Oregon Administrative Code

690-100-0035 Disbursement of Funds (1) Any funds appropriated by the Legislative Assembly for partial repayment of a financed water development project shall be deposited in the Water Development Administration and Bond Sinking Fund. The Director shall, upon satisfactory completi…

690-100-0040 Compliance Agreement (1) A compliance agreement, in preliminary form, shall be submitted to the Legislative Assembly as part of the Commission’s Recommendation. The agreement shall, among other things, set forth the length of time the project is to be operated and ma…

690-100-0045 Public Disclosure (1) The Commission shall make public notice of each application for partial repayment of a project which shall contain a summary of the application including the names of the applicants, the location, nature of the project, and identify the public b…

690-190-0005 Purpose and Applicability (1) These rules describe the requirements under which the Oregon Water Resources Department will administer and enforce the provisions of ORS 537.545 relating to the recording of exempt groundwater use. Moneys from fees collected and deposit…

690-190-0010 Definitions (1) “Converting” has the same meaning as defined in ORS 537.515(3). (2) “Department” means the Oregon Water Resources Department. (3) “Director” means the Director of the Oregon Water Resources Department. (4) “Recording” means the filing of a map locatin…

690-190-0100 Recording Requirements The person licensed under ORS 537.747 or permitted under ORS 537.753 (4) that constructs a well to allow groundwater use for a purpose that is exempt under ORS 537.545 (1) shall submit the following to the Department, along with the well report…

690-190-0200 Compliance and Enforcement (1) If the Department determines that a water supply well constructor or permitted landowner has not met the requirements of these rules, the Department shall notify the water supply well constructor or permitted landowner of the specific n…

690-200-0005 Basis for Regulatory Authority (1) The right to reasonable control of the ground waters of the State of Oregon has been declared to belong to the public. Through the provisions of the Ground Water Act of 1955, ORS 537.505 to 537.795, the Water Resources Commission ha…

690-200-0020 General Statement About the Standards (1) The rules and regulations set forth herein provide the minimum standards for the construction, conversion, alteration, maintenance, and abandonment of water supply wells. After the effective date of adoption of these rules an…

690-200-0021 Special Standards (1) Site conditions may require specific design, construction, and abandonment procedures to adapt to the existing local geologic and ground water conditions to fully utilize every natural protection to the state’s ground water. Specific site condit…

690-200-0025 Special Area Standards If at any time, the Commission finds that different or supplemental standards are required for the safe development of ground water from any aquifer or area, special area standards for the construction and maintenance of water supply wells with…

690-200-0027 Restrictions on Water Supply Well Construction and Use in Critical Groundwater Areas or Areas Withdrawn by Commission Order (1) The use of ground water is restricted in Critical Ground Water Areas or Withdrawal Areas established by Commission Order, under ORS 537.735…

690-200-0028 Designated Special Area Standards (1) Special Area Standards for the Construction and Alteration of Water Supply Wells in the Lakeview Area. (a) As used in this rule and illustrated in Figure 200-3, “The Lakeview Area” includes the area located in Sections 4, 5, 8 an…

690-200-0030 Public Safety No water supply well shall be constructed, maintained, or abandoned in such a manner as to constitute a health threat, or health hazard or a menace to public safety. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, 536, 537 & 540 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 183,…

690-200-0040 Wells Cannot be Used for Disposal of Contaminants No water supply well shall be used as a disposal pit for sewage, industrial waste, or other materials that could contaminate the ground water supply. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, 536, 537 & 540 Statutes/Other I…

690-200-0041 Water Used Must be Potable All water used in the construction, alteration, repair or abandonment of water supply wells shall be potable. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, 536, 537 & 540 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 183, 536, 537 & 540 History: Renumbered from 69…

690-200-0042 Organic Materials Organic materials which foster or promote undesired organic growth or have the potential to degrade water quality shall not be employed in the construction of a water supply well. This includes, but is not limited to, brans, hulls, grains, starches,…

690-200-0043 Commingling of Waters A water supply well shall not be constructed in a manner that allows commingling or leakage of ground water by gravity flow or artesian pressure from one aquifer to another. See definition of aquifer. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 536.090 & 537…

690-200-0046 Perched Ground Water Wells drawing water from perched zones must be constructed to prevent the waste of this type of ground water. (See Figure 200-2). [ED. NOTE: To view attachments referenced in rule text, click here for PDF copy.] Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183…

690-200-0047 Unattended Wells All wells, when unattended during construction, shall be covered to protect public health and safety. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, 536, 537 & 540 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 183, 536, 537 & 540 History: Renumbered from 690-210-0110 by WRD …

690-200-0048 Well Identification Label (1) Within 30 days of completion of well construction, conversion, or alteration, the constructor shall permanently affix a well identification label to the wellhead in an accessible and visible location in the following manner: (a) Labels s…

690-200-0050 Definitions The Water Resources Commission uses the definitions of the words listed below in the administration and enforcement of Oregon's Ground Water Law and the Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Alteration of Wells. No other definitions of these same…

690-205-0005 License or Permit Required to Construct Water Supply Wells (1) Unless otherwise provided in these rules, any person who constructs, alters or abandons water supply wells for another person shall have a Water Supply Well Constructor’s license or work under the supervi…

690-205-0010 Water Supply Well Constructor License Examination (1) The Water Resources Department administers the written examination required under ORS 537.747. Separate examinations are administered for each license endorsement. The Department schedules the examination on the s…

690-205-0020 Water Supply Well Constructor’s License, Experience Requirements, Trainee Card and Temporary Authorization (1) License. To qualify for a Water Supply Well Constructor’s License, a person shall: (a) Be at least 18 years old; (b) Pass a written examination; (c) Have a …

690-205-0025 Term of Water Well Constructor License and License Fees (1) The Department issues all Water Supply Well Constructor licenses. License fees are established by ORS 537.747. A penalty applies to late renewals. (2) Fees for new licenses and renewal licenses are the same.…

690-205-0035 Continuing Education Committee A Continuing Education Program and Continuing Education Committee are established under Chapter 496, Oregon Laws 2001 (ORS 537.765). The duties of the Well Constructors Continuing Education Committee are to review and approve continuing…

690-205-0045 Continuing Education Requirement (1) Each individual licensed under ORS 537.747 is required to obtain a minimum of 14 continuing education credits (CECs) during each licensing period regardless of the number of licenses or endorsements held. Continuing education cred…

690-205-0055 Documentation (1) Each licensee is responsible for maintaining their own continuing education records. Except as provided in OAR 690-205-0110(2), each licensee shall provide the Department with evidence of compliance with the continuing education requirement on a for…

690-205-0075 Approved Course List/Course Approval and Assignment of CECs (1) The Department shall maintain a Continuing Education Committee-approved list of courses. The list shall include, but not be limited to, the course title, class location and date, cost, (if applicable), a…

690-205-0085 Course Sponsor Requirements (1) Course sponsors shall submit a completed application for approval to the Continuing Education Committee on a form(s) provided by the Department at least 45 days prior to the date the course is to be presented. Approved sponsors shall: …

690-205-0095 Loss of Approval The Continuing Education Committee may withdraw or suspend approval of a course if it is determined that any of the following has occurred: (1) The course content has changed without notice to the Continuing Education Committee; (2) The course was no…

690-205-0110 Courses Taken Without Prior Approval (1) Except as provided in OAR 690-240-0210(5), a licensee may request that the Continuing Education Committee assign CECs for courses taken without prior approval within the current licensing period. (2) The licensee shall supply …

690-205-0120 Waivers (1) The Director may waive the continuing education requirements for a licensed Water Supply Well Constructor upon written request demonstrating inability to attend continuing education courses because of health, military duty or other circumstances beyond th…

690-205-0145 Contracting for Services Only Oregon licensed and bonded Water Supply Well Constructors may advertise services or enter into a contract, either written or oral, to construct, alter, convert, or abandon a water supply well. Any written bid for a project which includes…

690-205-0155 Water Supply Well Constructor and Landowner Well Bonds or Letters of Credit (1) The Water Resources Commission shall only accept bonds from corporations licensed by the Oregon Department of Insurance and Finance to issue fidelity and surety insurance. The Water Resou…

690-205-0175 Landowner Well Construction Permit, Fee and Bond (1) The Water Resources Commission requires a permit, permit fee, and bond or irrevocable letter of credit, for each water supply well constructed, altered, converted, or abandoned by a landowner, unless the landowner …

690-205-0185 Water Supply Well Drilling Machines (1) All water supply well drilling machines being operated, other than under a landowner's permit, shall be plainly marked either with the bonded Water Supply Well Constructor's license number, the name of the bonded Water Supply W…

690-205-0200 Water Supply Well Construction Notice Required (Start Card) (1) Each bonded Water Supply Well Constructor licensed to operate in the State of Oregon and each landowner holding a landowner's permit shall provide a start card as required in ORS 537.762 before commencin…

690-205-0205 Start Card Reporting Requirements (1) The start card notification required in ORS 537.762 shall be submitted to the Department’s region office (Figure 205-1) within which the water supply well is being constructed, altered converted or abandoned using one of the foll…

690-205-0210 Well Report Required (Water Supply Well Log) (1) A water well report (water well log) shall be prepared for each water supply well constructed, altered, converted, or abandoned. This requirement includes unsuccessful wells and wells exempt from appropriation permit r…

690-210-0005 Standards Apply to all Methods of Well Construction (1) The following well construction standards apply to all methods of water supply well construction. The methods include, but are not limited to, drilling, driving, jetting, boring, and digging. (2) Horizontal and …

690-210-0030 Placement of Water Supply Wells (1) No person shall construct a water supply well: (a) Within 50 feet of any septic tank; or (b) Within 100 feet of a septic drainline or sewage disposal structure or facility; or (c) Within 50 feet of a closed sewage or storm drainage…

690-210-0060 Explosives (1) If explosives are used in the construction of a water supply well, their use must be reported on the well report. The type and amount of explosive(s) used shall be reported. (2) In no case shall explosives other than commercially developed gun perforat…

690-210-0065 Hydrofracturing (1) If the water supply well is hydrofractured, the constructor shall so note on the well report. Information reported shall include methods and materials used, maximum pressure exerted on the formation, location of packers, initial and final static w…

690-210-0070 Injection Wells No water supply well subject to these rules shall be used for the injection of surface or ground waters, or chemically or thermally altered waters, unless the injection installation, well design, and receiving formations are approved by the Water Reso…

690-210-0100 Mineralized or Contaminated Groundwater All formations which yield contaminated or mineralized water shall be adequately cased and sealed off to prevent contamination of the overlying or underlying water-bearing zones. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 183, 536, 537 & 5…

690-210-0130 Sealing of Wells in Unconsolidated Formations Without Significant Clay Beds Water supply wells drilled into unconsolidated water-bearing strata overlain by unconsolidated materials, such as sand, silt, or gravel, without significant clay beds, shall have a watertight…

690-210-0140 Sealing of Water Supply Wells in Unconsolidated Formations with Significant Clay Beds Water supply wells drilled into water-bearing intervals overlain by unconsolidated deposits of clay, or sand and gravel in which significant interbeds of clay are present, shall hav…

690-210-0150 Sealing of Water Supply Wells in Consolidated Formations (1) Water supply wells drilled into a water-bearing rock formation overlain by clay, silt, sand, gravel, cobbles, or similar materials, shall be constructed in accordance with one of the following methods: (a) …