prior to February 1, 1991. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Nonpressure conduits to protect buried suction lines were only allowed before February 1, 1991 and then only for installations serving three or fewer homes. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 The department recommends that the pump impeller or cylinder of pump units be located in basements not subject to flooding and be at least one foot above the floor. See figures 49 and 50 for nonpressure conduit installations. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 - See PDF for diagram Figure 49. Minimum requirements for pump installations for existing wells with non-pressure conduit connections. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 - See PDF for diagram Figure 50. Pump installation for an existing well with a deep well jet pump assembly and a non-pressure conduit. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 This requirement applies to sample faucets installed before and after February 1, 1991. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1