13.15.020 Water wells.
A. No person shall install, or permit the installation of, a water well in an insanitary or unsafe manner within Jasper County. Although existing water wells may not conform to the location standards herein, replacement water systems shall conform to all local and State codes. No person shall abandon or permit the abandonment of a water well in an insanitary or unsafe manner within Jasper County.
B. No water well shall be installed or abandoned except in conformance with this chapter and any condition made a part of a permit issued by the Health Officer under this chapter.
C. If any defect exists or occurs in any water well or abandoned water well which could cause contamination of the well water or the aquifer, the owner or occupant shall correct the defect immediately.
D. If the owner or occupant of any property, or his or her agent, receives a written order from the Health Officer, he or she shall comply with all provisions of the order and perform all acts required by the order within the time limit set forth in that order. The order shall be served on the owner or the occupant of the property or his or her agent, but may be served on any person who, by contract with the owner, has assumed the duty of complying with the provisions of this chapter and any order issued under this chapter.
E. Water wells should be located as far as practically possible from any known or suspected source of chemical or microbiological contamination, and at the highest elevation on the premises consistent with the general layout and surroundings. Water wells shall be located so that they are accessible for cleaning, and pulling of the well pump. Water wells shall not be located in pits, or in or under buildings or building overhangs (excepting only well houses), or in areas which are subject to ponding.
1. Water wells and buried pump suction lines serving only a one- or two-family dwelling shall be located in accordance with the following table:
|
Lake, pond, river, stream, or open public ditches |
25 feet |
|
Dwelling or other structure |
5 feet |
|
Property lines |
25 feet |
|
Septic tank effluent soil absorption systems located in soils which are not so porous that aquifers are in danger of contamination; provided, that whenever the design of the wastewater conveyance system specifies SDR 21, Class 200, PVC pressure pipe for all sewers and the use of elastomeric ring gasket joints, as a minimum standard, the separation distance required shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Indiana State Board of Health or the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, whichever has jurisdiction. |
100 feet |
|
Storage tanks for fuel or other chemicals, located wholly or in part underground |
100 feet |
|
Storage tanks for fuel, or other chemicals, located wholly above ground |
25 feet |
|
Earthen agricultural waste pits |
200 feet |
|
Concrete or membrane-lined agricultural waste pits |
50 feet |
|
Sewage treatment lagoons |
300 feet |
|
Solid or hazardous waste landfills or dumps |
1,000 feet |
2. Water wells and buried pump suction lines serving other than a one- or two-family dwelling shall be located in accordance with the following table:
|
Lake, pond, river, stream, or open public ditches |
25 feet |
|
Dwelling or other structure |
5 feet |
|
Property lines |
100 feet |
|
Septic tanks, privies or sewers; provided, that whenever the design of the wastewater conveyance system specifies SDR 21, Class 200, PVC pressure pipe for all sewers and the use of elastomeric ring gasket joints, as a minimum standard, the separation distance required shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Indiana State Board of Health or the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, whichever has jurisdiction. |
100 feet |
|
Seepage pits or dry wells |
100 feet |
|
Septic tank effluent soil absorption systems located in soils which are so porous that aquifers are in danger of contamination |
200 feet |
|
Septic tank effluent soil absorption systems located in soils which are not so porous that aquifers are in danger of contamination |
100 feet |
|
Storage tanks for fuel or other chemicals, located wholly or in part underground |
100 feet |
|
Storage tanks for fuel or other chemicals, located wholly above ground |
50 feet |
|
Earthen agricultural waste pits |
200 feet |
|
Concrete or membrane-lined agricultural waste pits |
100 feet |
|
Sewage treatment lagoons |
300 feet |
|
Solid or hazardous waste landfills or dumps |
1,000 feet |
F. Water wells serving only a one- or two-family dwelling shall have casings at least one and one-quarter inches in diameter, preferably a minimum of four inches in diameter, excluding sand point wells. All other water wells shall have casings at least four inches in diameter. Water wells shall be cased to at least 25 feet below finished grade. The annular space of all drilled water wells must be at least one inch, and must be sealed using neat cement or bentonite slurry, in conformance with rules of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
G. All water wells shall have sufficient stabilized yield to satisfy the intended use, unless sufficient storage can be installed to overcome any deficiency. A water well serving only a one- or two-family dwelling should have a minimum stabilized yield of 300 gallons per hour, preferably 600 gallons per hour or more.
H. Water wells shall not be finished in pits below grade. After the effective date of this chapter each newly constructed water well fitted with a submersible pump shall also be fitted with a pitless adapter conforming to the rules of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The pitless adapter or finished water well casing (whichever is applicable) shall extend a minimum of:
1. Twelve inches above floor level, finished grade, or the flood of record, whichever is highest, for those wells serving one- or two-family dwellings; or
2. Twenty-four inches above floor level, finished grade, or the flood of record, whichever is highest, for all other water wells.
I. There shall be no openings through the wall of a water well casing, such as for passage of vent lines, water lines, air lines or electrical wiring. This subsection does not apply to pitless adapters.
J. A water well pump serving only a one- or two-family dwelling shall have a capacity of at least 300 gallons per hour, preferably a minimum of 600 gallons per hour. All other water well pumps shall have sufficient capacity to satisfy the intended use or to match the stabilized yield of the water well.
K. If a pump or pump base is to be directly mounted on top of water well casing it shall effectively seal the top of the casing from entry of dust, insects or other foreign material. All other water well casings (not pitless adapters) shall be sealed using a watertight expandable gasket.
L. Water well vent tubes shall extend upward and bend back downward creating an inverted “U” terminating above the well casing. The terminus of a water well vent tube shall be screened to prevent the entrance of foreign matter. If toxic or flammable gas will be vented from a water well the vent tube shall not terminate inside a building.
M. Water well pump discharge or suction lines made of any type of plastic shall bear the seal of the National Sanitation Foundation. Water well pump discharge or suction lines shall be buried a minimum of 36 inches below ground to prevent freezing.
N. All water wells and water well pumps shall be properly disinfected at the time of installation, and after each repair. At a minimum, sufficient chlorine solution shall be introduced into the water well to provide a residual concentration of at least 100 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in the well water. The chlorine solution shall remain in the well for at least six hours, after which the chlorinous water shall be flushed from the water well prior to any sample collection. [Ord. 08-14-23 § 3; Ord. 7-6-93A § 1; Ord. 8-5-91B § 3; Code 1988 § 72.02.]