N.H. Code Admin. R. Env-Ws 387.08

Current through Register No. 25, June 20, 2024

Section Env-Ws 387.08 - Withdrawal Testing Program Design

(a) The applicant shall propose a withdrawal testing program in the minor withdrawal designation request in accordance with Env-Ws 387.09.

(b) The testing program in (a), above shall:

(1) Demonstrate production of the maximum withdrawal volumes requested;

(2) Identify impacts from the withdrawal at the wellhead;

(3) Verify that the withdrawal will not result in adverse impacts under 180-days of continuous operation at the maximum volumes requested in the permit application; and

(4) Provide data to justify the use of any alternative methods for the testing program, study area definition, or predicting impacts from the withdrawal.

(c) The applicant shall conduct a withdrawal testing program for a withdrawal associated with bottled water in accordance with the pumping test program in Env-Ws 389.

(d) The applicant shall conduct a withdrawal testing program for a withdrawal associated with community water supplies in accordance with the pumping test program in Env-Ws 379.

(e) For other withdrawals, a withdrawal testing program shall meet the criteria identified in paragraph (f) through (q) below:

(f) The withdrawal test shall be conducted as follows:

(1) Where the applicant proposes to operate an existing withdrawal in addition to the new withdrawal to meet the water needs demonstrated in the conservation management plan and description of need under Env-Ws 387.05:

a. The existing withdrawal shall be operated during testing of the new withdrawal so that test conditions directly reflect proposed operating conditions; or

b. The applicant shall present data demonstrating the source of water for the existing withdrawal is not connected to the source for the new withdrawal;

(2) Withdrawals shall be operated continuously at constant discharge rates that do not vary more than ±5% after the first 6 hours of pumping;

(3) The testing production rate of the new withdrawal shall produce at least the maximum volume that will be requested in the minor withdrawal permit application;

(4) The discharge rate from the new withdrawal and any existing withdrawals operating as part of the test in accordance with paragraph (1)a, above, shall be:

a. Measured using a calibrated device capable of providing measurements accurate to within 5% of the discharge rate; and

b. Measured every 15 minutes for the first 2 hours and at least once every hour thereafter;

(5) Discharge measurements from the new withdrawal and any existing withdrawal shall:

a. Not be averaged over a period greater than one minute; and

b. Include at least 2 readings collected and recorded for each measurement; and

(6) Pumped water shall be discharged outside the contributing area of operating wells so there is no effect resulting from the discharged water on the environmental response to the pumping;

(g) During testing, withdrawals shall operate continuously for at least 48 hours.

(h) Cessation of withdrawals after 48 hours may occur under the following circumstances:

(1) The water level in the withdrawals has fluctuated less than one inch in any 2 hours for a period of 12 hours; or

(2) The theoretical 180-day drawdown of the withdrawals:

a. Does not exceed 90% of the total available drawdown at the time of the test or 5 feet, whichever is greater; and

b. Is derived using the following methodology:

1. Water level data shall be plotted as a semi-logarithmic plot of drawdown versus elapsed time, expressed in minutes elapsed since pumping began, presented on the logarithmic axis; and

2. A straight line shall be:

(i) Drawn through the data on the semi-logarithmic plot with a slope based on the data points from the end of the pumping period; and

(ii) Used to extrapolate the drawdown for a time of 180 days which shall be the theoretical 180-day drawdown.

(i) Water levels in the new as well as any existing withdrawals shall be measured as follows:

(1) Water level measurements and time shall be recorded every 8 hours, at least 24 hours before pumping begins;

(2) Water level measurements shall be recorded immediately before pumping begins and once pumping begins, every 5 minutes for the first hour, and at least once every hour thereafter;

(3) Water level measurements shall be made using equipment capable of measuring to the nearest 0.01 foot for the water levels anticipated during pumping; and

(4) Water levels in any 4 acre or smaller surface water within 150 feet of the operating wells shall be measured using a water level staff gauge and gauge readings shall be taken just before pumping starts and once pumping begins, every 12 hours thereafter.

(j) The applicant shall request in writing, permission to monitor the following as part of withdrawal testing for all other water users located within 1000 feet of the proposed withdrawal:

(1) The operating schedule of their withdrawal; and

(2) Water levels associated with their withdrawal.

(k) On-site precipitation data shall be collected for the period beginning one week preceding pumping through the recovery period.

(l) On-site weather condition observations shall be recorded at least twice daily during pumping and recovery.

(m) When a withdrawal test is proposed, the proposal shall include the following:

(1) The proposed testing production rate and the rates of any other withdrawals that will be operated as part of the test in accordance with paragraph (f), above;

(2) A description of the construction, location, and monitoring schedule of groundwater monitoring points;

(3) A site sketch showing the discharge locations;

(4) Text that explains the technical rationale for the discharge location identified in (3), above;

(5) A description of the construction of surface water staff gauges and a site sketch showing the location the gauges that are used to monitor the water level of surface water during the withdrawal testing;

(6) A description of the method and equipment that will be used to ensure constant pumping rates are maintained;

(7) A description of discharge measurement methods and schedules;

(8) The anticipated operating schedule for nearby withdrawals identified in paragraph (j) above;

(9) The anticipated withdrawal test duration and criteria for pump shut down; and

(10) The name, telephone number, and mailing address of the person responsible for determining whether to cease pumping.

(n) Any alternative testing program shall meet or exceed the criteria of the withdrawal test specified in this section;

(o) When an alternate testing program is proposed, the proposal shall include:

(1) The information required for testing proposal pursuant to this section; and

(2) Information demonstrating that the program will meet or exceed the requirements for the standard withdrawal test.

(p) When requested by the applicant, additional testing may be performed to verify the minor withdrawal designation.

(q) Upon request by the applicant, the department shall propose a scope of work for additional withdrawal testing when:

(1) The proposed withdrawal testing is not likely to verify minor designation status; and

(2) Additional testing may verify minor withdrawal designation.

N.H. Code Admin. R. Env-Ws 387.08

#7490, eff 5-12-01; ss by #9459, INTERIM, eff 5-12-09, EXPIRED: 11-9-09