Section 277.283. Standards for wells and casing of wells

(a) A monitoring well shall be constructed with a screen that meets the following requirements:

(1) The screen shall be factory-made.

(2) The screen may not react with the groundwater being monitored.

(3) The screen shall maximize open area to minimize entrance velocities and allow rapid sample recovery.

(b) A monitoring well shall be filter-packed with chemically inert clean quartz sand, silica or glass beads. The material shall be well-rounded and dimensionally stable.

(c) A monitoring well shall be cased as follows:

(1) The casing shall maintain the integrity of the monitoring well borehole and shall be constructed of material that will not react with the groundwater being monitored.

(2) The minimum casing diameter shall be 4 inches unless otherwise approved by the Department in writing.

(3) The casing shall protrude at least 1 foot aboveground, unless otherwise approved by the Department, and shall be clearly visible.

(4) The casing shall be designed and constructed in a manner that prevents cross contamination between surface water and groundwater.

(5) The annular space above the sampling depth shall be sealed to prevent contamination of samples and the groundwater.

(6) If plastic casing is used, it shall be threaded and gasket sealed to preclude potential sample contamination from solvent welded joints, unless otherwise provided by the Department in the permit.

(7) Alternative casing designs for wells in stable formations may be approved by the Department.

(d) A monitoring well casing shall be enclosed in a protective casing that shall:

(1) Be of sufficient strength to protect the well from damage by heavy equipment and vandalism.

(2) Be installed for at least the upper 10 feet of the monitoring well, as measured from the well cap with a maximum stick up of 3 feet, unless otherwise approved by the Department in writing.

(3) Be grouted and placed with a cement collar at least 3 feet deep to hold it firmly in position.

(4) Be numbered for identification with a label capable of withstanding field conditions and painted in a highly visible color.

(5) Protrude above the monitoring well casing.

(6) Have a locked cap.

(7) Be made of steel or other material of equivalent strength.

The provisions of this § 277.283 amended December 22, 2000, effective December 23, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 6685. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (226316) to (226317).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 271.113 (relating to closure plan); 25 Pa. Code § 277.116 (relating to groundwater quality description); 25 Pa. Code § 277.152 (relating to water quality monitoring plan); 25 Pa. Code § 277.281 (relating to general requirements); and 25 Pa. Code § 277.286 (relating to groundwater assessment plan).