Staff Guidance for Public Water Systems: Wells - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

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Staff Guidance Documents for Public Water Systems

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Staff Guidance for Public Water Systems: Wells

Topics Under This Category:

	Bottled Water Source Approval Guidelines for the approval of standalone bottling facilities that do not meet the definition of a public water system but are required to obtain TCEQ approval under Department of State Health Services rules (25 TAC 229.87).

	Construction Approval for Emergency Wells Procedure to be followed by our staff when an existing well has failed and expedited approval of a new well is needed to prevent a water system from experiencing a shortage, low distribution pressure, or both.

	Conversion of Existing Wells in Unconfined Aquifers to Use as Sources of Public Drinking Water Factors for our staff to consider in determining whether an existing water well in an unconfined sand, silt, or gravel aquifer may be used as a public drinking water supply.

	Depth of Pressure Cementation for New Public Water Supply Wells in Sand/Gravel Aquifers How to determine the proper depth of pressure cementation when a public water system well is drilled into an unconfined aquifer that has wide fluctuations in the depth to the water table. Applies to the Ogallala and similar aquifers.

	Flow-Measuring Devices at Transient Noncommunity Wells Our inspectors may allow a transient noncommunity public water system to measure instantaneous capacity by a means other than a well meter if the alternate method demonstrates the adequacy of the system's well capacity.

	Notification of the Initiation of PDW Well Completion Notify us by phone at least 48 hours before beginning the pressure cementation of a public drinking water supply well.

	Pressure Cementing of Public Water Supply Wells Allowable pressure cementing procedures. Although a tremie tube may be used with pressure feed, the Tremie Method (with no pressure feed) may not. Addresses in part the need to cement to the shallowest formation to be developed.

	Pumping Test for Public Water Wells Details on water-saving procedures that may be used in place of the 36-hour pumping test currently required for new wells. One option requires only 24 hours of pumping. The other requires only 4 hours of pumping.

	PVC Casing for Proposed Public Water Supply Wells Minimum wall thicknesses and other specifications that polyvinyl chloride pipe must meet to be used as casing in a public water supply well. Also, conditions under which the use of PVC casing is prohibited.

	Required Bacteriological Samples When a Well Pump is Repaired or Replaced Only one bacteriological sample is required when a well pump is pulled for repair. All traces of chlorine must be flushed from the well before the sample is collected.

	Response to Private Well Inquiries Guidance to our staff on responding to inquiries involving private wells.

	Restrictions on the Use of Bentonite in Public Water Supply Wells In a public water supply well, bentonite may be used only in a water-saturated zone and, even then, only to seal the annular space above the packer. Before using bentonite, read this statement to learn all related requirements.

	Separation Distance between Public Water Well and a Private OSSF Sprayfield Future private on-site sewage facility sprayfields may be installed no closer than 150 feet from a public water supply well. States the reasoning behind this decision.

	Surveys of Existing/Potential Sources of Groundwater Pollution and Inventories of Abandoned/Inoperative Wells Surrounding Public Water Supply Wells Steps to complete to accomplish this required survey and inventory, which together identify potential sources of contamination to your public water supply well.