Well Standards Regulation

Well Standards Regulation, M.R. 215/2015 The Groundwater and Water Well Act , C.C.S.M. c. G110 Regulation 215/2015 Registered December 21, 2015 bilingual version (HTML) Table of Contents Section PART 1 DEFINITIONS 1 Definitions PART 2 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION AND SEALING REQUIREMENTS 2 Manner of construction and sealing 3 Interconnection of geologic formations 4 Review of flowing artesian conditions 5 Construction or sealing of a flowing artesian well or test hole 6 Covering of well or test hole during construction or sealing 7 Materials and additives in the construction, sealing, rehabilitation, maintenance or servicing of a well or test hole 8 Reporting of materials and additives 9 Source of water for construction, sealing, etc. — production and open loop geothermal wells used for domestic purposes 10 Conditions subject to immediate sealing 11 Minister may allow variation PART 3 WELL CONSTRUCTION 12 Exclusion from application of Part 3 13 Minimum setback distance — property boundary 14 Other minimum setback distances — human graves, sewage disposal, livestock manure, etc. 15 Well must be accessible 16 Restrictions on construction of wells in well pits 17 Well pit requirements 18 Well casing requirements 19 Minimum depth of well casing 20 Well casing stick-up 21 Exclusion from well casing stick-up requirements 22 Casing extension 23 Well screen requirements 24 Exclusion from "previously-unused material" requirements 25 Well covers 26 Mounting of a hand pump or hydrant 27 Flow control device 28 Well venting 29 Annular space 30 Filter pack material surrounding a well screen 31 Surface seal required for annular space 32 Surface seal for annular space — bored or dug wells 33 Surface seal for annular space — flowing artesian wells 34 Placement of slurry grout 35 Developing the well 36 Well yield test 37 Method of testing 38 Pump-setting depth and pumping rate 39 Connection to a well casing for water distribution purposes 40 Disinfection — well for domestic purposes 41 Disposal of debris 42 Disposal of drill cuttings and drilling fluid PART 4 GPS COORDINATES AND WELL IDENTIFICATION 43 Exclusion from application of Part 4 44 Measurement of GPS coordinates 45 Mandatory well identification tag 46 Additional use of well identification tag 47 Exemption — certain environmental and geotechnical wells 48 Affixing a well identification tag 49 Removal of a well identification tag 50 Reporting well identification tag numbers 51 Protection of well identification tag PART 5 SEALING TEST HOLES AND WELLS 52 Exclusion from application of Part 5 53 Sealing — no vertical movement of water 54 Native materials 55 Sealing of small-diameter test holes and wells 56 Sealing material for flowing artesian test holes and flowing artesian wells 57 Placement of slurry grout 58 Backfill material for voids, fractures, cavities and zones of lost circulation 59 Surface seal required for wells 60 Removal of equipment, debris and obstructions 61 Well located within a well pit — cribbing 62 Sealing of service lines PART 6 GENERAL PROVISIONS AND COMING INTO FORCE 63 Technical bulletins 64 Coming into force Schedule PART 1 DEFINITIONS Definitions 1 The following definitions apply in this regulation. "Act" means The Groundwater and Water Well Act . («  Loi  ») "air vent" means an outlet at the upper end of a well casing, well cap or well cover that allows for the equalization of air pressure between the inside of the casing and the atmosphere, and for the release of gases from the well. (« évent ») "annular space" means an open space between a casing or well screen and the hole used to construct the well, and includes space between overlapping casings within the well. (« espace annulaire ») "backfill material" means the material used to fill or seal a test hole, annular space, abandoned well or well pit and includes grout, filter pack and native materials. (« matériau de remblai ») "bored well" means a well, typically 45 to 90 cm (18 to 36 in) in diameter, that is constructed by boring a hole using an earth auger. (« puits foré ») "bridging" means accumulated backfill material that creates an obstruction in a test hole, well or annular space. (« effet de voûte ») "construct" , in relation to a well or test hole, means to do any work in relation to the digging, drilling, installing, modifying or repairing of the well or test hole, including the partial sealing of the well or test hole, but does not include (a) the complete sealing of the well or test hole; or (b) a minor modification or repair of the well or test hole. (« construire ») "debris" includes any left-over, broken or discarded material, litter or refuse, but does not include drill cuttings or drilling fluid. (« débris ») "drill cuttings" means the ground-up geological material produced during the drilling of a well or test hole. (« déblais de forage ») "drilling fluid" means the water used in drilling a well or test hole and the additives added to the drilling water. (« fluide de forage ») "dug well" means a well, typically 60 to 120 cm (24 to 48 inches) in diameter, that is constructed by digging a hole either manually or mechanically. (« puits creusé ») "environmental well" means a monitoring well used for the purpose of obtaining information on soil or groundwater contamination, or for remediation of contaminated groundwater. The term "environmental test hole" has a corresponding meaning. (« puits environnemental ») "filter pack" means granular material that is placed in the annular space surrounding a well screen to prevent formation material from entering the screen. (« matériau filtrant ») "free chlorine" means chlorine, excluding combined chlorine, that remains in water after disinfection has occurred. (« chlore libre ») "generally accepted industry standards and practices" means a practice or a standard that is consistent with proper and accepted practices and standards established and followed within the well construction industry. (« normes et pratiques de l'industrie généralement reconnues ») "GPS coordinates" means global positioning system coordinates. (« coordonnées GPS ») "granular bentonite grout" means naturally occurring sodium bentonite clay that is graded and typically in the form of chips or pellets. (« coulis de bentonite granulaire ») "grout" means a low permeability material used to fill an annular space, or to seal a test hole or abandoned well. Grout includes the following: (a) granular bentonite grout; and (b) slurry grout which includes suitable mixtures of cement or high-solids bentonite grout with fresh water that can be forced through a tremie line or other method of grout placement and which may also include additives to meet certain grouting requirements. (« coulis ») "high-solids bentonite grout" means a mixture of powdered sodium bentonite clay and fresh water, that contains at least 20% solids by weight. (« coulis de bentonite à teneur élevée en solides ») "licenced public water system or semi-public water system" means a public water system or semi-public water system licensed under The Drinking Water Safety Act . (« réseau public ou réseau semi-public d'alimentation en eau agréé ») "native materials" means (a) the drill cuttings from a test hole or well or the excavated material from a dug well; or (b) other excavated material including clay, granular soil and crushed rock. (« matériau de l'endroit ») "pitless adapter or unit" means a sanitary underground discharge assembly that provides a watertight subsurface connection for buried pump discharge, injection or suction lines. (« adaptateur ou unité pour puits sans fosse de visite ») "sealing" means the act of filling a well or a test hole with a material or a mixture of materials as specified in this regulation, but does not include the partial sealing of a well. (« scellement ») "solids-free" means water that is visually free of any solid matter. (« sans solides ») "splash pad" means an impermeable surface that promotes drainage away from the well and prevents the accumulation of water around the well casing. (« bloc parapluie ») "surface seal" means an interval of grout placed in the top of a test hole, abandoned well or annular space in order to prevent the downward movement of water or other substances in the test hole, abandoned well or annular space. (« joint d'étanchéité de surface ») "tremie line" means a pipe or hose that is used to conduct slurry grout during the construction or sealing of a well or test hole. (« tube de trémie ») "well casing" means a watertight length of pipe or other suitable material that prevents the collapse of geological material into the well. (« cuvelage ») "well construction report" means a report prepared under section 50 of the Act at the time of constructing a well or test hole. (« rapport sur la construction d'un puits ») "well cover" means the secure cover on a well, including a cap, lid, well seal or hand pump. (« couvercle de puits ») "well identification tag" means a permanent tag containing a unique well identification number that is attached to a new or existing well. (« étiquette d'identification du puits ») "well liner" means a watertight length of pipe or other suitable material installed inside a well casing that is used to line the well to prevent the collapse of geological material into the well, seal off the well from sources of contamination or for repair or modification purposes. (« gaine de puits ») "well pit" means a pit constructed below the ground surface for the purpose of housing a well. (« fosse de visite ») "well screen" means a filtering device attached to a well casing and designed to allow water into the well while keeping sediment out, including continuous-slot, louvered and bridge-slot screens, well points and slotted or perforated pipe. (« filtre pour puits ») "well seal" means a watertight seal installed at the top of a well casing to prevent water or other substances from entering the well. (« joint d'étanchéité de puits ») "well sealing report" means a report prepared under section 50 of the Act at the time of sealing a well or test hole. (« rapport sur le scellement d'un puits ») PART 2 GENERAL CONSTRUCTION AND SEALING REQUIREMENTS Manner of construction and sealing 2 A person must not construct or seal a well or test hole other than in a manner which (a) is suitable for the geologic and groundwater conditions existing at the site of the well or test hole; (b) prevents surface water from entering the well or test hole; (c) prevents contaminants from entering the well or test hole except in the case of an environmental well or environmental test hole; (d) seals off water bearing formations that contain contaminants except in the case of an environmental well or environmental test hole; and (e) prevents the interconnection or mixing of groundwater having distinctively different characteristics within the same aquifer or different aquifers. Interconnection of geologic formations 3(1) Without limiting the generality of clause 2(e), a person must not construct or seal a well or test hole in a manner that allows the interconnection or mixing of groundwater between the Winnipeg Formation and any overlying aquifer. Definition 3(2) In this section, "Winnipeg Formation" means the shale, sandstone and sands of the Ordovician Winnipeg Formation. Review of flowing artesian conditions 4 Before beginning the construction or sealing of a well or test hole, the person performing the work must determine if the area has a history of flowing artesian conditions and whether it is likely or reasonably possible that flowing artesian conditions will occur. Construction or sealing of a flowing artesian well or test hole 5 If a well or test hole is being constructed or sealed in an area where it is likely or reasonably possible that flowing artesian conditions will occur, the person constructing or sealing the well or test hole must construct or seal it in a manner that allows for control of flow from the well or test hole. Covering of well or test hole during construction or sealing 6 If a well or test hole being constructed or sealed is left unattended, the person performing the work must cover or otherwise secure the well or test hole in a manner sufficient to (a) prevent the entry of surface water or any other substance or material into it; and (b) ensure that human health and safety are not at risk. Materials and additives in the construction, sealing, rehabilitation, maintenance or servicing of a well or test hole 7(1) A person must not use or permit the use of a material or additive in the construction, sealing, rehabilitation, maintenance or servicing of a well or test hole unless the material or additive (a) is suitable for potable water use; (b) complies with generally accepted industry standards and practices; (c) meets or exceeds any specifications set out for that material or additive by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), American Water Works Association (AWWA) or the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF); (d) is applied and used as recommended by the manufacturer, if it is manufactured; (e) is clean and free of contamination; (f) is stable within the geochemical surroundings it is used; and (g) does not impair the quality of water with which it comes in contact. Examples — materials and additives 7(2) For greater certainty, in subsection (1), (a) material includes, but is not limited to, well casings, well liners, well screens, well covers and backfill material; and (b) additive includes, but is not limited to, clays, polymers, surfactants, disinfection products and acids. Reporting of materials and additives 8 A person required to prepare a well construction report or a well sealing report pursuant to section 50 of the Act must include in it details satisfactory to the director as to the types and quantities of materials or additives used in the construction or sealing of the well or test hole. Source of water for construction, sealing, etc. — production and open loop geothermal wells used for domestic purposes 9(1) All water used in the construction, sealing, rehabilitation, maintenance or servicing of (a) a production well or an open loop geothermal well, if used for producing water for domestic purposes; (b) a test hole or test well for the purpose of obtaining information on a well described in clause (a); or (c) any other type of well or test hole within 100 m (328 ft) of a well described in clause (a); must (d) be from a licenced public water system or semi-public water system, or from a groundwater source that is chlorinated; (e) contain a minimum 10 mg/L free chlorine at all times, except for monitoring wells where chlorine will interfere with water quality analysis or remediation; and (f) be stored and conveyed in clean, sanitary tanks and water lines. Source of water for construction, sealing, etc. — other wells 9(2) All water used in the construction, sealing, rehabilitation, maintenance or servicing of a well or test hole not specified in subsection (1) must (a) be from a licenced public water system or semi-public water system, or from a groundwater or surface water source that is chlorinated; (b) contain a minimum 10 mg/L free chlorine at all times, except for monitoring wells where chlorine will interfere with water quality analysis or remediation; and (c) be stored and conveyed in clean, sanitary tanks and water lines. Conditions subject to immediate sealing 10 A well or test hole must be immediately sealed by the person who performed or is performing the construction upon the occurrence of any of the following during or immediately following construction: (a) a test hole from which the required information has been obtained, unless the test hole is being used for the construction of a well; (b) the construction of a well or test hole is not completed due to a construction problem or any other reason; (c) a dry well or test hole, unless the well or test hole is being used for the construction of a closed loop geothermal well, monitoring well or a geotechnical well; (d) a well or test hole is found to have been constructed in contravention of any provision of the Act or this regulation, unless steps are immediately taken that result in bringing the well or test hole into compliance. Minister may allow variation 11 Upon written application by or on behalf of the owner of a well or test hole, the minister may vary any requirement of this regulation with respect to the construction or sealing of a well or test hole, subject to such terms and conditions that the minister may require, and the variation must be complied with as if it were a part of this regulation. PART 3 WELL CONSTRUCTION Exclusion from application of Part 3 12 This Part, other than section 13, does not apply to closed loop geothermal wells or test holes. WELL LOCATION Minimum setback distance — property boundary 13 A person constructing a well, other than a monitoring well or a geotechnical well, must ensure that the well is located at least 1.5 m (5 ft) from any property boundary. Other minimum setback distances — human graves, sewage disposal, livestock manure, etc. 14 A person constructing a well, other than a monitoring well or a geotechnical well, must ensure that the well is located in accordance with the minimum setback distances set out in the Schedule. Well must be accessible 15(1) A person constructing a well must ensure that it is located such that upon completion of construction it is accessible for cleaning, treatment, maintenance, repair, testing, inspection and visual examination. Owner to ensure well remains accessible 15(2) An owner of land on which a well is located must ensure that the well remains accessible for cleaning, treatment, maintenance, repair, testing, inspection and visual examination at all times after construction. WELL PITS Restrictions on construction of wells in well pits 16 No person shall (a) construct a well in a well pit to produce water for domestic purposes; or (b) add a well pit to an already-constructed well that produces water for domestic purposes. Well pit requirements 17(1) A person constructing a well in a well pit must ensure that (a) the top of the well pit is covered with a solid watertight cover; (b) the well pit cover is sufficiently, strong, durable and installed in a manner to protect the well from damage; (c) the well pit cover is fastened in place in a manner that makes it difficult for a child to remove; (d) the top of the well casing extends not less than 30 cm (12 in) above the floor of the well pit; (e) a well seal or other appropriate means is used to seal the topmost part of the well casing; and (f) the well pit is kept dry by means of a sump pump or other appropriate method. Well pit — owner responsible after construction completed 17(2) After the completion of construction, the owner of the land on which the well pit is located is responsible for ensuring that the requirements of subsection (1) remain satisfied. WELL CASINGS AND WELL SCREENS Well casing requirements 18 In addition to the requirements of subsection 7(1), and except as provided in section 24, a person constructing a well must ensure that the well casing, including any well liners, meets the following requirements: (a) be made of previously-unused material; (b) be watertight throughout their lengths, including all seams and joints in the casing being watertight; (c) be sufficiently centred in the borehole to allow the adequate placement of backfill materials completely surrounding the casing; (d) be sufficiently straight and obstruction-free so as to admit pumping or other equipment without damage. Minimum depth of well casing 19 A person constructing a well — other than a monitoring well or a geotechnical well — must ensure that the well casing extends to a depth of at least 6 m (20 ft) below the surface of the ground, unless the only useful aquifer available necessitates a shallower depth for the well casing. Well casing stick-up 20(1) Subject to section 21, a person constructing a well must ensure that the well casing extends not less than 30 cm (1 ft) above any finished surface or the established ground surface when the well is completed. Well casing stick-up — owner responsible after construction completed 20(2) After the completion of construction, the owner of the land on which the well is located is responsible for ensuring that the requirements of subsection (1) remain satisfied. Exclusion from well casing stick-up requirements 21 Section 20 does not apply to the following: (a) a monitoring well or a geotechnical well (i) that is covered with a water-tight cap, lid or seal, and (ii) that is contained within a flush mounted protective cover that is sufficiently strong and durable, and installed in such a manner so as to protect the well from damage; (b) a well in a well pit, so long as the requirements of subsection 17(1) are met. Casing extension 22 No person shall extend the top of a well casing unless (a) the casing is structurally sound; (b) connections are completed in accordance with generally accepted industry standards and practices; (c) the casing connection joint is watertight; and (d) the casing connection joint is capable of withstanding frost heave. Rubber couplings must not be used in the extension of a casing. Well screen requirements 23 In addition to the requirements of section 7, and except as provided in section 24, a person constructing a well must ensure that it has a well screen that meets the following requirements: (a) is made of previously-unused material; (b) is designed to meet the supply requirements for the well; (c) has a closed bottom; (d) is connected to the well casing in accordance with generally accepted industry standards and practices (which are not to be interpreted as including the use of lead packers as the means of connection). Exclusion from "previously-unused material" requirements 24 Clauses 18(a) and 23(a) do not apply to a test well or a dewatering well if the well is abandoned and sealed not later than 180 days, or such further time as the director may allow, after its installation. WELL COVERS AND WELL VENTING Well covers 25(1) A person constructing a well must ensure that a well cap, well lid, well seal or hand pump is attached to the top of the well casing and that the well cover meets the following requirements: (a) it is made of durable materials that do not deteriorate in sunlight; (b) it is sized to fit securely to the top of the well casing; (c) it is insect- and vermin-proof; (d) if there are any appurtenances that enter into the well, such as tubing or power cables, the well cover incorporates openings, that have been properly sealed, to accommodate them. Well cover — owner responsibility after construction 25(2) After the requirements of subsection (1) have been fulfilled, the owner of the land on which the well is located must ensure that the requirements of clauses (1)⁠(a) to (d) continue to be met. Mounting of a hand pump or hydrant 26(1) A person installing a hand pump, hydrant or a similar device on a well must ensure (a) that the device is mounted to the well casing or a pump mounting sleeve in a manner that seals the top of the well casing, to prevent entry of surface water or other foreign material into the well; and (b) that the well has a splash pad. Hand pump and splash pad — owner responsibility after installation 26(2) After the requirements of subsection (1) have been fulfilled, the owner of the land on which the well is located must ensure that the requirements of clauses (1)⁠(a) and (b) continue to be met. Flow control device 27(1) A person constructing a flowing artesian well must install a flow control device that is capable of (a) stopping the discharge of water from within the well casing; and (b) withstanding the freezing of water in the well casing. Flow control device — owner responsibility 27(2) After the requirements of subsection (1) have been fulfilled, the owner of the land on which the well is located must ensure that the requirements of clauses (1)⁠(a) and (b) continue to be met. Well venting 28(1) A person constructing a well must ensure that the well is vented to the outside atmosphere in a manner that will safely disperse all gases. Venting — owner responsibility 28(2) After the requirements of subsection (1) have been fulfilled, the owner of the land on which the well is located must ensure that those requirements continue to be met. Exclusions from venting 28(3) Venting is not required for a monitoring well or a geotechnical well, unless venting is needed for the proper operation of the well. BACKFILLING — ANNULAR SPACE Annular space 29(1) A person constructing a well must ensure there is a continuous annular space of not less than 25 mm (1 in) width outside the well casing. Exclusion from size of annular space 29(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to well drilling methods in which no annular space is created. Type of backfill material 29(3) Material used to backfill an annular space surrounding a well casing must meet the following requirements: (a) the requirements of section 7; (b) have a permeability that is equal to or less than the native materials that were removed from the same depth interval within the well; (c) in the case of native materials, (i) be free of organic soil materials, (ii) be stored separately during construction, kept free from contamination and placed in the same relative positions that they originally occupied, and (iii) be placed continuously within the annular space without bridging. Filter pack material surrounding a well screen 30(1) Manufactured filter pack material used to surround a well screen (a) must meet the requirements of section 7; (b) must be properly sized for its application; and (c) may be extended above the well screen to compensate for any settling occurring during well development. Placement of filter pack material 30(2) Subject to subsection (3), the filter pack material must not be placed closer than 6 m (20 ft) from the ground surface. Exception 30(3) The following exceptions apply to subsection (2): (a) if necessary due to the location of the only useful aquifer, the filter pack material may be placed closer than 6 m (20 ft) from the ground surface, as long as it is not placed closer than 2.5 m (8.2 ft) from the surface; (b) for a dewatering well for dewatering an aquifer at or near the ground surface, the filter pack material may be placed closer than 6 m (20 ft) from the ground surface. Surface seal required for annular space 31(1) Subject to subsection 30(3) and except as provided in sections 32 and 33, grout must be used to seal the upper annular space of a well as follows: (a) if the depth of the well casing is 6 m (20 ft) or less, the annular space must be filled continuously from the bottom of the casing to the established ground surface; (b) if the depth of the well casing is greater than 6 m (20 ft), the annular space above 6 m must be filled continuously to the established ground surface. Surface seal disturbed by addition of pitless adapter or unit 31(2) If the surface seal is disturbed during the installation of a pitless adapter or unit, the surface seal must be replaced with material that meets the requirements of subsection 29(3). Surface seal for annular space — bored or dug wells 32 When constructing a bored or dug well, the upper annular space of the well must be sealed by either of the following methods: (a) by (i) placing a minimum 0.3 m (1 ft) thick seal of grout in the annular space to a depth not exceeding 3 m (10 ft) below the ground surface, typically just beneath the base of a pitless adapter or unit if such is used in the well construction, and (ii) filling the remainder of the annular space above the grout referred to in subclause (i) with material that meets the requirements of subsection 29(3); (b) by an alternate method approved by the director. Surface seal for annular space — flowing artesian wells 33(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) and section 34, the entire annular space of a flowing artesian well must be backfilled with neat cement grout or a suitable mixture of sand-cement or bentonite-cement grout, subject to the following specifications: (a) the cement must be a high-sulphate-resistant cement (type HS); (b) the amount of bentonite must not exceed 6% by weight of the cement content. Exception to use of high-sulphate-resistant cement 33(2) A non-sulphate-resistant cement may be used under exigent circumstances such as the encounter of unexpected or difficult flowing well conditions that require immediate sealing but prohibit the procurement and use of high-sulphate-resistant cement. Manufactured filter pack 33(3) If a manufactured filter pack is present, the annular space is required to be backfilled above the filter pack. Placement of slurry grout 34(1) Slurry grout must be forced from the bottom to the top of the annular space to be sealed. Any grout that has settled or subsided after placement must be topped-up to its original level. Backfill material for voids, fractures, cavities and zones of lost circulation 34(2) Granular material may be used to aid in the backfilling of the annular space when slurry grout has or may become lost due to the presence of voids, fractures, cavities or zones of lost circulation. WELL DEVELOPMENT Developing the well 35(1) A person constructing a well must (a) do everything reasonably practicable to remove drill cuttings and drilling fluids from the well by developing the well until the well water is clear and solids-free; and (b) verbally notify the well owner if the well is not developed to a solids-free state and record such condition on the well construction report. Well development — exception 35(2) Subsection (1) does not apply (a) to a monitoring well or a geotechnical well; or (b) in circumstances where the discharge of groundwater during well development may create a contamination problem. WELL YIELD Well yield test 36(1) A well yield test must be performed on a production well or an open loop geothermal well (a) that is newly constructed; or (b) whose yield may have changed as a result of a well repair, rehabilitation or modification. The person who constructed, repaired, rehabilitated or modified the well must perform the test. Exception 36(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if a formal pumping test is planned to be performed to obtain well yield information as a licensing requirement under The Water Rights Act . But if no such pumping test is in fact performed, then the requirements of subsection (1) must be met. Method of testing 37 A well yield test is to be performed after the well has been sufficiently developed, using the following method: (a) water is to be discharged from the well at a near-constant rate by means of a pump, air-lifting method, bailer or other suitable means; (b) the test is to be performed for a minimum duration of one hour unless the yield cannot be sustained, in which case clause (c) applies; (c) if the test cannot be performed for one hour, a recovery test, or other test satisfactory to the director, must be performed; (d) the following data and information must be collected during the test and recorded on the well construction report: (i) method of testing (pumping, air-lifting, bailing, recovery or other method), (ii) water level immediately prior to the start of the test, (iii) measured rate of water discharge or estimated rate of water discharge if a measured rate cannot be made, (iv) water level immediately prior to the stop of the test, (v) duration of the test. Pump-setting depth and pumping rate 38 The person who performs the well yield test must recommend a pump-setting depth and pumping rate and record the recommendations on the well construction report after completion of the well yield test. WELL HOOK-UP AND DISINFECTION Connection to a well casing for water distribution purposes 39 A connection to a well casing for water distribution purposes must (a) be watertight; (b) be made (i) with a commercially-manufactured pitless adapter or unit, (ii) with a commercially-manufactured well seal, or (iii) by an alternate method approved by the director; and (c) if under flowing artesian conditions, be designed to control the flow of water from the well and, if required, be vented to the outside atmosphere in a manner that will safely disperse all gases. Disinfection — well for domestic purposes 40 Immediately upon completing construction of a well for domestic purposes, the person who constructed the well must (a) disinfect the well so that a concentration of between 50 and 200 mg/l of available chlorine is present throughout the water in the well; and (b) maintain the concentration described in clause (a) in the well for a period of at least 12 hours. WELL SITE CONDITIONS Disposal of debris 41 A person constructing or sealing a well or test hole must promptly remove and properly dispose of all well construction and well sealing debris from the well or test hole site. Disposal of drill cuttings and drilling fluid 42 The following conditions apply to the disposal of drill cuttings and drilling fluid: (a) if drill cuttings or drilling fluid are to be removed from the well or test hole site, the person responsible for removal must dispose of them in a manner that does not harm the environment; (b) without limiting the generality of clause (a), drill cuttings or drilling fluid must not be disposed of by depositing them into an onsite wastewater management system, including a holding tank, septic tank or pit privy. PART 4 GPS COORDINATES AND WELL IDENTIFICATION Exclusion from application of Part 4 43 This Part does not apply to closed loop geothermal wells or test holes. GPS COORDINATES Measurement of GPS coordinates 44(1) The following persons must measure the GPS coordinates of a well or test hole: (a) a person, other than a person described in clause 6(a) or (b) of the Act, (i) constructing a new well or test hole, (ii) modifying or rehabilitating an existing well, or (iii) sealing or partially sealing a well or test hole; (b) any other person required to do so by the director. If the GPS coordinates are already available on an existing well construction report, a person modifying, rehabilitating, sealing or partially sealing the well need not comply with this section. Method of GPS measurement 44(2) The GPS coordinates of a well or test hole must be measured as latitude and longitude coordinates. Reporting GPS coordinates 44(3) A person measuring the GPS coordinates must report the coordinates (a) on the well construction report, in the case of the construction of a new well or test hole or the modification or rehabilitation of a well or test hole; (b) on a well sealing report in the case of the sealing or partial sealing of a well or test hole; or (c) in a manner required by the director, in any other case. WELL IDENTIFICATION TAGS Mandatory well identification tag 45 A person, other than a person described in clause 6(a) or (c) of the Act, (a) constructing a new well; or (b) modifying or rehabilitating a well that does not have a well identification tag or where the well identification tag has become broken, defaced, illegible or otherwise unusable; must affix a well identification tag, provided by the director or a well drilling officer, to the well and record the number of the tag on the well construction report. Additional use of well identification tag 46 A well drilling officer or a person authorized by the director may affix a well identification tag to an existing well that does not have a well tag or where the well tag has become broken, defaced, illegible or otherwise unusable. Exemption — certain environmental and geotechnical wells 47 Sections 45 and 46 do not apply in relation to an environmental well or a geotechnical well unless (a) the well intersects an aquifer; (b) the depth of the well exceeds 30 m (98.4 ft); or (c) the well is completed into bedrock. Affixing a well identification tag 48 A person affixing a well identification tag must obtain the well tag from the director and either: (a) permanently affix the well tag, using a steel band or clamp, to the outside of the well casing at a point where it will be visible and will not be obstructed by the well cover or other components of the well or by equipment associated with the well; (b) if it is not possible to affix the well tag as specified in clause (a), attach the well tag to a rigid, permanent post, pump house or building adjacent to the well so that the well tag is plainly visible. Removal of a well identification tag 49(1) A well identification tag must not be removed except in the following circumstances: (a) for the purpose of repairing, modifying or rehabilitating the well, upon the completion of which the well tag must be re-affixed; (b) if an existing well tag has become broken, defaced, illegible or otherwise unusable and is being replaced with a new well tag; (c) the well is being permanently sealed. Well identification tag not to be re-used 49(2) A broken, defaced, illegible or otherwise unusable well tag or a well tag removed from a well that is being permanently sealed must be discarded and not be re-used. Reporting well identification tag numbers 50 A person affixing or removing a well identification tag must report the affixing or removal of the tag to the director by whichever of the following methods applies: (a) by recording the well tag number on the well construction or well sealing report; (b) if a well construction or well sealing report is not required in the circumstances, by a method approved by the director. Protection of well identification tag 51 No person shall (a) use a well tag obtained from the director except in accordance with this regulation; (b) remove a well tag except (i) in accordance with subsection 49(1), or (ii) with the consent of the director; or (c) deface, alter or conceal a well tag. PART 5 SEALING TEST HOLES AND WELLS Exclusion from application of Part 5 52 This Part does not apply to (a) closed loop geothermal wells; or (b) the sealing of the annular space of a well. For greater certainty, this Part applies to closed loop geothermal test holes. Sealing — no vertical movement of water 53 A person must not seal a well or test hole other than in a manner that is sufficient to prevent the vertical movement of water or other substances in it. Native materials 54 Except as provided in sections 55, 56 and 59, native materials, not including any organic soil materials, may be used to seal a well or test hole, provided that, (a) the materials can be placed continuously without bridging; and (b) in relation to the sealing of a test hole, the materials are stored separately prior to sealing and are placed in the same relative positions that they originally occupied. Sealing of small-diameter test holes and wells 55 Subject to section 58 (backfill material for voids, etc.), a test hole or well having an inside diameter of 51 mm (2 in) or less and a depth greater than 9 m (30 ft) — not including a flowing artesian test hole or a flowing artesian well — must be sealed using slurry grout over the full length of the test hole or well. Sealing material for flowing artesian test holes and flowing artesian wells 56(1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 58 (backfill material for voids, etc.), a flowing artesian test hole or a flowing artesian well must be sealed with a neat cement grout or a suitable mixture of sand-cement or bentonite-cement grout, over the full length of the test hole or well, with (a) the cement being a high-sulphate-resistant cement (type HS); and (b) the amount of bentonite, in a bentonite-cement grout, not exceeding 6% by weight of the cement content. Exception to use of high-sulphate-resistant cement 56(2) A non-sulphate-resistant cement may be used under exigent circumstances such as the encounter of unexpected or difficult flowing well conditions that require immediate sealing but prohibit the procurement and use of high-sulphate-resistant cement. Placement of slurry grout 57 Slurry grout must be forced from the bottom to the top of the well or test hole being sealed. Any grout that has settled or subsided after placement must be topped-up to its original level. Backfill material for voids, fractures, cavities and zones of lost circulation 58 Granular material may be used to aid in the sealing of a test hole or a well when slurry grout has or may become lost due to the presence of voids, fractures, cavities or zones of lost circulation. Surface seal required for wells 59(1) Subject to subsection (3), grout must be used to seal the topmost 1.5 m (5 ft) of the remaining cased portion of a well. Surface seal required for test holes 59(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), grout must be used to seal the topmost 1.5 m (5 ft) of a test hole. Exclusion from surface seal 59(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to bored or dug wells, or to flowing artesian test holes or flowing artesian wells. Removal of equipment, debris and obstructions 60(1) A person sealing a well or test hole must remove all equipment, debris and obstructions from the well or test hole before sealing it. If equipment, debris or obstruction cannot be removed 60(2) If all equipment, debris and obstructions cannot be removed from a well or test hole before sealing, and the person sealing the well or test hole is not (a) a well drilling contractor or an employee or agent of a well drilling contractor; or (b) a person working within the authority of clause 6(c) of the Act, then the owner of the land on which the well or test hole is located must (c) retain a well drilling contractor or a professional engineer or professional geoscientist to determine the method required to properly seal the well or test hole; and (d) implement the method determined in clause (c). Reporting equipment, debris or obstructions 60(3) The person sealing the well or test hole must report information about any equipment, debris or obstruction not removed from the well or test hole as follows: (a) for a test hole, on a well construction report; (b) for a well, on a well sealing report. Well located within a well pit — cribbing 61(1) If a well to be sealed is located within a well pit, the owner of the land on which the well is located is responsible for ensuring that any well-pit cribbing is completely removed, unless (a) its method of construction does not allow for removal or allows only partial removal; or (b) removing or partially removing the cribbing might cause an adjacent structure to be destabilized, damaged or to become a risk to human safety or health. If the cribbing may only be partially removed under clause (a) or (b), the owner is responsible for ensuring that the cribbing is partially removed. Backfilling the well pit 61(2) After dealing with any well-pit cribbing that may be present by completely or partially removing it, or determining that it cannot be removed, the owner is responsible for ensuring that the well pit is properly backfilled to the ground surface. Reporting about cribbing and backfilling 61(3) A person sealing a well located within a well pit must report information on the well sealing report about (a) whether any well-pit cribbing was present and if so, whether it was completely or partially removed; and (b) the backfilling of the well pit. Sealing of service lines 62 A person sealing a well must disconnect or seal any service lines connected to the well in a manner that prevents the movement of water or any other substance within the line. PART 6 GENERAL PROVISIONS AND COMING INTO FORCE Technical bulletins 63 The director may issue non-binding technical bulletins to provide guidance on the application and interpretation of technical matters dealt with in this regulation. Coming into force 64 This regulation comes into force on the same day that section 8 of The Groundwater and Water Well and Related Amendments Act , S.M. 2012, c. 27, comes into force. SCHEDULE (Section 14)