Section 925.10  Definitions

 

            "Approved Basement"  means a room below ground surface, under a building and having adequate drainage not subject to backflow of liquid waste.

 

            "Backflow Preventer" means a device that prevents backflow into a water well.  The purpose of a backflow preventer is to prevent contaminated water or liquids from being siphoned or pushed from back pressure into a water well.

 

            "Casing" means the pipe installed in a drilled hole to give unobstructed access to a water-bearing formation and includes the riser pipe of a buried slab type dug or bored well.

 

            "Chemical Injection System" means any device or combination of devices having hose, pipe or other methods of conveyance which connect directly to any water well through which a mixture of water, pesticides and fertilizer are mixed or are drawn and applied to land, crops, and/or plants at agricultural, nursery, turf, golf course, or greenhouse sites.

 

            "Contamination" means a change of the biological, chemical, or physical quality of a water so that it is actually or potentially injurious or harmful to the health of the user.

 

            "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health.

 

            "Finished Ground Surface" means the final or permanent elevation of the ground surface at the site of the well.

 

            "Pipe Sleeve" means a pipe case in the cover slab of a dug or bored well to provide an entrance for pump components or use for venting, disinfection, or water level determination.

 

            "Pitless Adapter Unit" means a factory assembled device consisting of the pitless adapter, a mechanism which attaches to the well casing, and a well casing riser in a single unit for the purpose of preventing contaminants from entering the well.

 

            "Pitless Well Adapter" means an assembly of parts which will permit water to pass through the wall of the well casing or extension thereof; provides access to the well and to the parts of the water system within the well; and provides for the transportation of the water and the protection of the well and water therein, from surface or near surface contamination. Parts or appurtenances to a pitless well adapter include, but are not limited to, the vent, the device(s) on or in the wall of the casing, and the cap or cover on the top of the casing or casing extension.

 

            "Pump Installation" means the procedure employed in the placement and preparation for operation of equipment and materials utilized in withdrawing or obtaining water from a well, including all construction involved in making entrance into the well and establishing such seals and safeguards as may be necessary to protect such water from contamination.

 

            "Well Cap" means that portion of the pitless adapter used to enclose the atmospheric termination of the casing, which shall overlap the top of the casing extension with a downward flange.

 

            "Water Well" means any excavation that is drilled, cored, bored, washed, driven, dug, jetted, or otherwise constructed when the intended use of such excavation is for the location, diversion, artificial recharge, or acquisition of ground water, except monitoring wells.

 

            "Water Well Pumps and Equipment" means any equipment or materials utilized or intended for use in withdrawing or obtaining water from a well including pumps, seals, pressure tanks, fittings, and controls.

 

            "Well Seal" means an arrangement or device used to establish a watertight closure at the junction of a well pump piping with the well casing cover at the upper terminal of the well, the purpose of which is to prevent contaminated water or other material from entering the well.

 

            "Well Vent" means an opening at the upper terminal of a well to provide for equalization of air pressure in the well or the release of gases.

 

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 4028, effective April 1, 1998)

 

Section 925.15  Incorporated Materials

 

The following federal and State regulations, standards, and statutes are incorporated or referenced in various Sections of this Part:

 

a)         The following standards are incorporated by reference:

 

1)         Pitless Well Adapters

            Standard 56, November 1992

            NSF International

            3475 Plymouth Road, P.O. Box 1468

            Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106

 

2)         National Electrical Code 1996 edition

            National Fire Protection Association

            Battery March Park,

            Quincy, Mass.  02269

 

b)         The following statutes and rules are referenced in this Part:

 

1)         Illinois Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Act [225 ILCS 345]

 

2)         Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890)

 

c)         All incorporations by reference for federal regulations and the standards of nationally recognized organizations refer to the regulations and standards on the date specified and do not include any additions or deletions subsequent to the date specified.

 

d)         All materials incorporated by reference are available for inspection and copying at the Department's Central Office, Division of Environmental Health, 525 West Jefferson - Third Floor, Springfield, Illinois 62761.

 

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 4028, effective April 1, 1998)

 

Section 925.20  Scope

 

a)         This Part, hereby prescribed, provides minimum standards for installation of water well pumps or equipment employed in withdrawing or obtaining water from a well for any use, except monitoring wells, and includes such seals and safeguards as may be necessary to protect from contamination the water in the well and water being pumped from the well.

 

b)         The provisions of this Part do not apply to installation of pumps or equipment on water wells which are subject to regulation under other laws of the State.  This Part shall apply when they are incorporated by reference in other State rules and regulations.

 

(Source:  Amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 18227, effective January 1, 1992)

 

Section 925.30  General Requirements

 

a)         Installation Contractor.  Installation of pumps or equipment shall be made only by or under supervision of persons, firms or corporations holding a valid license under the Illinois Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor's License Code [415 ILCS 35] unless exempt from the provisions of that Act.

 

b)         Variance.  If conditions exist at a proposed installation site which preclude compliance with the requirements of this Part, a variance shall be requested and shall be approved before pump installation begins. The contractor may request a variance by submitting to the Department or a local health department, approved under Sections 920.150 and 920.160, a written request outlining a specific proposal to be used in lieu of compliance with this Part.  The Department or an approved local health department shall approve the variance if the proposal is in accord with accepted public health and sanitary engineering principles and practices, and if the resulting water well pump installation can be expected to provide a continuously safe and sanitary water supply.  The Department or an approval local health department shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision either to grant or deny the variance.  Factors to be considered in the approval of variance proposals will include location of pump installation, sources of potential contamination, depth to water table, past sampling history of the well, the type and location of the pump and other geological conditions at individual installations.

 

c)         Well Seals.  Where existing wells have buried well seals, the seal shall be replaced with a pitless well adapter, or the casing shall be extended above the ground surface in accordance with Section 920.90(c) of the Illinois Water Well Construction Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 920) when the existing well seal is removed.

 

d)         Yard Hydrants.  All yard hydrants for use with potable water wells shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Plumbing Code, Section 890.1140(e)(2)(A) as follows:

 

1)         All hydrants with threaded spigots shall have backflow protection attached to the hydrant spigot.

 

2)         Hydrants with buried drain down (weep) holes shall have the drain down (weep) holes protected from groundwater backup by proper open site drainage.  A backflow preventer shall not be used on the buried drain down (weep) hole to protect the hydrant from groundwater backup.

 

3)         All hydrants shall be at least 10 feet from the well.

 

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 4028, effective April 1, 1998)

 

Section 925.40  Pump Installation

 

a)         Upper Well Terminal.  Well casing and pitless well adapters shall terminate not less than 8 inches above the finished ground surface or pump house floor and at least 24 inches above maximum high water level in areas where flooding is likely to occur.  No casing shall be cut off or cut into below ground level except to install a pitless well adapter.

 

b)         Well Pits

 

1)         No new well pits shall be allowed.

 

2)         Existing pits will be accepted if the following conditions exist:

 

A)        The pit shall be structurally sound and watertight.  The casing shall extend at least 12 inches above the pit or basement floor and have a well seal to prevent contaminants from entering the well.

 

B)        A watertight manhole and cover must be provided for the pit.

 

3)         No existing well pit shall be modified to comply with subsection (b)(2) of this Section.  Existing pits which are not in compliance with subsection (b)(2) shall be eliminated and the floor or one wall of the pit shall be broken or removed and the pit shall be filled with compacted earth.

 

c)         Pitless Well Adapter

 

1)         Installation and Approval.  No well casing shall be cut off or cut into below ground surface except to install a pitless well adapter below the frost level.  Pitless well adapters or pitless units installed on plastic well casing shall be pressurized at the point of attachment with the well casing, unless the pitless unit is solvent welded onto the plastic well casing and the riser casing of the pitless unit is plastic. Pitless well adapters installed on steel well casing shall be pressurized at the point of attachment with the well casing, unless the pitless unit is threaded or welded onto the well casing.  Pitless well adapters shall comply with the requirements of the NSF International Standard Number 56 entitled Pitless Well Adapters and shall be tested and approved as meeting this standard by Allied Laboratories, 716 North Iowa Avenue, Villa Park, Illinois and shall be listed by the Department as meeting this standard.   A list of approved pitless well adapters will be periodically updated and a copy of this list may be obtained from the Department.  The annular opening between the well casing and the well bore hole or any excavation made to install the pitless adapter shall be filled with earth to minimize settling and mounded to provide drainage away from the well.  The contractor installing the pitless well adapter shall be responsible for the installation of the earth backfill.

 

2)         Well Caps.  There shall be no openings through the well cap except for a factory installed vent, air line and power supply wiring, unless a proposal is submitted to and approved by the Department.  To be approved, the proposal must show that any entrance into the well cap is watertight and meet the following conditions:

 

A)        Prevent surface water from entering the water supply.

 

B)        Be secured in position.

 

C)        Be removable with tools only.

 

D)        Be resistant to weathering and corrosion.

 

d)         Hand Pumps.  Hand pumps shall be of the force type equipped with a packing gland around the pump rod, a delivery spout which is closed and downward directed, and a one-piece bell type base which is part of the pump stand or is attached to the pump column in a watertight manner.  The bell base of the pump shall be securely attached to the casing or pipe sleeve.

 

e)         Power Driven Pumps.  The design and operating principles of each type of power driven pump determines where each may be located with respect to a well.  The location selected for the pump determines what factors must be considered to make an acceptable installation.

 

1)         Location Above Well.  Any power driven pump located over a well shall be so mounted on the well casing, pipe sleeve, pump foundation or pump stand that a watertight closure is or can be made for the open end of the casing or sleeve.  The pump base bolted with a neoprene or rubber gasket or equivalent watertight seal to a foundation or plate provides an acceptable seal.  On large pump installations, the bolting may be omitted when the weight of pump and column is sufficient to make a watertight contact with the gasket.  If the pump unit is not located over the casing or pipe sleeve, but the pump delivery or suction pipe emerges from the top of the well, a well seal or equivalent shall be installed between the well casing and pipe to provide a watertight closure.

 

2)         Location in Well.  This type of location is permissible for submersible pumps only.  When the discharge line leaves the well at the top of the casing, the opening between the discharge line and casing or pipe sleeve shall be sealed watertight with a well seal or equivalent device.  When an underground discharge is desired, a pitless well adapter shall be installed.  A check valve shall not be permitted between the well and the inlet side of the pressure tank.

 

3)         Offset From Well.  Pumps offset from the well, if not located in an above ground pump house or other building, may be located in an approved basement provided the pump and all suction pipes are elevated at least 12 inches above the floor.  All portions of suction lines buried below the ground surface between the well and the pump shall be enclosed in a pressure discharge line maintained at system pressure.

 

f)         Vents.  Vent piping shall be of adequate size to allow equalization of air pressure in the well and where wells are greater than four inches in diameter, the vent shall be not less than one-half inch in diameter.  Vent openings shall be located in such a manner as to prevent contamination of the well.  The vent opening shall be turned down, secured in position, reasonably tamper proof, and be screened with not less than 24-mesh durable screen or filtered in such a manner as to prevent the entry of insects and shall terminate at least 8 inches above finished ground surface.  Particular attention shall be given to proper venting of wells in areas where toxic or inflammable gases are known to be a characteristic of the water.  If determined that either of these types of gases are present, all vents when located in buildings shall be extended to discharge outside of the building at a height where they will not be a hazard. Venting is required on all wells except driven water wells or flowing water wells.

 

g)         Pump Bearing Lubrication.  Lubrication of bearings of power driven pumps shall be with water or oil which will not adversely affect the quality of the water to be pumped.

 

1)         Water Lubrication.  If a storage tank is required for lubrication water, it shall be designed to protect the water from contamination.

 

2)         Oil Lubrication.  The reservoir shall be designed to protect the oil from contamination.  The oil shall not contain substances which will cause odor or taste to the water pumped.

 

h)         Electrical Installations.  All electrical installations shall be performed and maintained in accordance with the National Electrical Code 1996 edition.

 

i)          Backflow Prevention For Chemical Injection Systems.

 

1)         Non-Potable Water Wells.  Where a chemical injection system is connected directly to a water well used for irrigation and which is not used as a potable water supply, a single check spring loaded backflow preventer shall be installed between the point of chemical injection on the pump discharge piping and the water well in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.  The backflow device (see Illustration A) shall be provided with the following:

 

A)        Valving so that water can be drained from the system to prevent freezing.

 

B)        A vacuum relief valve to prevent backsiphoning of chemicals into the well.

 

C)        An automatic low pressure drain at least 3/4 inches in diameter, positioned so that when draining occurs liquid will run away from the well.  At new installations, the low pressure drain shall be at least six inches above grade.  The automatic low pressure drain shall quickly drain the check valve body of water when operation of the water well pump is discontinued.

 

D)        A watertight seal around the check valve.

 

E)        An inspection port four inches in diameter to allow inspection of the operation of the check valve.

 

F)         The check valve shall withstand a minimum hydraulic pressure of 150 psi without leaking.

 

2)         Existing chemical injection systems connected directly to a water well shall be brought into compliance with this Section by January 1, 1996.  When modifications, reconstruction, or repairs to the chemical system are made or where removal of the pump takes place, the chemical system and well shall conform to this Section.

 

3)         The water well pump and the chemical injection pump shall be electrically connected so that when the water well pump stops, the chemical pump will shut off automatically.

 

4)         All backflow devices which meet the requirements of subsections (i)(l)(A) through (F) are approved for this purpose. The Department shall establish and make available a list of all such backflow devices.

 

j)          Piping Material.  All piping from the pitless adapter of a potable water well to the pressure tank shall be watertight and a minimum of 160 p.s.i. rating at 73.4~F (+ or - 3.6~F), and shall conform to the materials required for water service pipe as listed in Section 890.Appendix A, Table A Approved Materials for Water Service Pipe of the Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890) or listed in Table A of this Part. All piping used in the chemical injection system shall be chemically compatible with the chemical product being applied.

 

k)         Sampling Faucets.  Provision shall be made for the collection of water samples by installing a down turned smooth nosed faucet, not less than 18 inches above the floor, in a convenient location between the water well and the pressure tank or as near to the well as possible.

 

l)          Reports.  When a water well pump has been installed in a new well or when a pump size is changed or the pump setting depth is changed in an existing well, the contractor shall submit a report of pump installation within 30 days to the Department, or approved local health department, on such forms as are prescribed and furnished by the Department.

 

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 4028, effective April 1, 1998)

 

Section 925.50  Disinfection and Samples

 

a)         General.  When a pump or equipment installation is made on a well which has a use which results that the water meet bacterial quality standards for human consumption, the well, pump, piping and pressure tank shall be disinfected by the contractor.  Sufficient chlorine shall be introduced to give a dosage of 100 parts per million to the water in the well.

 

b)         Disinfection.  Oil, grease, dirt, and other foreign matter shall be removed from the well and pump, piping and other equipment before installation and the introduction of chlorine.  Quantities of household chlorine bleach or dry granules hypochlorite to produce a 100 part per million dosage are given in the following tables.

 

1)         Drilled Wells.  The disinfection of drilled wells shall be accomplished in accordance with the following:

 

DIA. WELL IN INCHES	GALLONS PER FT.	AMOUNT OF DISINFECTANT REQUIRED FOR EACH 100 GALLONS OF WATER
3	.37	LAUNDRY BLEACH (5.25% Chlorine)	HYPOCHLORITE GRANULES (70% Chlorine)
4	.65
5	1.0
6	1.5
8	2.6	3 cups	2 ounces
10	4.1
12	6.0

 

		1 cup = 8 oz. measuring cup
		(2 cups = 1 pt.
		4 cups = 1 qt.)
		1 oz. = 1 heaping tablespoon granules
		16 oz. = 1 pound

 

A)        Determine the amount of water in the well by multiplying the gallons per feet by the number of feet of water in the well.

 

B)        For each 100 gallons of water in the well, use the amount of chlorine liquid or compound given in the above tables.  Mix this total amount in about 10 gallons of water.  If dry granules or tablets are used, they may be added directly to drilled wells.

 

C)        Pour this solution into the top of the well before the seal is installed.

 

D)        Connect one or more hoses from faucets on the discharge side of the pressure tank to the top of the well casing and start the pump, recirculating the water back into the well for at least 15 minutes.  Then open each faucet in the system until a chlorine smell appears.  Close all faucets.  Seal the top of the well.

 

E)        Let stand for several hours, preferably overnight.

 

F)         After standing operate the pump, discharging water from all outlets until all chlorine odor disappears.  Faucets on fixtures discharging to septic tank systems should be throttled to a low flow to avoid overloading the disposal system.

 

2)         Bored Wells.  The disinfection of bored wells shall be accomplished in accordance with the following:

 

DIAMETER OF WELL (IN FEET)	3	4	5	6	7	8	10
AMOUNT OF 5.25% LAUNDRY BLEACH TO USE PER FOOT OF WATER (IN CUPS)	1½	3	4½	6	9	12	12
AMOUNT OF 70% CHLORINE GRANULES OR POWDER TO USE PER FOOT OF WATER (IN OUNCES)	1	2	3	4	6	8	12

 

A)        The amount of disinfectant required is determined primarily by the amount of water in the well.  The table above shows the amount of chlorine to use for each foot of water in the well, according to its diameter.

 

B)        To determine the exact amount of bleach to use, multiply the amount of disinfectant indicated as determined by the well's diameter times the number of feet of water.

 

C)        This total amount of bleach shall be added to approximately 10 gallons of water, and splashed around the lining, or wall of the well.  Be certain that the solution has contacted all parts of the well, using the entire amount of disinfectant.  Seal the top of the well.

 

D)        When this is done, pump enough water so the strong chlorine odor is evident.  When the odor is detected, stop the pumping and allow the solution to remain in the well overnight.

 

E)        After standing, operate the pump, discharging water from all outlets until all chlorine odor disappears.  Faucets on fixtures discharging to septic tank systems shall be throttled to a low flow to avoid overloading the disposal system.

 

c)         Water Sample Analysis.  Upon installation of a well pump or repair or modification of any well pump or equipment the contractor shall give the owner information prepared by the Department explaining the importance of water well sampling, procedures for sampling and how the water can be tested to assure a safe supply of water.

Section 925.ILLUSTRATION A   Backflow Preventer Check Valve For Agricultural Wells

 

(Source:  Added at 15 Ill. Reg. 18227, effective January 1, 1992)

Section 925.TABLE A   Approved Materials for Water Service Pipe

 

	MATERIAL		STANDARD
1)	Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Pipe   Joints Solvent Cement1		ASTM D 1527-1988 ASTM D 2282-1988 ASTM D 2235-1988 ASTM D 2235-1988
2)	Brass Pipe		ASTM B 43-1988
3)	Cast Iron (ductile iron) Water Pipe		ASTM A 377-1984
4)	Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) Pipe   Joints Solvent Cement (orange)1		ASTM D 2846-1988 ASTM F 441-1988 ASTM F 442-1988 ASTM D 2846-1988 ASTM F 493-1988
5)	Copper/Copper Alloy Pipe		ASTM B 42-1988 ASTM B 302-1988
6)	Copper/Copper Alloy Tubing		ASTM B 88-1988
7)	Polyethylene (PE) Pipe		ASTM D 2239-1988
8)	Polyethylene (PE) Tubing		ASTM D 2737-1988
9)	Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe   Joints Primer Solvent Cement1		ASTM D 1785-1988 ASTM D 2241-1988 ASTM D 2672-1988 ASTM D 2855-1983 ASTM F 656-1988 ASTM D 2564-1988

 

¹ Solvent cement must be handled in accordance with ASTM F 402-1988.

 

(Source:  Added at 22 Ill. Reg. 4028, effective April 1, 1998)