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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 21. WATER AND SANITATION |
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Chapter 21-18. WELL CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND ABANDONMENT STANDARDS |
Section 21-1820. WELL CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS: WELL CAPS AND UPPER TERMINUS OF WELL
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1820.1Except as provided in §§ 1820.3 and 1820.4, the upper terminus of a well shall meet the following requirements, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Department in accordance with §§ 1803.10 and 1803.11;
(a)A well shall be covered with a secure and locking well cap, meeting the following requirements:
(1)A well cap shall be constructed to prevent the introduction of contaminants, or any other foreign material including surface runoff;
(2)A vented capping device shall be screened so as to prevent the entry of insect and animals; and
(3)The well cap shall be locked or incapable of removal without the use of tools;
(b)The surface completion shall be set in a cement well pad with minimum dimensions of two feet (2 ft.) by two feet (2 ft.) and domed to prevent water from entering the well;
(c)A protective metal casing with a locking cap shall be installed around a well completed at or above ground surface, extending at least six inches (6 in.) above the top of the well and cemented into place at least one foot (1 ft.) below ground surface; and
(d)A metal housing shall be installed on top of the well completed below ground surface and a limited-access water tight protective cover shall be installed to prevent the inflow of surface water, or the metal housing shall be provided with drains to keep water out of the well and below the well cap.
1820.2For a well sited within the 100-year floodplain or low lying areas prone to flooding, the top of the well head shall not terminate less than twenty-four inches (24 in.) above the finished ground surface and shall be fully protected from surface water intrusion, unless otherwise approved in accordance with §§ 1803.10 and 1803.11.
1820.3A dewatering well or ground freeze well constructed for temporary construction applications shall be exempt from § 1820.1, provided all the following conditions are met:
(a)The well is sited within a secured perimeter not accessible to the public;
(b)The well meets the requirements of §§ 1812.1 through 1812.4; and
(c)The well is abandoned within one-hundred and eighty (180) days of well completion in accordance with §§ 1830 and 1831.
1820.4A monitoring well, observation well, piezometer, injection well or recovery well shall be exempt from §§ 1820.1(b) through 1820.1(d) provided all the following conditions are met:
(a)The well meets the requirements of §§ 1812.1 through 1812.4; and
(b)The well is abandoned within thirty (30) days of well completion in accordance with §§ 1830 and 1831.
1820.5The upper terminus of an industrial supply well, irrigation supply well, and a domestic supply well shall be required to meet the following standards:
(a)The well shall be constructed with an access port with a minimum inside diameter of one-half inch (0.5 in.), allowing for a water level measurement by a steel or electric tape;
(b)The access port shall be constructed with a removable cap and seal to protect from entry of water, dust, insects, animals, or other foreign material, but allows access for water level measurements;
(c)If a pump motor is not installed directly over the well, an access port shall be constructed atop the well; and
(d)If a pump motor is installed directly over the well, an access port shall be installed through the pump base or outside the well casing at some accessible point below the base of the pump.
1820.6A closed-loop ground source heat pump well shall not require a secure and locking well cap provided the closed-loop ground source heat pump well is constructed in accordance with § 1823.
1820.7The cover of a well completed below ground surface shall be designed to withstand the maximum expected loadings.
1820.8The construction and use of a well pit, pump pit, or other facility installed or constructed below ground surface are prohibited, unless prior written approval has been granted by the Department in accordance with §§ 1803.10 and 1803.11.