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From the Chief
- by Liesa Lehmann, Private Water Supply Section Chief
Autumn is here, and the holidays won’t be far behind. We know many of you are still busy with well and pump projects, so this issue of NewsBits focuses on a few compliance reminders for well construction and grouting. Please watch for proposed NR 812 Rule Changes which will be out for public comment starting next month, including public hearings in January. We’ll notify all drillers and pump installers, so check your email in December for more details. We look forward to your input!
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 What's New
Dorie Turpin retires
After more than 37 years of state service, Dorie Turpin retired on October 1, 2018. Dorie dedicated many years to working with the well drilling and pump installing industry on Continuing Education, Licensing, and recent code revisions. We wish Dorie well in her retirement!
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 Tom Puchalski transfers to La Crosse
Tom accepted a transfer to the Private Water Supply Specialist position in DNR’s La Crosse office in September. Some of you worked with Tom when he was in this position about 5 years ago. Tom will be covering the counties in southwestern Wisconsin that were previously assigned to Kirsten Cahow-Scholtes.
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From the Field
- by Marty Nessman, Private Water Supply Field Supervisor
Bentonite Chips during Grouting
The creviced bedrock aquifers of Wisconsin can be a challenge for drillers attempting to grout wells, especially in areas where karst features (crevices and large openings in limestone formed by carbolic acid dissolving the rock) are found. Drillers may wish to use bentonite chips to seal off fractures or crevices during grouting. Using bentonite chips as an annular space sealing material requires a verbal variance to the grouting requirements of NR 812, so if you have trouble getting neat cement to rise to the surface in fractured formations during grouting, follow this procedure:
- When setting 6 inch diameter casing, you must have a 9-7/8 inch diameter upper enlarged drillhole or larger. For larger casing diameters, the upper enlarged drillhole should be at least 4 inches larger than the nominal diameter of the casing.
- You must have already attempted to fill the annulus with the calculated volume of neat cement.
- Call your local DNR Private Water Supply Specialist to request a verbal variance. If you can’t reach that person, leave a voicemail with your name, the well owner name, location of the well and the reason you want to use bentonite chips, including the depth of the upper enlarged drillhole and what depth the problem area is encountered. Next, call another DNR Private Water Supply Specialist in your area or in an adjacent region. If you don’t reach the next specialist, leave the same information in a voicemail. Third, call DNR Private Water Field Supervisor Marty Nessman at 608-267-2449. If you can’t reach Marty, leave the same information in a voicemail.
- After you get verbal variance approval from a DNR representative, or have attempted to reach three DNR representatives, you may pour enough bentonite chips to fill the void and resume grouting with neat cement.
- Document that you called for a verbal variance to use chips and the number of bags of chips poured in the Comments section of the well construction report.
- A DNR Private Water Supply Specialist will follow up with a confirmation email documenting the verbal variance approval.
The goal of this procedure is to protect the groundwater resource while allowing the driller to complete grouting in a way that minimizes the need to return to the well site multiple times, saving the driller and the well owner time and money. Please note: a variance is not required for the use of bentonite chips to regain circulation of drilling fluids while constructing an upper enlarged drillhole.
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Compliance Corner
- by Cathy Wunderlich, Public Water Engineering Chief
Advance Notice for Grouting a Community Well
When constructing a community well, remember that a DNR representative must be present for well grouting at both test wells and production wells located at community water systems. Notify the DNR representative assigned to the community water system at least 48 hours in advance of the date and start time for grouting, to ensure that DNR can schedule the inspection. The assigned DNR representative and their contact information are included in the DNR plan approval letter for the community well. The DNR representative will observe the grouting process to ensure compliance, provide technical assistance, and document the grouting.
Well Rehabilitation for a Community Well
If you plan to conduct chemical conditioning or other well rehabilitation on a community well, remember the following requirements:
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Notify the DNR representative assigned to the community water system at least 48 hours in advance of the date and start time.
- Prior to placing the well back into service, follow the final disinfection procedures outlined in Section G on Form 3300-269 Public Well Redevelopment/Rehabilitation Approval Request.
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Following well rehabilitation, the owner or an authorized representative shall submit a written report to the department within 30 days of completion of the well rehabilitation that includes:
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the static and pumping water levels,
- gallon per minute pumping rate and
- specific capacity of the well both before and after the rehabilitation, and the
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results of any testing for chemical or physical properties for which the well may have been rehabilitated, if applicable.
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Enforcement Activity
Regulations are designed to protect public health, protect groundwater and provide a level playing field for contractors. Regulations only accomplish these goals if they are followed. So when DNR staff talk with you about requirements or start an enforcement action, our goal is compliance - to make sure everyone understands the regulations and follows them.
| If you are aware of or suspect safe drinking water violations - such as unlicensed work, noncompliant well construction practices or failure to properly sample drinking water - you can confidentially call or text this information to the numbers below, or submit a report online. |
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Final Tidbits
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Ready to try Online WCR? Online WCR is the internet-based Well Construction Report system, where drillers can submit their WCRs electronically. Contact Sandy Hershberger to get started.
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NewsBits
NewsBits is published by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater.
Archived issues are available at: dnr.wi.gov/topic/wells/newsbits.html.
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