1. Well Construction TCEQ’S Environmental Trade Fair - Austin, Texas
May 6-7, 2014
Craig A. Stowell, P.E.
Utilities Technical Review Team (UTRT)

2. Protection Strategy Multi-Barrier Approach
Site restrictions
Well construction
Disinfection - Treatment
Monitoring
Well Protection
Domestic Water Wells
Less stringent siting and construction
No required treatment or monitoring

3. TCEQ Rules Public Water System (PWS) definition PWS well
15 or more connections
25 or more individuals at least 60 days
[30 TAC §290.38(66)]
PWS well
30 TAC §290.41(c) Groundwater sources and development
30 TAC §290.42(b) Groundwater Treatment
When is a PWS well required? – See definition:
A system that provides to the public water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, which includes all uses described under the definition for drinking water. Such a system must have at least 15 service connections, or serve at least 25 individuals at least 60 days out of the year.

4. Other Rules Domestic Wells Both PWS and Domestic Wells
16 TAC §76 Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Both PWS and Domestic Wells
Local Groundwater Conservation Districts
Texas Water Development Board
TDLR regulates domestic wells
TWDB has map of all GCDs

5. Public Drinking vs. Domestic Water Wells
Poorly Constructed and Operated Wells can result in
Bacteriological and/or
Chemical Contamination of Wells
Domestic Water Wells
Less stringent siting and construction
No required treatment or monitoring

6. Process Flow Diagram for Proposed Wells
Depicts the plan approval process including plans approval, interim well approval and final sampling and approval.

7. Proposed Well Submittal Documents
Cover letter
Form TCEQ-10233
Engineering report
Pollution hazard survey
Draft sanitary control easement
Scalable map
Engineering plans & specifications
Proposed Well Construction Checklist
Engineering Report;
System capacity requirements
Well size and components
Engineering plans & specifications by a Texas registered professional engineer; [§290.39(d)(1)]
Pollution hazard survey; [§290.41(c)(1)(E)]
Draft sanitary control easement; [§290.41(c)(1)(F)]
Well location map.

8. Proposed New Systems Additional Documents
Business plan
Core Data Form TCEQ-10400
Water systems within ½ mile and evidence of attempt to connect
Business plan; [§290.39(f)]
Engineering Report; [§290.39(e)(1)]
Capacity requirements; [§290.45]
Present and Future conditions
Normal and Emergency operation
Water systems within ½ mile and evidence of attempt to connect; [§290.39(c)]
Core Data Form

9. Engineering Report Area Served PWS classification
Capacity Requirements
Proposed Facilities
Disinfection system
Pressure tank
Storage tank
Pumps
Survey of Pollution Hazards within ¼ mile
Abandoned or inoperative wells
Landfill and dump sites
Animal feedlots
Military, industrial or wood treatment facilities
Liquid petroleum and petrochemical production, storage and transmission facilities
Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 injection wells
Pesticide storage and mixing facilities
[§290.41(c)(1)(E)]

10. Pollution Hazards Survey
Abandoned or inoperative wells
Landfill and dump sites
Animal feedlots
Military, industrial or wood treatment facilities
Liquid petroleum and petrochemical production, storage and transmission facilities
Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 injection wells
Pesticide storage and mixing facilities
[§290.41(c)(1)(E)]
Survey of Pollution Hazards within ¼ mile
Abandoned or inoperative wells
Landfill and dump sites
Animal feedlots
Military, industrial or wood treatment facilities
Liquid petroleum and petrochemical production, storage and transmission facilities
Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 injection wells
Pesticide storage and mixing facilities
[§290.41(c)(1)(E)]

11. Set Back Distances 50 feet 150 feet
Sanitary sewer, septic tank, storm sewer
Livestock in pasture
150 feet
Septic tank drain-field, low dosage irrigation, low angle OSSF
UG petroleum or chemical storage tank
Improperly constructed well
[§290.41(c)(1)(A)-(D)]
50 feet
Sanitary sewer, septic tank, storm sewer
Livestock in pasture
150 feet
Septic tank drain-field, low dosage irrigation, low angle OSSF
UG petroleum or chemical storage tank
Improperly constructed well
[§290.41(c)(1)(A)-(D)]

12. Set Back Distances cont.
300 feet
Sewage wet well, lift station, drainage ditch
500 feet
Sewage treatment plant, animal feed lots, solid waste disposal sites
Properties treated with sewage
[§290.41(c)(1)(A)-(D)]
300 feet
Sewage wet well, lift station, drainage ditch
500 feet
Sewage treatment plant, animal feed lots, solid waste disposal sites
Properties treated with sewage
[§290.41(c)(1)(A)-(D)]

13. Set Backs
Depicts graphically the set back distances in prior two slides.

14. Map of Well Location
Depicts an original or legible copy of a United States Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle showing the accurate well location to the executive director; and a map demonstrating the well location in relation to surrounding property boundaries. All map of well location.

15. Draft Sanitary Control Easement
Use restrictions within 150 feet of well
Landowners must record easement
Improperly constructed wells
Substitute deed if PWS owns all property
Draft Sanitary control easement
Use restrictions within 150 feet of well- All setbacks and pollutions hazards.
§290.41(c)(1)(F)(i) The sanitary control easement(s) secured shall provide that none of the pollution hazards covered in subparagraphs (A) - (E) of this paragraph, or any facilities that might create a danger of pollution to the water to be produced from the well, will be located thereon.
§290.41(c)(1)(F)(ii) For the purpose of a sanitary control easement, an improperly constructed water well is one which fails to meet the surface and subsurface construction standards for public water supply wells. Residential type wells within a sanitary control easement must be constructed to public water well standards.
[§290.41(c)]

16. Proposed Well Construction
Site Requirements:
Premises, materials, tools and drilling equipment minimize contamination
Water used for operations safe sanitary quality
Drilling mud shall contain a chlorine residual of at least 0.5 milligrams per liter (mg/L)
Slush pit - minimize contamination
Temporary toilet facilities within 150 feet
Safeguards from trespassers
§290.41(c)(2) The premises, materials, tools, and drilling equipment shall be maintained so as to minimize contamination of the groundwater during drilling operation.
§290.41(c)(2)(A)Water used in any drilling operation shall be of safe sanitary quality. Water used in the mixing of drilling fluids or mud shall contain a chlorine residual of at least 0.5 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
§290.41(c)(2)(B) The slush pit shall be constructed and maintained so as to minimize contamination of the drilling mud.
§290.41(c)(2)(C) No temporary toilet facilities shall be maintained within 150 feet of the well being constructed unless they are of a sealed, leakproof type.

17. Proposed Well Construction (continue 1)
Well Casing Requirements;
AWWA Casing extends 18 inches above floor
Pressure cemented per AWWA Appendix C
Pressure cemented extends to developed formation
Contains no more than 0.25% lead

18. Proposed Well Construction (continue 2)
Well Head Requirements;
Two feet above 100-year flood elevation
Slab edge three feet from the well casing in all directions with slope
Sealed by a gasket or sealing compound
Blow-off line points downward
Sampling cock
Flow measuring devices

19. Proposed Well Construction (continue 3)
Other Requirements;
Well gravel pack disinfected
Well disinfected per AWWA for six hours
All weather access road
Intruder resistance fence

20. Disinfection
Disinfection facilities shall be provided for all groundwater supplies
Chlorine Gas
Sodium Hypochlorite
[§290.42(b)(1)]
§290.42(b)(1) Disinfection facilities shall be provided for all groundwater supplies for the purpose of microbiological control and distribution protection and shall be in conformity with applicable disinfection requirements in subsection (e) of this section.

21. Treatment
Treatment facilities required if water does not meet drinking water standards.
Arsenic
Iron and manganese
TDS
4-log removal or inactivation of viruses based on raw water sampling results
[§290.42(b)(2)]
§290.42(b)(1) Disinfection facilities shall be provided for all groundwater supplies for the purpose of microbiological control and distribution protection and shall be in conformity with applicable disinfection requirements in subsection (e) of this section.
§290.42(b)(8) The executive director may require 4-log removal or inactivation of viruses based on raw water sampling results required by § of this title (relating to Groundwater Corrective Actions and Treatment Techniques).
§ (a) Applicability. All groundwater public water systems must comply with the treatment techniques and corrective actions of this section if a raw groundwater source sample was positive for fecal indicators or if the system is not required to conduct raw groundwater source monitoring because it provides at least 4-log treatment of viruses.

22. Ground Water Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water
Depicts a ground water under the influence of surface water. Induced recharge of the well. Increased Monitoring

23. Rule Exceptions Must proceed the submission of plans
Submit to Technical Review & Oversight Team (TROT)
Written request with documentation
Cite regulations for exception
Cannot compromise public health
[§290.39(l)(1-4)
Must proceed the submission of plans
Written Request with documentation
Cite the regulations for exception
Submit to TROT
Cannot Compromise Public Health or Degrade service or water quality

24. Exception Flow Chart
Well proposal submittal exceptions submitted to Technical and Review Team (TROT) §290.39(c)(1) or §290.39(l)(1)
TROT Approves
Well plans and specifications submitted to UTRT
Upon Approval, well data used for source water assessments, sampling, and monitoring
TROT Disapproves
Revise and resubmit if applicable
The flow chart describes the exceptions process. An exception must be approved before the plans and specifications can be approved . The well data is used by source water assessments, sampling and monitoring
§290.39(c)(1)
(c) Required actions and approvals prior to construction. A person may not begin construction of a public drinking water supply system unless the executive director determines the following requirements have been satisfied and approves construction of the proposed system.
  (1) A person proposing to install a public drinking water system within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality; or within 1/2-mile of the corporate boundaries of a district, or other political subdivision providing the same service; or within 1/2-mile of a certificated service area boundary of any other water service provider shall provide to the executive director evidence that:
§290.39(l)(1)
The exception must be requested in writing and must be substantiated by carefully documented data. The request for an exception shall precede the submission of engineering plans and specifications for a proposed project for which an exception is being requested.

25. Common Exceptions Setbacks Sanitary control easement
Improper pressure cementation
Treatment technologies
Common Exceptions
Setbacks – USTs, abandoned wells, livestock, pipelines, sewage, septic tanks, etc. can infringe on setback distance to well
Sanitary Control Easement
Unapproved Existing Wells – Risky due to common problems such as collapsed casing, inadequate cement, etc. and can result in increased sampling costs
* Arsenic, TDS, Iron

26. Potential Approval Conditions
Steel casing required if petroleum tanks are in the vicinity of a well
Increased raw water sampling
Granted exceptions subject to revocation
Design Changes – e.g. The requirement of steel casing if petroleum tanks are in the vicinity of a well
Increased raw water sampling
Any exception granted by the commission is subject to revocation

27. Construct Well TCEQ Approval Letter
Construct in Accordance with the approved plans and specifications
48 hours notice to TCEQ before cementing
Unforeseen circumstances, call TCEQ UTRT at (512)
TCEQ Approval Letter
Construct in Accordance with the approved plans and specifications
48 hours notice to TCEQ before cementing
Unforeseen circumstances, call TCEQ

28. Well Completion Submittal
State of Texas well report
Recorded sanitary control easement
Well location – USGS 7.5 Min topographic map
36 - hour pump test
Raw water chemical analysis
Bacteriological tests
State of Texas well report
Recorded sanitary control easement
Well location – USGS 7.5 Min topographic map
36- hour pump test
Raw water chemical analysis
Bacteriological tests [§290.41(c)(3)(A)]

29. Final Steps Receive interim approval
Call TCEQ to arrange for the official samples to be taken by TCEQ contractor
Receive final approval
Continuous monitoring as PWS
Call TCEQ to arrange for the official samples to be taken by TCEQ contractor

30. TCEQ Website – www.tceq.texas.gov
PLAN REVIEW STAFF
Vera Poe, P.E. (Team Leader)
Kamal Adhikari, E.I.T.
Brian Dickey
Heidi Graham, E.I.T.
John Lock, P.E.
Craig A. Stowell, P.E.
Johnathan Pi, P.E.
Pritesh Tripathi
Jose Castillo, P.E.
Telephone (512)
TCEQ Website –
Plan Review Website:
Vera Poe, P.E. (Team Leader)
Kamal Adhikari, E.I.T.
Brian Dickey
Heidi Graham, E.I.T.
John Lock, P.E.
Craig A. Stowell, P.E.
Johnathan Pi, P.E.
Pritesh Tripathi
Jose Castillo, P.E.
Telephone (512)
TCEQ Website –
Plan Review Website – www. tceq.texas.gov/permitting/water_supply/ud/planrev.htm

31. Forms and Checklists Plan Review Website: Check Plan Review Status
Check Plan Review Status
Download Well Construction and Well Completion for Interim Approval Checklists
TCEQ Well Standard Construction Notes
Links to Public Drinking Water Staff Guidance Documents
Plan Review Website -
Check Plan Review Status
Download Well Construction and Well Completion for Interim Approval Checklists
Get updates on rules and new information
Links to Public Drinking Water Staff Guidance Documents

32. Craig.Stowell@tceq.texas.gov (512) 239-4633
Questions?
TCEQ
Utilities Technical Review Team
(512)
TCEQ Utilities Technical Review Team
512/