Section 141.11. Filter packs.

  All permanent groundwater monitoring wells installed in unconsolidated material and used for the collection of water quality samples shall be constructed with filter packs. Permanent groundwater monitoring wells installed in bedrock may be constructed with filter packs. When used, the filter pack shall be the only material in contact with the well screen. The estimated and actual volume of filter pack material used shall be calculated and reported to the department. All commercially prepared filter packs installed in permanent groundwater monitoring wells shall meet the requirements in sub. (1) . All other filter packs shall meet the requirements in sub. (3) .

(1)   Specifications. The filter pack shall be a well sorted, silica based sand or gravel. The sand or gravel used for filter packs shall be hard and durable and shall have an average specific gravity of not less than 2.50. The sand and gravel shall be visibly free of clay, dust and micaceous and organic matter. Not more than 5% of the sand or gravel shall be soluble in a 10% hydrochloric acid solution. Thin, flat or elongated pieces of gravel, the maximum dimension of which exceeds 3 times the minimum dimension, may not constitute more than 2% of the material by weight. The filter pack for wells installed in unconsolidated material shall be sized to retain at least 50% of the surrounding formation based on a sieve analysis. In formations which are predominantly silt and clay, the filter pack shall be a fine sand. In bedrock, the filter pack shall be a medium or coarse sand or gravel. Crushed limestone, dolomite or any material containing clay or any other material that will adversely impact on the performance of the monitoring well may not be used as filter pack.

(2)   Installation. The filter pack shall extend from 6 inches beneath the bottom of the well to 2 feet above the top of the well screen. For water table observation wells constructed in areas where the depth to water table is less than 7 feet, the required filter pack height above the top of the well screen may be reduced to 6 inches to allow for the required amount of annular space sealant to be placed. To ensure that the filter pack is installed evenly surrounding the well screen and casing over the proper depth interval, a tape measure, measuring rod or similar device shall be used to measure the height of the filter pack. The tape measure, measuring rod or similar device shall be carefully raised and lowered while the filter pack is being installed to identify bridging. If bridging occurs the filter pack material shall be tamped into place, surrounding the well screen and casing, using a measuring rod or similar device.

(3)   Collapsed formation. Collapsed formation may be used as filter pack material if the collapsed formation will limit the passage of formation fines into the well screen and either an artificial filter pack cannot be installed or the formation grain size is greater than or equal to fine sand sized grains. The grain size distribution of the collapsed formation shall be such that at least 90% of the formation will be retained by the well screen based on a sieve analysis. Analysis of the collapsed formation for specific gravity and particle size shall be performed and documentation shall be submitted to the department to support its use as an acceptable filter pack. Following review of the submitted information, the department may require new well construction if the collapsed formation analysis is not consistent with the filter pack specifications.

History: Cr. Register, January, 1990, No. 409 , eff. 2-1-90; am. (1) to (3), Register, June, 1991, No. 426 , eff. 7-1-91.