Mo. Code Regs. tit. 10 § 23-3.030
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 20, October 15, 2024
Section 10 CSR 23-3.030 - [Effective until 11/30/2024] Standards for Construction of Water WellsPURPOSE: This rule describes the minimum construction standards for water wells.
(1) Domestic Water Wells and Pilot Holes. (A) Casing. 1. Steel well casing. The minimum standards for steel casing are found in Table 3.2. Click to view image
A. Joints. Joints shall be welded or threaded and be watertight. Recessed or reamed and drifted couplings shall be used on threaded casing. Other couplings may be used provided the design, taper, and type of thread of the coupling matches that of the pipe. Casing extension material shall be of similar material to the original casing. Other types of joints or devices used to join dissimilar casing extension materials may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.B. Standards. Casing shall be new and meet American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), A53 grade A or B, A500 grade A or B, or A589 or other grade weldable new pipe having a quality equal to or greater than those specified. Used casing when salvaged within ninety (90) days of installation from a water supply well and is decontaminated is considered new pipe.C. Drive shoe. In areas where steel casing is required, equip the well casing with a drive shoe or similar protective device to prevent damage to the well casing during construction of the well. If no drive shoe is used, follow the minimum groutcure times in Table 3.3. Click to view image
2. Plastic well casing. The minimum standards for plastic well casing are found in Table 3.4. Click to view image
A. Joints. Well casing joints shall be watertight and joined by solvent weld (glued) or mechanical. Casing extension material shall be of similar material to the original casing. Other types of joints or devices used to join dissimilar casing extension materials may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.B. Standards. Casing shall be: new and meet ASTM standards, composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) thermoplastics and meet ASTM standards, marked "Well Casing" and have the specification number F-480 Standard for Plastic Well Casing. Used casing when salvaged within ninety (90) days of installation from a water supply well and is decontaminated is considered new pipe.C. Packers. A packer, coupling, or inverted bell shall be secured at the bottom of the casing and hold the grout in place while drilling continues. No packer, coupling, or inverted bell is needed if grout is allowed to cure following minimum cure times in Table 3.3.3. Concrete and fiberglass well casing-A. May be used for unconsolidated wells greater than eighteen inches (18") in diameter; andB. Shall be composed of non-toxic durable material designed for use in potable water wells.4. Other materials may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.(B) Borehole. For borehole size see 10 CSR 23-3.090.(C) Grouting. It is the responsibility of the well installation contractor to ensure that the annular space is sealed and that the casing does not leak. This responsibility ends three (3) years after the approval date by the department unless it can be proven that the annular seal has been damaged by other persons. 1. Grouting installation methods. A. Gravity method. (I) Bentonite granules or bentonite slurry shall not be poured through standing water greater than one hundred feet (>100').(II) Table 3.5 states the maximum depth that grout can be gravity fed into the well annulus.(III) Gravity grouting greater than two hundred feet (200') in a four inch (4") annulus is not allowed. Click to view image
B. Tremie method. Tremie pipes shall be- (I) Placed into the annulus and extend to no less than five feet (5') from the bottom of the interval to be grouted;(II) Gradually withdrawn as the grouting material is emplaced; and(III) No greater than ten feet (10') above the emplaced grouting material during the entire grouting process.C. Tremie pressure method. The tremie pipe shall remain submerged in the grouting material during the entire grout pumping process.E. Open-hole method. (I) Non-slurry bentonite may be poured from the surface and allowed to completely hydrate before the casing is installed.(II) Bentonite slurry may be used in wells with more than one hundred feet (>100') of standing water only if the grout is emplaced by one (1) of the tremie grouting methods.F. Positive displacement method. (I) Bentonite slurry or cement slurry may be used in wells with more than one hundred feet (>100') of standing water only if the grout is emplaced by one (1) of the tremie grouting methods.G. Other grouting methods may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.2. Grout materials.C. Bentonite non-slurry. If there is no water in the annular space, the bentonite shall be hydrated.D. Other grout types may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.(D) Driving Casing. 1. When geologic conditions require the casing to be driven, the casing may be driven to the casing depth without adding grout.2. Once the casing is set, install liner pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.080.3. In addition to the liner, a top annular casing seal, at least ten feet (10') deep is required below the pitless connection.4. A liner and top annular seal are not required when the open hole method or positive displacement grouting method is used.(E) Wellhead Completion. Follow well casing seal and connection installation pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.050(6).(2) Multifamily Wells. (A) Multifamily wells shall have no more than eight (8) connections, fewer than twenty-five (25) individuals, and have a pumping capacity of less than seventy gallons per minute (<70 gpm).(B) Multifamily wells may be used to serve a charitable or benevolent organization pursuant to section 640.116, RSMo.(C) Casing. 1. Follow 10 CSR 23-3.090 for minimum casing depths by Drilling Area for domestic water wells.2. Install new steel casing that meets the minimum standards specified in Table 3.2 for size and weight.3. Other casing design or materials may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.4. Liners are not a substitute for casing.(D) Joints. Well casing joints shall be welded or threaded and be watertight. Other types of joints may be used upon receiving advanced written approval by the department. Recessed or reamed and drifted couplings shall be used on threaded casing; other couplings may be used provided the design, taper, and type of thread matches that of the pipe.(E) Standards. Pipe shall be new and meet the ASTM, A53 grade A or B, A500 grade A or B, or A589 or other grade weld-able new pipe having a quality equal to or greater than those specified. Used pipe is considered new if it is salvaged within ninety (90) days of installation from a new water well.(F) Drive shoe. Equip the well casing with a drive shoe or similar protective device to prevent damage to the well casing during construction of the well.(G) Borehole. Construct the borehole a minimum of ten and five-eighths inches (10 5/8") in diameter to the casing depth. Larger casing may be installed provided the borehole is a minimum of four inches (4") larger in diameter.(H) Grouting. Grout the annular space of the well full length. It is the responsibility of the well installation contractor to ensure that the annular space is sealed and that the casing does not leak. This responsibility ends three (3) years after the date of approval by the department unless it can be proven that the well seal has been damaged by another person.1. Grouting installation methods.A. Tremie method pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(1)(C) 1.B.B. Tremie pressure method pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(1)(C) 1.C.C. Pressure method pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(1)(C) 1.D.2. Grout materials. A. Grout types pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(1)(C) 2. may be used except powdered or granular non-slurry bentonite.B. Other grout types may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.(I) Wellhead Completion. The wellhead shall be completed pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.050(6).(3) High yield bedrock wells or high yield unconsolidated wells two hundred feet (200') or more in depth. (A) Casing. 1. The minimum amount of casing shall be determined by the department in advance.2. Install new steel casing that meets the minimum standards specified in Table 3.6 for size and weight.3. In lieu of steel casing, unconsolidated wells two hundred feet (200') or more in depth may use Schedule 80 or Standard Dimension Ratio 21 (SDR 21) plastic casing.4. Liners are not a substitute for casing.5. Other design or materials may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department. Click to view image
(B) Joints, Standards, Drive shoe, Borehole, Grouting, and Wellhead Completion shall be followed pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(2)(D) to 10 CSR 23-3.030(2)(I).(4) High yield unconsolidated wells less than two hundred feet (<200'). (A) High yield unconsolidated wells less than two hundred feet (<200') in depth. 1. Install a minimum of twenty feet (20') of casing.2. Install new steel or plastic casing that meets the minimum standards specified in Table 3.2 or Table 3.4, respectively.3. Other design or materials may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.(B) Borehole. Construct the borehole pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(2)(G).(C) Grouting. Install a ten foot (10') minimum top grout seal. It is the responsibility of the well installation contractor to ensure that the annular space is sealed and that the casing does not leak. This responsibility ends three (3) years after the date of approval by the department unless it can be proven that the annular seal has been damaged by another person. 1. Grouting installation methods. A. Gravity method pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(1)(C) 1.A.B. Tremie method pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(1)(C) 1.B.C. Tremie pressure method pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(1)(C) 1.C.D. Pressure method pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.030(1)(C) 1.D.2. Grout materials. C. Other grout types may be used upon receiving prior written approval from the department.(D) Gravel Pack. All gravel placed into the well shall be clean, washed, and disinfected prior to placement or provisions made for disinfection in place.(E) Wellhead Completion. Follow well casing seal and connection installation pursuant to 10 CSR 23-3.050(6).(F) Major water users are subject to requirements pursuant to section 256.410, RSMo.(5) Oil and gas zones. (A) Report oil or gas encounters and the conversion of water wells to oil or gas wells pursuant to section 256.614, RSMo.(B) Any water well that encounters oil and/or gas shall have an annular or open hole grout plug from fifty feet (50') below the oil and/or gas bearing zone to fifty feet (50') above the oil and/or gas bearing zone.(C) The grout plug shall be composed of cement slurry with a two to six percent (2-6%) bentonite additive.(D) The grout plug shall be placed via one (1) of the tremie methods. AUTHORITY: sections 256.606, 256.614, 256.615and256.626, RSMo 1994.* Original rule filed April 2, 1987, effective 7/27/1987. Emergency amendment filed Nov. 16, 1993, effective 12/11/1993, expired 4/9/1994. Amended: Filed Aug. 17, 1993, effective 3/10/1994. Amended: Filed July 13, 1994, effective 1/29/1995. Amended: Filed Nov. 1, 1995, effective 6/30/1996. Amended by Missouri Register January 15, 2019/Volume 44, Number 2, effective 2/28/2019*Original authority: 256.606, RSMo 1991; 256.614, RSMo 1985, amended 1991; 256.615, RSMo 1991; and 256.626, RSMo 1985, amended 1991.