West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 64 - Health › Title 64 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES › Series 64-46 - Water Well Design Standards › Section 64-46-12 - Water Well Abandonment

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
12.1. When
				a water well is abandoned, the work shall be performed by a West Virginia
				Certified Water Well Driller.
12.2.
				All wells shall be completely filled with grout to prevent contamination from
				entering the subsurface water bearing formations and ground water mixing with
				one aquifer to another. Bentonite or cement grout shall be used for grouting
				material. If the well is so large that, the use of these materials is not
				practical, the Commissioner shall determine a proper plugging process. Methods
				and materials shall be selected only after careful consideration of casing
				material, casing condition, the diameter of the casing, the quality and
				quantity of the original grout seal, the depth of the well, well plumbness, the
				hydrogeologic setting, the level of contamination, and the zones where
				contamination occurs. All abandonment of a water well procedures shall prevent
				groundwater contamination.
12.3.
				Screens, casings, and liner pipes shall be pulled whenever possible to assure
				placement of an effective seal. The borehole shall be completely sealed in such
				a manner that the vertical movement of water within the annular space is
				effectively and permanently prevented. When the casing is removed and the
				borehole is unstable, grout shall be simultaneously emplaced as the casing is
				removed to prevent collapse of the borehole; however, if the casing is left in
				place, the borehole shall be completely grouted from the bottom to the top with
				approved grouting material to reduce the possibility of annular
				channeling.
12.4. All pumps,
				wiring, pipes, valves, accessories, and hardware that may interfere with
				abandonment of a water well operations shall be removed prior to abandonment of
				a water well.
12.5. Water wells in
				consolidated formations shall be completely filled with grout to prevent
				contaminating materials from entering the subsurface water bearing formations
				and ground water from one aquifer mixing with that of another
				aquifer.
12.6. Water wells in
				unconsolidated formations shall be sealed with bentonite, cement, or a
				bentonite-cement mixture from bottom to top.
12.7. For abandoned water wells that
				penetrate limestone or other creviced or channelized rock formations that show
				a loss of grout while filling; stone, pea gravel, or other approved bridging
				agents may be used to seal these zones.
12.8. Hand dug or bucket drilled water wells
				exceeding twenty-four (24) inches in diameter shall be abandoned by the same
				method and with the same grouting materials as used in unconsolidated
				formations.
12.9. Flowing artesian
				wells shall be abandoned with grout from the bottom of the well to the ground
				surface, using a tremie pipe and pump. The added slurry weight of the
				cement-based or bentonite materials shall be necessary to overcome the
				naturally occurring pressuring characteristic of artesian flowing wells. For a
				large artesian flowing well (pressure head), it may be necessary to control the
				head or flow while placing the sealing material with the use of an inflatable
				packer to stop or restrict the flow of water.
12.10. Boreholes drilled for any geothermal
				uses or for a potential system that are unused in the final system shall be
				abandoned in accordance with this section.