216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-1.4

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 216-RICR-50-05-1.4 - Approval of Water Sources

A. Proposed New Water Sources

1. No source of water shall be developed for a PWS until the site plans prepared and stamped by a professional engineer or land surveyor registered in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-8 has been approved by the Director. Such plans shall also be provided in an electronic format compatible with the Department's computer software.

2. No source of surface water shall be constructed for a PWS until proposed surface water source construction plans and specifications (including but not limited to an intake, dam, etc.) prepared and stamped by a professional engineer registered in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-8, have been approved by the Director. Such plans shall also be provided in an electronic format compatible with the Department's computer software.

3. No source of groundwater shall be constructed for a PWS until proposed groundwater source construction (well or spring) plans and specifications prepared and stamped by a professional engineer registered in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-8 have been approved by the Director. The well construction plans and specifications shall be in accordance with §§ 1.4(L) and 1.5 of this Part. Such plans shall also be provided in an electronic format compatible with the Department's computer software.

4. Approval of plans and specifications granted an applicant shall expire within two (2) years if construction of the approved source has not begun within that period.

5. Expired approvals may be renewed if the data provided in the application is unchanged and attested to by the applicant; and the plans conform with all construction standards and testing requirements in effect at the time of application for renewal.

B. In the case of a proposed gravel packed or gravel developed (stratified drift) well, within the area as specified below, the site plans shall show pertinent information including, but not limited to, locations of existing or proposed sewage disposal systems, and any other existing or proposed potential sources of pollution including, but not limited to, those listed in § 1.23 of this Part.

1. For proposed community or non-transient non-community wells designed to be used at a pumping rate greater than ten (10) gpm, the site plan shall contain pertinent information within two thousand (2,000) feet of the well.

2. For proposed transient non-community wells, or for wells designed to be used at a pumping rate of ten (10) gpm or less, the site plan shall contain pertinent information within one thousand seven hundred fifty (1,750) feet of the proposed well.

3. The land within four hundred (400) feet of such wells shall be reserved for protection of the water quality of the well, and shall be delineated on the site plan by a topographic mapping of the four hundred (400) foot area to an appropriate scale. This distance may be modified at the discretion of the Director taking into consideration such factors as the volume and type of waste material to be disposed or stored in close proximity to the land area reserved for protection of the well, the projected yield of the well, the depth below grade to impervious formation, the depth below grade to the water table, the type of soil in the area, or any other factors the Director deems pertinent.

C. In the case of a proposed drilled (bedrock) or driven well, within a radius dependent on the proposed pumping rate as specified in the following table "Wellhead Protection Area Radius for Bedrock Wells", but not less than 1,750 feet, the site plan shall show pertinent information including, but not limited to, the location of existing and proposed sewage disposal systems and any other existing or proposed potential sources of pollution including but not limited to those listed in § 1.23 of this Part. Generally, the land within two hundred (200) feet of such wells shall be reserved for protection of the water quality of the well, and shall be delineated on the site plan by a topographic mapping of the two hundred (200) foot area to an appropriate scale. This distance may be modified at the discretion of the Director taking into consideration such factors as the volume and type of waste material to be disposed or stored in close proximity to the land area reserved for protection of the well, the depth below grade to impervious formation, the depth below grade to the water table, the type of soil in the area, or any other factors the Director deems pertinent.

1. Wellhead Protection Area Radius for Bedrock Wells.

Pumping Rate (gpm)	Radius (ft)	Pumping Rate (gpm)	Radius (ft)
[LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO] 10	1750	23	2411
11	1820	24	2440
12	1872	25	2466
13	1920	30	2568
14	1965	35	2638
15	2008	40	2689
16	2087	45	2729
17	2153	50	2760
18	2211	60	2806
19	2261	70	2875
20	2305	80	2985
21	2344	90	3068
22	2380	100	3133

2. gpm = gallons per minute. For pumping rates not provided below, the Wellhead Protection Area Radius shall be calculated using the formula below in accordance with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Groundwater Quality Rules:

a. Where: s = drawdown; 1 foot, Q = well pumping rate, T = transmissivity; 374 gpd/ft, S = storage coefficient; .01 (dimensionless), t = time; 200 days, W(u) = well function (dimensionless), and r = distance from pumped well. 114.6 and 1.87 are coefficients generated for conversion from metric to English units and conducting some simplifying calculations.

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D. In the case of a proposed surface water source, the site plan shall show pertinent information within the entire watershed of the proposed surface water supply including, but not limited to, the location of existing and proposed sewage disposal systems and any other existing or proposed potential sources of pollution including, but not limited to, those listed in § 1.23 of this Part. The portion of the watershed owned or controlled by the water purveyor shall be clearly indicated. All surface water sources shall be provided with water treatment consisting, as a minimum, of coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.

E. All revisions to approved plans must be submitted to the Director for approval. The Director may require a new application and/or site plan if the revisions are deemed significant.

F. Land reserved for the protection of the well as (indicated on the plan) approved by the Director must remain under the direct control of the water supplier by either continued ownership or recorded easement unless written permission to modify this area is granted by the Director.

G. It is the responsibility of the water supplier to maintain the protective well area free from potential sources of pollution including but not limited to those listed in § 1.23 of this Part.

H. Connection to another public water supply. A new public water supply shall not be approved for use at any facility if another community public water supply is reasonably accessible to such facility as determined by the Director, and permission to connect can be obtained from the authority having jurisdiction.

I. Applications for approval of new water sources must be accompanied by an assessment of the financial viability for said PWS to maintain compliance with the requirements of this Part. The assessment shall include a discussion of operation costs including: operation, maintenance, monitoring, anticipated future improvements, debt repayment, and unforeseen emergencies or system breakdowns, and a discussion of how the necessary revenues to pay for these costs will be raised.

J. All newly constructed or reconstructed wells shall perform the following procedures and testing prior to final approval:

1. At least one (1) round of the Inorganic Chemicals listed in § 1.16.1 of this Part, the Synthetic Organic Chemicals listed in § 1.16.2(A) of this Part, the Volatile Organic Chemicals listed in § 1.16.2(B) of this Part, and the Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in § 1.16.2(E) of this Part.

2. Disinfection, flushing, and documentation of coliform testing in accordance with § 1.21 of this Part. No well shall be placed in use until such examination discloses the absence of coliform organisms.

K. If a well is located within one hundred fifty (150) feet (for stratified drift wells) or two hundred (200) feet (for bedrock wells) of a surface water body, Microscopic Particulate Analysis (MPA) and/or additional testing may be required to evaluate if the groundwater is under the direct influence of surface water, as determined by the Director.

L. Well Construction

1. Wells shall be located in a manner to reduce the likelihood of contamination from sources of pollution at or near the ground surface in accordance with §§ 1.4(B) and (C) of this Part.

2. Well Grouting (Sealing)

a. All wells must be sealed in a manner that protects the water-bearing formations from contamination from surface runoff and subsurface contaminants. When sealing the annular space, a grout seal mixture shall be utilized which will:

(1) Provide negligible movement of potentially contaminating fluids in the annular space;

(2) Provide protection of the casing from corrosive waters;

(3) Provide support of the casing;

(4) Provide negligible shrinkage, breakage, or deterioration of the grout after placement;

(5) Prevent artesian flow in the annular space; and

(6) Not cause or allow contamination of the aquifer.

b. The grout must be placed in a continuous operation in a manner to best ensure against creating any voids, mixing with diluting or contamination fluids, or damaging the casing or the borehole.

c. In no case shall drill cuttings or drill chips be used or allowed to fill, partially fill, or fall into the required sealing interval of a well during the construction or the completion of a well.

d. When using cement grout as the sealing material in a well, it must meet one of the following requirements:

(1) Neat Cement Grout: Slurry of cement and water, with no aggregate. A mixture of Portland cement and water in the proportion of five (5) to six (6) gallons of potable water per bag (94 pounds or 1 cubic foot).

(2) Sand-Cement Grout: A mixture of cement, sand, and water in the proportion of one (1) bag (ninety-four (94) pounds or one (1) cubic foot) of Portland cement, clean sand equal in volume to the cement, and not more than six (6) gallons of potable water.

(3) Bentonite-Cement Grout: A cement grout with unbeneficiated (without additives used to make it "high-yield") bentonite added to a maximum content of five (5) percent. For each one percent (1%) of bentonite added, 0.65 gallons of water per bag of cement (ninety-four (94) pounds or one (1) cubic foot) shall be added to the cement grout.

e. When using bentonite grout as the sealing method in a well, it must meet the following requirements and be mixed and added by manufacturer's specification:

(1) High Solids Bentonite Grout: A highly plastic sodium clay defined as twenty percent (20%) solids, or greater, by weight bentonite-to-water ratio.

(2) Granular Bentonite Grout: A naturally occurring sodium bentonite clay that is crushed and sized for pouring and easy handling. When hydrated by fresh water, it will form a plastic, essentially impermeable mass.

(3) Non-Slurry Bentonite Grout: Chip, chunk and pellet bentonite varieties that are hydrated to manufacturer's specifications, installed in incremental depths to avoid bridging, and measured frequently to confirm placement.

f. When grouting the annular space either using a tremie pipe or by pumping the grout from inside the casing, the borehole required to create the annular space shall be a minimum of three (3) inches in diameter greater than the nominal diameter of the permanent well casing.

g. Placement of bentonite chips or pellets shall be by manufacturer's specification. The borehole required to create the annular space shall be a minimum of four (4) inches in diameter greater than the nominal diameter of the permanent well casing. Pellet, chip or chunk bentonite or any combination must be placed, hydrated, and measured frequently to confirm the grout is placed without bridging and provides a tight homogeneous seal.

h. In all cases the casing and casing seal shall extend a minimum of eighteen (18) feet below ground surface. When bedrock is present, watertight, unperforated casing shall extend and be sealed at least five (5) feet into the bedrock. A greater depth may be required at the Director's discretion.

i. When a well is re-cased for the purpose of sealing off undesirable water or sand, a seal packer, or "Jaswell"-type seal, may be used and the annular space shall be sealed with an acceptable material in accordance with § 1.4(L)(2) of this Part.

3. The pump installation, piping arrangements, other appurtenances, and well house details at wells which serve as the source of supply for a PWS, shall meet the following requirements.

a. The line shaft bearings of turbine pumps shall be water-lubricated, except that bearings lubricated with NSF ISO 21469 certified lubricants may be permitted in wells where water-lubricated bearings are not feasible due to depth to the water.

b. The top of the well casing shall be provided with a well cap and sanitary seal. Where turbine pumps are installed, there must be appropriate appurtenances to allow for adequate seal. Where submersible pumps are installed, the top of the casing shall be provided with a watertight sanitary well cap.

c. A casing vent shall be provided. The vent shall be fitted with a screened return bend, except for wells equipped with pitless adapters or units.

d. A sampling tap shall be provided on the pump discharge line prior to tanks, treatment, or blending.

e. Piping arrangements shall include provisions for pumping the total flow from the well to waste.

f. Each well shall be equipped with a totalizer flow meter in order to measure the flow from the public water supply into the facility. The meter shall comply with the ANSI/NSF Standard 61. The measurement range on the meter shall be consistent with the flow rate(s) of the pump.

g. The ground surface around the well slab shall be graded so that drainage is away from the well.

h. The top of the well casing shall extend at least twelve (12) inches above the pump house floor or concrete slab and at least eighteen (18) inches above final ground surface. Well casings located at sites that are subject to flooding from the 500-year (0.2 percent) flood level shall extend a minimum of eighteen (18) inches above the 500-year flood level and a berm shall be provided around the well casing to the height of the 500-year flood level.

i. All wells shall be protected with a watertight, durable, non-corrodible, vented, bolted cap with a sanitary seal (gasket). The vent shall be downward facing and must be covered by a #24-mesh screen that is made of stainless steel or other non-corrodible material. Existing well caps must comply with this Part upon replacement due to well cover damage or loss of sanitary seal integrity.

j. Provisions shall be made for protecting pump controls and other above-ground appurtenances at the well head. Where a well house is installed for this purpose, it shall meet applicable building codes and shall be insulated, heated, and provided with lights, except that where the well house consists of a small removable box-like structure the requirements for lights may be waived by the Director.

k. When a well house is constructed, it must include provisions for pump removal.

4. All well forms provided by the Director shall be filled out in their entirety.

5. Well Performance Test.

a. All well performance test ("pumping test") must be conducted, and reports prepared, by a qualified hydrogeologist or a professional engineer or well driller who is proficient in well testing and analyses and registered in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-8.

b. A yield and drawdown test shall be performed on every well after construction and development.

c. The test methods shall be clearly indicated in the project specifications.

d. The test shall provide for continuous pumping at +/- five percent (5%) of the design.

(1) For transient non-community PWS (TNC), pumping shall last for a minimum of six (6) hours but at least until drawdown has stabilized.

(2) For non-transient non-community PWS (NTNC), pumping shall last for a minimum of twelve (12) hours, for businesses that have a standard eight to twelve (8-12) hour work day, and for a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours, for businesses that are open more than twelve (12) hours, but at least until drawdown has stabilized.

(3) For community PWS (CWS), pumping shall last for a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours, for unconsolidated rock wells, and for a minimum of seventy-two (72) hours, for bedrock wells, but at least until drawdown has stabilized.

(4) Drawdown stabilization is defined for TNC as a water level change of less than two inches over six hours and for NTNC and CWS as a change of less than 0.04 ft. over twenty-four (24) hours.

(5) If drawdown stabilization is not achieved, a semi-log plot extrapolation of the time-drawdown curve derived from the performance test and projected over a one hundred eighty (180) day period must be provided.

e. The following data shall be submitted to the Director:

(1) Test pump capacity-head characteristics;

(2) Static water level, determined when there is less than one (1) foot difference between two (2) consecutive water level measurements taken a minimum of sixty (60) minutes apart;

(3) Depth of test pump setting;

(4) Time of starting and ending each test cycle.

f. A report shall be submitted which provides recordings and graphic evaluation of the following.

(1) Pumping rate measured every fifteen (15) minutes for the first two (2) hours and at least one (1) hour intervals thereafter as required by the Director.

(2) Pumping water level measured just before pumping begins, after pumping starts at least every five (5) minutes for the first hour, and at least once every hour thereafter measured to the nearest 0.1 foot (approximately 3 cm).

(3) Water recovery rate and levels, starting immediately upon shutdown of the test pump and taken at time intervals specified in § 1.4(L)(5)(f)(2) of this Part until water levels in the well have recovered to within ninety (90) percent of the static water level.

(4) An evaluation of the data using standard published methodologies and certification that it meets the requirements.

g. Withdrawn water shall be conveyed away from the test well and any observation wells. If there is a potential for local recharge for the well being tested, the water shall be conveyed beyond the anticipated final limits of drawdown to prevent recirculation of discharged water.

h. Construction of new dug wells is not permitted.

i. Except as otherwise provided in § 1.4(L) of this Part, wells shall be constructed in accordance with the general standards for the construction and maintenance of water wells in the Recommended Standards for Water Works: Policies for Review and Approval of Plans and Specifications for Public Water Supplies, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standards, American National Standards Institute/NSF International standards, specifically ANSI/NSF Standard 60 and ANSI/NSF Standard 61; and the National Groundwater Association (NGWA) ANSI/NGWA-01-14 Water Well Construction Standard incorporated by reference in § 1.24(A) of this Part, where applicable. Exceptions from this requirement may be granted by the Director.

M. Approval of Reconstructed Water Sources

1. Proposed Reconstructed Water Sources

a. No source of surface water shall be reconstructed for a PWS until proposed surface water source reconstruction plans (including but not limited to an intake, dam, etc.) prepared by a professional engineer registered in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-8 has been approved by the Director. Such plans shall also be provided in electronic format.

b. No source of groundwater shall be reconstructed for a PWS until proposed groundwater source reconstruction (well or spring) plans prepared by a professional engineer registered in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-8 has been approved by the Director. The well construction plans shall contain proposed specifications in accordance with § 1.4(L) of this Part. Such plans shall also be provided in electronic format.

c. Approval of plans and specifications granted an applicant shall expire within two (2) years if construction of the approved source has not begun within that period.

d. Expired approvals may be renewed if the data provided in the application is unchanged and attested to by the applicant; and the plans conform with all construction standards and testing requirements in effect at the time of application for renewal.

2. All revisions to approved plans must be submitted to the Director for approval. The Director may require a new application if the revisions are deemed significant.

3. All well forms provided by the Director shall be filled out in their entirety.

4. The Director may require compliance with the sampling requirements of § 1.4(J) of this Part and the performance test requirements of § 1.4(L)(5) of this Part for reconstructed wells.

5. Reconstruction or reconditioning of existing dug wells must be pre-approved by the Director.

6. Well Abandonment and Decommissioning

a. Decommissioning of abandoned wells shall take place within sixty (60) days after use has been permanently terminated or within a timeframe approved by the Director.

b. The abandoned well shall be inspected from the land surface through its entire depth before it is sealed, to ensure against the presence of any obstructions that will interfere with sealing operations. If an obstruction is encountered, the obstruction shall be removed.

c. If the well was constructed and installed per § 1.4(L) of this Part, is open to its original depth, and is undamaged, the casing/liner may be left in place. When the original well construction is not known, has been damaged, or has not been installed per § 1.4(L) of this Part, the casing/liner shall be removed. Where casing/liner removal is not possible, it shall be ripped or perforated from top to bottom to allow the sealant to penetrate the annular space and formation to facilitate proper sealing in accordance with § 1.4(L)(2) of this Part.

d. The well sealant shall be composed of any grout from § 1.4(L)(2) of this Part. Alternative materials, such as disinfected fill, may be allowed in some cases, such as for dug wells, subject to the prior approval of the Director.

e. The well sealant shall be emplaced in accordance with § 1.4(L)(2) of this Part from the original depth to the surface. Alternative methods, such as disinfected fill, may be allowed in some cases, such as for dug wells, subject to the prior approval of the Director.

f. If the well casing remains in the ground, the casing shall be cut off below ground level to a depth not to interfere with land use.

g. The well location and abandonment procedures shall be documented on well forms provided by the Director, including materials used in decommissioning, method of placement, volume, and description.

216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-1.4

Amended effective 9/18/2024