Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Natural Resources › NR 800 - Environmental Protection - Water Supply › Chapter NR 812 - Well Construction And Pump Installation › Subchapter IV - Standards for Existing Installations › Section NR 812.42 - Criteria for evaluation

Current through June 24, 2024
Each existing water system shall be viewed as an
					 individual unit and its acceptability for use as a source of water shall be
					 determined on the basis of its location, construction, installation, pump
					 discharge piping arrangement, water quality, and sanitary condition. The owner
					 shall provide written documentation verifying the date of construction or
					 installation or both. Existing installations shall meet all of the following
					 requirements:
(1) LOCATION, WELL
				  CONSTRUCTION AND WATER QUALITY.
(a)
Location.
The well location shall comply with the requirements
				  in effect at the time the well was constructed as shown in Table E, or to the
				  location requirements of s.
				  NR
				  812.08, whichever is less restrictive. However, if a
				  contamination source was installed after the well was constructed, the well
				  location shall conform to the requirements in effect at the time of
				  installation of the contamination source.
(b)
Well construction.
1. The well construction shall comply with
				  the construction requirements in effect at the time the well was constructed or
				  shall be in compliance with any standards or approval issued under ss.
				  NR 812.09 to
				  812.25, except if the well was constructed prior to April 10, 1953, in which
				  case the well construction shall be in compliance with the standards adopted on
				  April 10, 1953.
2. The well casing
				  pipe shall meet the minimum wall thickness requirements of s.
				  NR
				  812.11 Table B for its diameter and may not be in a
				  deteriorated condition.
3. For
				  wells in basements or walkout basements, the well casing pipe depth shall be
				  measured from the floor of the basement.
4. Wells completed in unconsolidated
				  formations, including both drilled and driven point wells, shall have minimum
				  well casing pipe depth settings of at least 25 feet below the ground surface,
				  not including the screen; or, if the static water level is deeper than 15 feet,
				  shall have the minimum well casing pipe depth setting at least 10 feet below
				  the static water level.
5. Wells
				  completed in sandstone shall have minimum well casing pipe depth settings below
				  the ground surface as follows:
a. Twenty-five
				  feet for wells constructed before February 1, 1991.
b. Thirty feet for wells constructed on or
				  after February 1, 1991.
6. Wells terminating in limestone or dolomite
				  shall have minimum well casing pipe depth settings below the ground surface as
				  follows:
a. Forty feet for wells constructed
				  before July 1, 2020.
b. Sixty feet
				  when the depth to bedrock is less than 10 feet below the ground surface and the
				  well was constructed between February 1, 1991 and July 1, 2020.
c. Sixty feet when the depth to bedrock is
				  less than 20 feet below the ground surface and the well was constructed after
				  July 1, 2020.
7. Wells
				  terminating in bedrock other than sandstone, limestone, or dolomite shall have
				  a minimum of 40 feet of casing pipe below the ground surface.
(c)
Water
				  quality.
A well shall produce water free from coliform bacteria and
				  free from contaminant levels in excess of the standards of s.
				  NR
				  812.06. If the standards of s.
				  NR
				  812.06 are exceeded, the department may require the
				  water system to be upgraded to meet the requirements of this chapter or may
				  require the well to be filled and sealed according to the criteria and
				  requirements of s.
				  NR
				  812.26.
TABLE E
HISTORIC MINIMUM SEPARATION DISTANCE
								  REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN EXISTING POTABLE OR NONPOTABLE WELLS, RESERVOIRS, AND
								  SPRINGS AND POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION
Source
Prior to Oct. 1, 1975
Oct. 1, 1975 to Sept. 30, 1981
Oct. 1, 1981 to Jan 31, 1991
Feb. 1, 1991 to Sept. 30, 1994
Oct. 1, 1994 to Sept. 30, 2014
Oct. 1, 2014 to June 30, 2020
Absorption Unit (field), soil [See Soil
								  Absorption Unit] (Also known as a POWTS dispersal component)
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
Agricultural crop field
Note:
Not a requirement-only a
								  recommendation
None
None
None
None
None
25' recommended
Air shaft-heating/air conditioning (Vertical,
								  Below grade)
None
None
None
None
25'
25'
Animal Barn
-
-
-
-
-
50'
Animal Barn Pen
None
25'
25'
25'
25'
-
Animal Shelter (not including small residential
								  pet shelter or pet kennel housing 5 or fewer adult pets)
None
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
Animal Yard-Includes Calf Hutch (but not
								  including residential lot dog kennel enclosing 5 or fewer adult pets)
None
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
Barn, Animal
-
-
-
-
-
50'
Barn Gutter
None
25'
25'
25'
25'
50'
Building Overhang (from centerline of
								  well)
2'
2'
2'
2'
2'
None
Cemetery Grave Sites
None
100'
100'
50'
50'
50'
Cistern
10'
10'
10'
8'
8'
8'
Coal Storage (greater than 500 tons)
None
None
None
1,200'
1,200'
1,200'
Composting Site (See Solid Waste Processing
								  Facility)
None
None
None
None
250'
250'
Culvert, stormwater
None
None
None
None
None
8'
Discharge to ground from a Water Treatment
								  Device
None
None
None
25'
25'
None
Ditch-Edge of
None
None
None
None
25'
8'
Doghouse or kennel housing 5 or fewer adult pets
								  on residential lot
None
None
None
50'
8'
8'
Downspout Outlet (Rainwater, including the
								  discharge therefrom)
10'
10'
10'
8'
8'
None
Drain - Sanitary building (having pipe conforming
								  to ch. SPS 384) (Buried)
10'
8'
8'
8'
8'
8'
Drain - Sanitary building (not having pipe
								  conforming to ch. SPS 384) (Buried)
10'
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
DRAIN (any material) (Buried)
- Clear Water Drain
10'
10'
10'
8'
8'
None
- Building-Foundation Drain
10'
10'
10'
8'
8'
None
- Building-Foundation Drain-Sewer
								  Connected
15'
15'
15'
8'
8'
None
Drillhole used for the underground placement of
								  any waste, surface water or any substance as defined in s.
								  160.01(8),
								  Stats.
None
None
None
None
100'
100'
Fertilizer or Pesticide Storage Tank (any size,
								  surface or buried) (This distance applies only for nonpotable wells)
None
None
None
8'
8'
8'
Fertilizer or Pesticide, any size Buried Storage
								  Tank Surface tank 1,500 gal (This distance applies only for potable
								  wells)
None
None
None
100'
100'
100'
Filter Strip
None
None
None
50'
50'
50'
Fuel Oil Tank-Buried
None
100' (25' Allowed for Private Res. Lots
								  Only)
100' (25' Allowed for Private Res. Lots
								  Only)
100' (Including any associated buried piping)
								  (25' allowed for tanks serving single family residences)
100' (Including any associated buried piping)
								  (25' allowed for tanks serving single family residences)
100' (Including any associated buried piping)
								  (25' allowed for tanks serving single family residences)
Fuel Oil Tank Serving a Single -Family
								  Residence
None
25' Allowed for Private Res. Lots Only
25' Allowed for Private Res. Lots Only
25'
25'
25' (Including any associated piping)
Fuel Oil Tank-Surface (1,500 gallons) (including
								  any associated piping)
None
None
None
100'
100'
100' (Including any associated piping)
Fuel Oil Tank-Surface (1,500 gallons)
None
None
None
None
None
25'
Fertilizer or Pesticide (Dry) Storage Area or
								  Building (more than 100 pounds)
None
None
None
None
100'
100'
Gasoline or Other Petroleum or Liquid Product
								  Tank - Buried (Does not apply to separation distance between Liquid Propane
								  tanks and wells serving single family residences)
None
100'
100'
100' (Including any associated buried
								  piping)
100'
(Including
any associated
buried piping)
100' (Including any associated piping)
Gasoline or Other Petroleum or Liquid Product
								  Tank-Surface ( 1,500 gallons, including any associated buried piping)
None
None
None
None
None
25'
Gasoline or Other Petroleum or Liquid Product
								  Tank-Surface (1,500 gallons, including any associated buried piping)
None
None
None
100'
100'
100'
Glass Lined Feed Storage Facility (Harvester-Type
								  Silos)
None
25'
25'
50'
50'
50'
Grease Interceptor (Trap) (Buried)
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility Regulated by
								  the department
None
None
None
1,200'
1,200'
1,200'
Heat exchange drillhole
None
None
None
None
None
None
Holding Tank (Wastewater) (Also known as a POWTS
								  holding component)
None
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
Infiltration basin or system, Stormwater
None
None
None
None
100'
100'
Junkyard or Scrap Yard
None
None
None
250'
250'
250'
Kennel on residential lot enclosing 5 or fewer
								  adult pets
None
None
None
50'
8'
8'
Kennel, other than above
None
None
None
50'
50'
50'
Lagoon, Treatment (See liquid waste disposal
								  system)
-
-
-
-
-
--
Lake Shoreline (Measured to the edge of the
								  floodway)
None
25'
25'
(60' For
Schools and
High Cap.
Wells)
25'
25'
25'
Landfills (existing, proposed or abandoned)
								  (Distance to Nearest Fill Area of abandoned landfills if Known; Otherwise to
								  the Property Line)
None
400 yards
400 yards
1,200'
1,200'
1,200'
Lift Station
--
--
--
--
100'
100'
Liquid Propane (L.P.) gas tank (buried) (Applies
								  only to wells serving a single-family residence. For other wells see s.
								  NR
								  812.04(4) (d) 1. )
None
None
None
None
None
8'
Liquid Waste Disposal System
None
250'
250'-300'
250'
250'
250'
Manure Hopper or Reception
								  Tank-Liquid-Tight
None
75'
75'-150'
50'
50'
50'
Manure Loading Area
None
None
None
None
50'
50'
Manure Stack -Temporary
None
100'
100'
250'
150'
150'
Manure-Storage Structure (Earthen, Excavated or
								  Non-liquid tight)
None
250'
250'-300'
250'
250'
250'
Manure Storage Structure (Fabricated,
								  Liquid-Tight)
None
100'
100'-175'
100'
100'
100'
Manure-Storage Basin-Liquid-Tight Concrete Floor
								  with an Acceptable Drainage Facility
None
100'
150'-300'
Now in category of Manure Storage
								  Structure
Now in category of Manure Storage
								  Structure
Now in category of Manure Storage
								  Structure
Milk house drain outlet
None
None
None
None
None
50'
Mound System (Measured to the toe of the mound)
								  (Also known as POWTS dispersal component.)
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
Nonpotable Well
None
None
None
8'
8'
8'
Pesticide or Fertilizer (Dry) Storage Area or
								  Building (More than 100 Pounds)
None
None
None
None
100'
100'
Pesticide or Fertilizer Storage Tank (not
								  buried)-less than 1,500 gallons (this distance applies only for non-potable
								  wells)
None
None
None
8'
8'
8'
Pesticide or Fertilizer Storage Tank-Buried tank,
								  any size, or any surface tank 1,500 gal (this distance applies only for potable
								  wells)
None
None
None
100'
100'
100'
Pet Waste Pit Disposal Unit
None
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
Pet animal shelter or kennel on residential lot
								  and housing not more than 5 adult pets.
None
None
None
50'
8'
8'
Pet animal shelter or kennel housing more than 5
								  adult pets or not on residential lot.
None
None
None
50'
50'
50'
Petroleum Product Tank-Surface - less than 1,500
								  gallons capacity
None
None
None
None
None
25'
Petroleum Product Tank-Surface - greater than or
								  equal to 1,500 gallons capacity
None
None
None
None
None
100'
Pits-Noncomplying
None
10'
10' (20' For Schools, WWTPs, and High
								  Capacity-Including Approved Pits)
8'
8'
8'
Plastic Silage Storage and Transfer Tube
None
None
None
8'
8'
50'
Pond (Measured to nearest high-water edge)
None
None
None
None
None
25'
Pond, Stormwater detention (Edge of)
None
None
None
None
25'
25'
Pond, synthetically-lined decorative yard pond on
								  a residential lot
--
--
--
--
--
None
Pond, treatment (See liquid waste disposal
								  system)
--
--
--
--
--
--
POWTS holding component (Also known as a holding
								  tank.)
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
POWTS treatment component
(Includes septic tanks, aerobic treatment units
								  or filters)
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
POWTS dispersal component (Also known as a soil
								  absorption unit or mound.)
50'
50'
50' (200' for schools)
50' (200' for schools)
50' (200' for schools)
50' (200' for schools)
Privy (Also known as pit privy)
50' (Sewage Disposal Units)
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
Quarry (See s.
								  NR
								  812.12(4) for well casing depth well
								  construction requirements for wells to be constructed within 500 feet of a
								  quarry or within 1,200 prior to October 1, 2014)
-
-
-
1200'
1200'
500'
Recycling Facility
None
None
None
None
None
100'
Reservoir-Noncomplying
10' (Cistern)
10'
10'
8'
8'
8'
Ridge and Furrow System (See liquid waste
								  disposal system)
River or Stream Edge (Measured to the edge of the
								  floodway)
None
25'
25' (60' For Schools and High Cap. Wells)
25'
25'
25'
Salt or Deicing Material Storage Area (Including
								  structure and area surrounding where material is transferred to vehicles) (This
								  category includes sand & salt mixtures if salt content of mixture is 5% or
								  more)
None
None
None
250'
250'
250'
Salvage Yard
None
None
None
250'
250'
250'
Scrap Metal Processing Facility
None
None
None
None
None
100'
Septage Landspreading Area
None
None
None
None
None
25'
Note:
Not a requirement-only a
								  recommendation
recommended
Septic Tank
(Also known as a POWTS treatment
								  component)
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
SEWER (ch. SPS 384 Materials) (Buried)
-Manure/Gravity sewer
8'
8'
8'
25'
25'
25'
-Manure/Pressurized sewer
8'
8'
25'
25'
25'
25'
-Sanitary Building/Gravity sewer
8'
8'
8'
8'
8'
8'
-Sanitary Building/Pressurized sewer
8'
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
-Sanitary Collector sewer (Serving = 4 living
								  units or = 6''diameter)
8'
50'
50'
50'
25'
25'
-Sanitary Collector sewer (Serving 4 living units
								  or 6'' diameter)
8'
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
-Influent sewer
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
-Storm Collector sewer (=6'' diameter)
8'
50'
50'
50'
25'
8'
-Storm Collector sewer ( 6'' diameter)
8'
50'
50'
50'
50'
8'
SEWER (not ch. SPS 384 Materials) (Buried)
-Manure/Gravity sewer
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
-Manure/Pressurized sewer
25'
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
-Sanitary Building/gravity sewer
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
-Sanitary Building/Pressurized sewer
25'
25'
25'
25'
50'
50'
-Storm Building sewer
25'
25'
25'
25'
8'
None
-Sanitary Collector sewer
25'
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
-Storm Collector sewer
25'
50'
50'
50'
50'
8'
-Influent sewer
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
Shoreline-Lake, River or Stream [Measured as
								  indicated in subd. (4) (b) 7.]
None
25'
25' (60' For Schools and High Capacity
								  Wells)
25'
25'
25'
Silage Storage, Earthen Trench or Pit
None
100'
100'- 175'
250'
250'
250'
Silage Storage Structure (Fabricated
								  liquid-tight) (In-ground or surface)
None
None
None
None
100'
100'
Silage Storage-Surface, Uncovered
None
None
None
None
100'
100'
Silage Storage Tube (Plastic)
None
None
None
8'
8'
50'
Silo With Pit
None
50'
50'
50'
50'
50'
Silo Without Pit But With Concrete Floor and
								  Drain
None
25'
25'
50'
50'
50'
Single application landspreading of
								  petroleum-contaminated soil
-
-
-
-
250'
250'
Sludge Drying Bed, Liquid-tight
None
None
None
None
None
100'
Sludge Landspreading or Drying Area
None
200'
200'
250'
250'
25'
Note:
Not a requirement-only a
								  recommendation
recommended
Soil Absorption Unit (=12,000 gal/day, includes
								  alternate unit) (Also known as POWTS dispersal component)
50'
50'
50' (200' for schools as of 1978)
50' (200' for schools)
50' (200' for schools)
50' (200' for schools)
Soil Absorption Unit (=12,000 gal/day, existing
								  or abandoned) (Also known as POWTS dispersal component)
50'
50'
50' (200' for schools as of 1978)
250'
250'
250'
Solid Waste Processing Facility (Including
								  composting facilities)
None
None
None
None
250'
250'
Solid Waste Site (Distance to Nearest Fill Area
								  or Proposed Fill Area If Known; Otherwise to the Property Line) (See
								  Landfill)
None
400 yards
400 yards
1,200'
1,200'
1,200'
Solid Waste Transfer Facility
None
None
None
None
250'
250'
Spray Irrigation Waste Disposal Site (See liquid
								  waste disposal system)
Stormwater detention pond or basin
None
None
None
None
25'
25'
Stormwater infiltration basin or system
None
None
None
None
100'
100'
Sump Clear water
None
None
None
8'
8'
None
Sump-Wastewater (Watertight) (formerly cast-iron
								  equivalent)
None
8'
8'
25'
25'
8'
Sump-Wastewater (not watertight or equivalent to
								  cast iron)
None
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
Swimming Pool (from edge of water)
None
25' (Below ground)
25' (Below ground)
25' (Below ground)
8' (above or below ground)
8' (above or below ground)
Temporary Manure Stack
None
100'
100'
250'
150'
150'
Vegetated Treatment Area (Previously known as a
								  Filter Strip)
None
None
None
50'
50'
50'
Waste Disposal Site (See Landfill)
Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent Pipe
None
None
None
50'
50'
50'
Wastewater Treatment Plant Structure, Conveyance
								  or Treatment Unit
None
None
150'
100'
100'
100'
Well or drillhole used for underground placement
								  of any waste, surface water or any substance as defined in s.
								  160.01, Stats.
None
None
None
None
100'
100'
Yard Hydrant
None
10'
10'
8'
8'
None, but not allowed to be installed in or on
								  well.