Idaho Administrative Code › Title IDAPA 37 - Water Resources, Department of › Rule 37.03.09 - WELL CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS RULES › Section 37.03.09.010 - DEFINITIONS

Current through August 31, 2023
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following
				definitions apply to these rules. (3-18-22)
01.
Approved Seal or Seal
			 Material
. Seal material must consist of bentonite chips, pellets, or
			 granules, bentonite grout, neat cement, or neat cement grout as defined by
			 these rules. No other materials may be used unless specifically authorized by
			 the Director (3-18-22)
02.
Annular Space
. The space, measured as one-half (1/2) the difference in
			 diameter between two (2) concentric cylindrical objects, one of which surrounds
			 the other, such as the space between the walls of a drilled hole (borehole) and
			 a casing or the space between two (2) strings of casing. (3-18-22)
03.
Aquifer
. Any geologic
			 formation(s) that will yield water to a well in sufficient quantities to make
			 the production of water from the formation feasible for beneficial use.
			 (3-18-22)
04.
Area of
			 Drilling Concern
. An area designated by the Director in which drillers
			 must comply with additional standards to prevent waste or contamination of
			 ground or surface water due to such factors as aquifer pressure, vertical depth
			 of the aquifer, warm or hot ground water, or contaminated ground or surface
			 waters, in accordance with Section
			 42-238(7), Idaho
			 Code. (3-18-22)
05.
Artesian
			 Water
. Any water that is confined in an aquifer under pressure so that
			 the water will rise in the well casing or drilled hole above the elevation
			 where it was first encountered. This term includes water of flowing and
			 non-flowing wells. (3-18-22)
06.
Artificial Filter Pack
. Clean, rounded, smooth, uniform, sand or
			 gravel placed in the annular space around a perforated well casing or well
			 screen. A filter pack is frequently used to prevent the movement of finer
			 material into the well casing and to increase well efficiency.
			 (3-18-22)
07.
Bentonite
. A commercially processed and packaged, low
			 permeability, sodium montmorillonite clay certified by the NSF International
			 for use in well construction, sealing, plugging, and decommissioning
			 (abandonment). All bentonite products used in the construction or
			 decommissioning (abandoning) of wells must have a permeability rating not
			 greater than 10-7 (ten to the minus seven) cm/sec.
			 (3-18-22)
a. Chips. Bentonite composed of
			 pieces ranging in size from one-quarter (1/4)-inch to one (1) inch on their
			 greatest dimension. (3-18-22)
b.
			 Granules (also Granular). Bentonite composed of pieces ranging in size from one
			 thirty-seconds (1/ 32) inch (#20 standard mesh) to seven thirty-seconds (7/32)
			 inch (#3 standard mesh) on their greatest dimension. (3-18-22)
c. Bentonite Grout. A mixture of bentonite
			 specifically manufactured for use as a well sealing or plugging material and
			 potable water to produce a grout with an active solids content not less than
			 twenty-five percent (25%) by weight e.g., (twenty-five percent (25%) solids
			 content by weight = fifty (50) pounds bentonite per eighteen (18) gallons of
			 water). (3-18-22)
d. Pellets.
			 Bentonite manufactured for a specific purpose and composed of uniform sized,
			 one-quarter (1/4) inch, three-eighths (3/8) inch, or one-half (1/2) inch pieces
			 on their greatest dimension. (3-18-22)