N.M. Admin. Code § 19.27.4.7

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 20, October 22, 2024

Section 19.27.4.7 - DEFINITIONS

Unless defined below or in a specific section of these rules, all other words used herein shall be given their customary and accepted meaning.

A.Aquifer: A geologic formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells.

B.Artesian well: A well that penetrates a saturated hydrogeologic unit and allows underground water to rise or move appreciably into another hydrogeologic unit, or allows underground water to rise to freely flow at the ground surface. For regulatory purposes, the determination of whether a well or borehole is artesian shall be made by the state engineer, taking into consideration the potential for loss of water at the ground surface or into another hydrogeologic unit.

C.Drill rig: Any power-driven percussion, rotary, boring, coring, digging, jetting, or augering machine used in the construction of a well or borehole.

D.Drill rig supervisor: A drill rig operator working under the direct supervision of a well driller, to whom the well driller assigns responsible charge of regulated well drilling activities using equipment that is under the direct control of the well driller, and who is registered with the office of the state engineer to perform such responsibilities.

E.Drilling: See definition for well drilling.

F.Ground source heat pump: A heat pump that uses the earth itself as a heat source and heat sink. It is coupled to the ground by means of a closed-loop heat exchanger (ground coil) installed horizontally or vertically underground. Also termed on-site geo-exchange heat pump and earth - or ground - coupled heat pump.

G.Hydrogeologic unit: Any soil or rock unit or zone which by virtue of its porosity or permeability, or lack thereof, has a distinct influence on the storage or movement of groundwater.

H.Inter-aquifer exchange: The movement of groundwater that flows appreciably between hydrogeologic units.

I.Mine drill hole: A borehole to explore for or delineate deposits or accumulations of ore, mineral, or rock resources.

J.Repair: Changing some part of an existing well by deepening, hydrofracturing, re-casing, perforating, re-perforating, installing packers or seals, and any other material change in the existing well design or construction. Material changes include but are not limited to casing installation or modification including casing extensions, installation or modification of liner pipe, reaming or under reaming of the borehole, pitless unit installation on an artesian well that flows (or capable of flowing) at ground surface, or any other work requiring a permit from the state engineer to repair and deepen the well.

K.Well: A borehole, cased, uncased or screened, or other hydraulic structure that is drilled, driven, or dug, vertically, horizontally, or at an angle, that penetrates, is intended to penetrate, or otherwise affects the water stored in a saturated hydrogeologic unit. The intended use may be: water supply; monitoring water levels or water quality; exploratory purposes; water remediation; injection of water, both into saturated and unsaturated zones; dewatering purposes; ground source heat pump purposes, or for other purposes.

L.Well driller: A person subject to the licensing requirements of 72-12-12 through 72-12-17 NMSA 1978 and 19.27.4 NMAC.

M.Well drilling, well drilling activities: The activities associated with the drilling of a well, including, but not limited to, the construction, drilling, completion, repair, deepening, cleaning, and plugging of a well.

N.M. Admin. Code § 19.27.4.7

19.27.4.7 NMAC - N, 8-31-2005, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVIII, Issue 11, June 13, 2017, eff. 6/30/2017