North Carolina Administrative Code

15A NCAC 02C .0105 PERMITS (a) No person shall locate or construct any of the following wells until a permit has been issued by the Department: (1) any water-well or well system with a designed capacity to pump 100,000 gallons per day (gpd) or more during one calendar year; (2) a…

15A NCAC 02C .0106 WATER USE PERMIT History Note: Authority G.S. 143-215.14; 143-215.15; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. April 20, 1978.

15a ncac 02c .0107 STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTION: water supply WELLS (a) Location. (1) A water supply well shall not be located in any area where surface water or runoff will accumulate around the well due to depressions, drainage ways, and other landscapes that will concentrate wate…

15A NCAC 02C .0108 STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTION: WELLS OTHER THAN WATER SUPPLY (a) No well shall be located, constructed, operated, or repaired in any manner that may adversely impact the quality of groundwater. (b) Injection wells shall conform to the standards set forth in Section…

15A NCAC 02C .0109 PUMPS AND PUMPING EQUIPMENT (a) The pumping capacity of the pump shall be consistent with the intended use and yield characteristics of the well. (b) The pump and related equipment for the well shall be located to permit easy access and removal for repair and m…

15A ncac 02c .0110 WELL TESTS FOR YIELD (a) Every domestic well shall be tested for capacity by one of the following methods: (1) Pump Method (A) select a permanent measuring point, such as the top of the casing; (B) measure and record the static water level below or above the me…

15A ncac 02c .0111 DISINFECTION OF WATER SUPPLY WELLS (a) Any person constructing, repairing, testing, or performing maintenance or installing a pump in a water supply well shall disinfect the well upon completion of construction, repairs, testing, maintenance, or pump installati…

15A NCAc 02c .0112 WELL MAINTENANCE: REPAIR: GROUNDWATER RESOURCES (a) A well that is not maintained by the owner to conserve and protect the groundwater resources or that constitutes a source or channel of contamination to the water supply or any aquifer shall be permanently aba…

15a ncac 02c .0113 ABANDONMENT OF WELLS (a) A well that is temporarily removed from service shall be temporarily abandoned in accordance with the following procedures: (1) The well shall be sealed with a water-tight cap or well seal, as defined in G.S. 87-85(16), compatible with …

15A NCAc 02c .0114 DATA AND RECORDS REQUIRED Reports. (1) A person completing or abandoning a well, including wells installed using direct push technology (DPT)(e.g., Geoprobe®), shall submit to the Division a record of the construction, on form GW-1, or abandonment, on form GW-3…

15A NCAC 02C .0115 DIAGRAMS AND FORMS History Note: Authority G.S. 87-87; Eff. February 1, 1976; Amended Eff. April 20, 1978; Repealed Eff. September 1, 1984.

15A NCAC 02C .0116 DESIGNATED AREAS: WATER SUPPLY WELLS CASED TO LESS THAN 20 FEET (a) If the best or only source of potable water exists between 10 and 20 feet below the surface of the land, water supply wells may be cased to a depth less than 20 feet in the following areas: (1)…

15A NCAc 02c .0117 DESIGNATED AREAS: WATER SUPPLY WELLS CASED TO MINIMUM DEPTH OF 43 FEET Water supply wells constructed in the following areas or within 400 feet of the following areas shall be cased to a minimum depth of 43 feet and grouted to a depth of 20 feet: (1) Anson Coun…

15A NCAC 02c .0118 VARIANCE (a) The Secretary may grant a variance from any construction standard under the rules of this Section, as set forth in Rule .0119 of this Section. Any variance request shall be submitted using the official form approved the Division as set forth in Par…

15A NCAC 02C .0119 DELEGATION (a) The Secretary is delegated the authority to grant permission for well construction under G.S. 87-87. (b) The Secretary is delegated the authority to give notices and sign orders for violations under G.S. 87-91. (c) The Secretary may grant a varia…

SECTION .0200 - CRITERIA AND STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO INJECTION WELLS 15A NCAC 02C .0201 PURPOSE The rules in this Section establish classes of injection wells and set forth requirements and procedures for permitting, constructing, operating, monitoring, reporting, and abandoning …

15A NCAC 02C .0202 SCOPE The rules in this Section apply to all construction, operation, use, modification, alteration, repair, and abandonment activities of all injection wells as defined herein. These Rules do not apply to subsurface distribution systems associated with sewage …

15A NCAC 02C .0203 CONFLICT WITH OTHER LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS The provisions of any federal, county, or municipal laws, rules, or regulations establishing injection well standards affording greater protection to the public welfare, safety, and health and to the groundwater …

15A NCAC 02C .0204 DEFINITIONS In addition to the terms defined in Rule .0102 of this Subchapter, the following terms and phrases apply: (1) "Abandonment or Plugging Record" means a listing of permanent or temporary abandonment of a well and may contain a well log or description …

15A NCAC 02C .0205 AREA OF REVIEW History Note: Authority G.S. 87-87; 143-211; 143-215.1A; 143-215.3(a)(1); 143-215.3(c); Eff. August 1, 1982; Amended Eff. September 1, 1996; Repealed Eff. May 1, 2012.

15A NCAC 02C .0206 CORRECTIVE ACTION (a) Injection wells not constructed in compliance with these Rules shall be brought into compliance with the rules in this Section or abandoned by the person responsible for the construction of the wells within 30 calendar days of becoming awa…

15A NCAC 02C .0207 MECHANICAL INTEGRITY (a) An injection well has internal mechanical integrity, meaning there is no leak in the casing, tubing, or packer, as demonstrated by one of the following methods: (1) monitoring of the tubing-casing annulus pressure, following an initial …

15A NCAC 02C .0208 FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY When required by the rules of this Section, the permittee shall maintain and demonstrate financial responsibility and resources in the form of performance bonds, trust funds, surety bonds, letters of credit, financial tests, insurance o…

15A NCAC 02C .0209 CLASSIFICATION OF INJECTION WELLS Injection Wells are classified as follows: (1) Class 1. No person shall construct, use, or operate an injection well of this class. This class applies to industrial, municipal, and nuclear disposal wells that are used to inject…

15A NCAC 02C .0210 REQUIREMENTS: WELLS USED TO INJECT WASTE OR CONTAMINANTS The owner of any well that has been used to inject wastes or contaminants, with the exception of wells permitted in accordance with this Section, shall take corrective action as specified in Rule .0206(b)…

15A NCAC 02C .0211 GENERAL PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL INJECTION WELL TYPES (a) A permit shall be obtained from the Director prior to constructing, operating, or using any well for injection unless the well is deemed permitted in accordance with the rules of this Se…

15A NCAC 02C .0212 ADDITIONAL CRITERIA AND STANDARDS: CLASS II: CLASS III History Note: Authority G.S. 87-87; 87-88; 143-211; 143-214.2; 143-215.3(a)(1); 143-215.3(c); Eff. August 1, 1982; Repealed Eff. March 1, 1984.

15A NCAC 02C .0217 PERMITTING BY RULE (a) The following injection well systems shall be deemed to be permitted by the rules of this Section pursuant to G.S. 87-88(a) and it shall not be necessary for the Division to issue an individual permit for the construction or operation of …

15A NCAC 02C .0218 AQUIFER RECHARGE WELLS Aquifer Recharge Wells, which recharge depleted aquifers and inject uncontaminated water of equal or better quality than the aquifer being recharged, shall meet the requirements of Rule .0219 of this Section. However, the Director may imp…

15A NCAC 02C .0219 AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY WELLS (a) A permit shall be obtained from the Director prior to constructing, operating, or using an Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well. "Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well" means a well that is used to inject potable water for the pu…

15A NCAC 02C .0220 AQUIFER TEST WELLS (a) "Aquifer Test Wells" means wells used to inject uncontaminated fluid into an aquifer to determine the aquifer characteristics. (b) Injection wells of this type shall be permitted by rule when constructed and operated in accordance with th…

15A NCAC 02C .0221 EXPERIMENTAL TECHNOLOGY WELLS "Experimental Technology Wells" means wells used in experimental or unproven technologies whose operation complies with all applicable rules and statutes. Experimental Technology Wells shall comply with the rules governing the inje…

15A NCAC 02C .0222 GEOTHERMAL AQUEOUS CLOSED-LOOP WELLS (a) "Geothermal Aqueous Closed-Loop Wells" means wells that house a subsurface system of closed-loop pipe that circulates potable water only or a mixture of potable water and performance-enhancing additives such as antifreez…

15A NCAC 02C .0223 GEOTHERMAL DIRECT EXPANSION CLOSED-LOOP WELLS (a) "Geothermal Direct Expansion Closed-Loop Wells" means wells used to house a subsurface system of closed-loop pipe that circulates refrigerant gas for heating and cooling purposes. Only gasses that the Department…

15A NCAC 02C .0224 GEOTHERMAL heating and cooling WATER RETURN WELLS (a) "Geothermal Heating and Cooling Water Return Wells" means wells that reinject groundwater used to provide heating or cooling for structures. These wells shall not be approved by the Director unless the tempe…

15A NCAC 02C .0225 GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION WELLS AND SYSTEMS (a) "Groundwater Remediation Wells" means wells that are used to inject additives, treated groundwater, or ambient air for the treatment of contaminated soil or groundwater. Only additives that the Department of Health …

15A NCAC 02C .0226 SALINITY BARRIER WELLS Salinity Barrier Wells, which inject uncontaminated water into an aquifer to prevent the intrusion of salt water into the fresh water, shall meet the requirements of Rule .0219 of this Section, except that the Director may impose addition…

15A NCAC 02C .0227 STORMWATER DRAINAGE WELLS SYSTEMS (a) Stormwater Drainage Wells Systems means well systems that receive the flow of water that occurs during rainfall or a snowmelt event. (b) The following Stormwater Drainage Wells Systems shall be permitted by rule pursuant to…

15A NCAC 02C .0228 SUBSIDENCE CONTROL WELLS Subsidence Control Wells, which are used to inject uncontaminated fluids to reduce or eliminate subsidence associated with overdraft of fresh water or other activities not related to oil or natural gas production, shall meet the require…

15A NCAC 02C .0229 TRACER WELLS Tracer Wells, which are used to inject substances for determining hydrogeologic properties of aquifers, shall meet the requirements of Rule .0225 of this Section, except that the Director may impose additional requirements to ensure compliance with…

15A NCAC 02C .0230 OTHER WELLS Other Wells shall meet the requirements of that injection well type described in Rule .0209(5)(b) of this Section that most closely resembles the proposed Other Well's hydrogeologic complexity and potential to adversely affect groundwater quality. T…

15A NCAC 02C .0240 ABANDONMENT AND CHANGE-OF-STATUS OF INJECTION WELLS AND SYSTEMS (a) Injection wells and injection well systems shall be abandoned by the well owner in accordance with one of the following procedures or other alternatives approved by the Director that ensures co…

15A NCAC 02C .0241 VARIANCE (a) The Secretary, through the Director, may grant a variance from any construction or operation standards under the rules of this Section. Any request for a variance shall be made using the form set forth in Rule .0118(b) of the Subchapter by the pers…

15A NCAC 02C .0242 DELEGATION (a) The Secretary is delegated the authority to grant permission for well construction under G.S. 87-87. (b) The Secretary is delegated the authority to give notices and sign orders for violations under G.S. 87-91. (c) The Secretary may grant a varia…

SECTION .0300 - PERMITTING AND INSPECTION OF PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELLS 15A NCAC 02C .0301 Scope and purpose (a) The purpose of the rules of this Section is to set out standards for permitting and inspection of private drinking water wells as defined in G.S 87-85 by local healt…

15A NCAC 02C .0302 DEFINITIONS The definitions in G.S. 87-85 and 15A NCAC 02C .0102 apply throughout this Section. In addition, the following definitions apply throughout this Section: (1) "Abandonment Permit" means a well abandonment permit issued by the local health department …

15A NCAC 02C .0303 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT A property owner or the property owner's agent shall submit an application for a permit to construct, repair, or abandon a private drinking water well to the local health department for the county where the well is located or will be loca…

15A NCAC 02C .0304 PERMITTING (a) No person shall construct a private drinking water well without first obtaining a well construction permit from the local health department. No person shall repair a private drinking water well without first obtaining a well repair permit, except…

15A NCAC 02C .0305 GROUT INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION (a) The well contractor shall contact the local health department to schedule a grout inspection before grouting a private drinking water well and include the location, permit number, and anticipated time for grouting each pri…

15A NCAC 02C .0306 WELL COMPLETION AND CERTIFICATION (a) After receiving a permit to construct a private drinking water well, the property owner or agent shall notify the health department prior to well construction if any of the following occur: (1) The separation criteria speci…