Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-54.6

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024

Rule 567-54.6 - Verification of well interference

(1)Test pumping. Test pumping of the complainant's and permittee's wells may be required for verification of well interference. A permittee may perform test pumping to verify well interference even if it is not required by the department. Test pumping shall be authorized by the department and supervised by a certified well contractor, registered professional engineer or other designee of the department. The test pumping shall be performed within 30 days of notification by the department to the permittee and the complainant that test pumping is to be conducted. The permittee and complainant shall each be responsible for all costs associated with test pumping their own wells, although the complainant's costs may be eligible for compensation.

The complainant shall provide access to the nonregulated well for water level measurements during test pumping by the permittee. The permittee may be required to provide the complainant with a temporary water supply during test pumping by the permittee. Test pumping shall be performed in accordance with procedures specified in Bulletin No. 23.

(2)Determination of verified well interference. The department will evaluate the occurrence of well interference based on data from the test pumping or other available hydrologic information and notify the affected parties of the results. If the test pumping was not performed under critical conditions (e.g., pumping rate less than maximum permitted rate, pumping duration less than critical duration, recharge more than minimum, etc.), the department will adjust test pumping results accordingly and qualify estimations in reporting the test pumping results.

The results of this evaluation will be used by the department to determine if well interference is verified in accordance with guidelines in Bulletin No. 23. In general, well interference will be verified if it causes the water in a nonregulated well to drop to a level below the pump suction, or it is shown to significantly diminish well performance.

If well interference is verified, settlement procedures according to rule 54.7(455B) will be followed. If well interference is not verified, the complaint will be dismissed and any emergency order will be removed. The department will notify the complainant and permittee of its decision regarding the complaint and either party may appeal pursuant to rule 54.10(455B).

Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-54.6