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SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
<br />ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
<br />1868 East HazeIton Avenue, Stockton, CA 95205-6232
<br />Office: (209) 468-3420 Fax: (209) 464-0138 Web: www.sjgov.org/ehd
<br />SUMMARY OF THE APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND STANDARDS FOR VIOLATIONS LISTED ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THIS FORM.
<br />ALL UNCORRECTED VIOLATIONS WILL BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER ENFORCEMENT.
<br />California Health & Safety Code
<br />§115700(a). Every person owning land in fee simple or in possession thereof under lease or contract of sale who knowingly permits the existence on the premises of any abandoned
<br />pit, well, septic tank, cesspool, or other abandoned excavation dangerous to person legally on the premises, or to minors under the age of 12 years, who fails to cover, fill, or fence
<br />securely that dangerous abandoned excavation and keep it so protected, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
<br />§115700(b). Every person owning land in fee simple or in possession thereof under lease or contract of sale who knowingly permits the existence on the premises of any permanently
<br />inactive well that constitutes a known or probable referential pathway for the movement of pollutants, contaminants, or poor quality water, from above ground to below ground, or
<br />vertical movement of pollutants, contaminants, or poor quality water below ground, and that movement poses a threat to the quality of the waters of the state, shall be guilty of a
<br />misdemeanor.
<br />§115700(d). A "permanently inactive well" is a well that has not been used for a period of one year, unless the person owning the land in fee simple or in possession thereof under
<br />lease or contract of sale demonstrates an intent for future use for water supply, groundwater recharge, drainage, or groundwater level control, heating or cooling, cathodic protection,
<br />groundwater monitoring, or related uses. A well owner shall provide evidence to the local health officer of an intent for future use of an inactive well by maintaining the well in a way that
<br />the following requirements are met: (1) The well shall not allow impairment of the quality of water within the well and groundwater encountered by the well. (2) The top of the well or well
<br />casing shall be provided with a cover, that is secured by a lock or by other means to prevent its removal without the use of equipment or tools, to prevent unauthorized access, to
<br />prevent a safety hazard to humans and animals, and to prevent illegal disposal of wastes in the well. The cover shall be watertight where the top of the well casing or other surface
<br />openings to the well are below ground level, as in a vault or below known levels of flooding. The cover shall be watertight if the well is inactive for more than five consecutive years. A
<br />pump motor, angle drive, or other surface feature of a well, when in compliance with the above provisions, shall suffice as a cover. (3) The well shall be marked so as to be easily
<br />visible and located, and labeled so as to be easily identified as a well. (4) The area surrounding the well shall be kept clear of brush, debris, and waste materials.
<br />§115700(e). At a minimum, permanently inactive wells shall be destroyed in accordance with standards developed by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Section 13800 of
<br />the Water Code and adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board or local agencies in accordance with Section 13801 of the Water Code.
<br />§115710. The Board of Supervisors shall order securely fenced, filled, or covered any abandoned mining shaft, pit, or other excavation on unoccupied land in the county whenever it
<br />appears to them, by proof submitted, that the excavation is dangerous or unsafe to man or beast.
<br />California Water Well Standards
<br />§20. A well that is no longer useful must be destroyed in order to 1. Assure that the groundwater supply is protected and preserved for further use. 2. Eliminate the potential physical
<br />hazard. §22. All "abandoned" wells and exploration or test holes shall be destroyed.
<br />San Joaquin County Ordinance Code, Title 9
<br />§9-1115.3 Well Permit Required. A Well Permit shall be approved by the Director of the Environmental Health Division prior to digging, drilling, boring, driving, repairing, or destroying
<br />any well; or repairing, replacing, installing, or sealing a pump for use on a well.
<br />§9-1115.5 Well Regulations. All wells shall be subject to the following regulations: (a) All wells shall have a sanitary seal. (b) All wells, except cathodic protection wells, shall have a
<br />concrete platform or slab constructed to prevent the entrance of surface water from any source into the well or the underground water source. (c) After the construction or repair of all
<br />water wells and prior to the use of the well, the well and all appurtenances thereto shall be adequately disinfected. (d) All water wells shall have a grout seal in the annular space. (e)
<br />Upon determination that any well is abandoned as provided in the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, that well must be destroyed in the manner prescribed so that
<br />entrance of degraded or contaminated water into usable aquifers, or creation of a safety hazard, are minimized. (f) The Director of the Environmental Health Division is authorized, after
<br />reasonable efforts to eliminate pollution, contamination, or a safety hazard, to enforce the permanent abandonment by destruction of any well that is polluted, contaminated, or is so
<br />located as to become polluted or contaminated, or is a safety hazard. The Director is authorized to destroy any such well and to recover the cost of the destruction from the owner of
<br />the property on which the well is located. (g) If the owner intends to cease use of a well for a period of six (6) months or more, the owner shall inform the Director of Environmental
<br />Health. Such a well shall be protected from any source of contamination while the well is temporarily out of service. The owner shall maintain such a well as required in the standards
<br />adopted pursuant to this Chapter. (h) The Director of the Environmental Health Division shall be notified prior to installing dewatering wells in areas of known contamination. The
<br />Director shall be notified immediately of areas where contamination is encountered, and cease operation until clearance from the Director is obtained.
<br />§9-1115.8 Prohibited Uses. The following uses are hereby prohibited: (a) The construction, use, or installation of well pits. (b) The provision of water to a residence from an off-site
<br />private, domestic well located on a separate recorded parcel.
<br />§9-1115.9 Compliance Required. It shall be unlawful to maintain or use any residence, place of business, or other building or place where persons reside, congregate, or are
<br />employed which is not in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter and the standards relating to wells made and established by the Board.
<br />San Joaquin County Water Well Standards
<br />Permit. §2.1 An application for a permit is required for a Well. §2.2. A pump permit shall be required anytime the sanitary seal in the well head is removed. §2.3. An application for a
<br />permit is required for the elimination of a cross-connection at the well discharge. §2.4. A permit shall be good for one year from the date of issue.
<br />Locations. §3.1. All water wells (except monitoring wells) shall be located at an adequate horizontal distance from potential sources of contamination and pollution. §3.2. Surface
<br />drainage shall slope away from the well site. §3.3. The well shall be located for easy access, no less than 5 feet from any permanent structural foundation or overhang.
<br />Well Cover. §4.9.1. After construction of the well, or before the pump is installed, or while repairs are being made, or if for any other reason the top of the casing is exposed, it must be
<br />protected from foreign objects or contamination entering the well by use of a seal or cover.
<br />Surface Seal. §4.10.1. A concrete surface seal (pedestal) shall be constructed around the top of the casing on all water supply wells at the time the well is constructed by the licensed
<br />well contractor. §4.10.1.1. Minimum thickness of 4 inches above grade. §4.10.1.2. Graded to drain away from well casing in all directions. §4.10.1.3. Extend minimum of 2 feet in all
<br />directions. §4.10.1.4. Well casing shall extend a minimum 1 inch above the concrete surface seal for an individual water well.
<br />Sanitary Seal. §4.11.1. When the pump is mounted directly over the casing, a grout or mastic seal shall be provided to make a watertight joint between the pump and the concrete
<br />surface seal. §4.11.2. All holes in the base of the pump which open to the well shall be sealed. §4.11.3. The seal shall prevent retention of water/foreign materials.
<br />Sounding Tube/Air Vent Pipe. §4.12.2. The fill pipe on a gravel packed well shall be watertight, extend twelve (12) inches above the ground surface, and be provided with a water
<br />tight threaded cap. §4.12.1.2. Air vent pipe shall be inverted downward and the end covered with 16-mesh screening.
<br />Sampling Tap. §4.13.1. A non-threaded tap shall be installed to obtain water for laboratory examination between the well head and the check valve or within 3 feet of the well head.
<br />Backflow Prevention. §4.14.1. All pump discharge pipes shall be installed with approved protective devices to prevent backflow and/or back siphonage into a well. §4.14.2. No person
<br />shall install any equipment that uses chemical feeders or injectors without an approved backflow prevention device. §4.14.4. No person shall make or allow a connection to exist
<br />between pipes carrying domestic water and any pipes carrying water from any other source or which has been used for any purpose whatsoever, or any pipes carrying chemicals,
<br />liquids, gases, or any substances whatsoever, unless there is provided a backflow prevention device approved for potential hazard.
<br />Out of Service Wells. §5.1. If the owner declares the intention to use the well again, and the well is capable of functioning as originally designed, it shall be maintained in such a way
<br />that: §5.1.1. The well has no defects that will impair the quality of water in the well or the water bearing formation. §5.1.2. The well is capped with a watertight seal or cover. §5.1.3. The
<br />well is marked so it may be easily seen. §5.1.4. The area around the well is kept clear of brush and debris. §5.2. After remaining out of service for five (5) years, the Director may call
<br />for the well to be properly abandoned.
<br />Well Destruction. §6.1. When a well no longer functions as originally designed/cannot function in place of another design, or has fallen in to such a state of disuse or disrepair that it
<br />may become a source of impairment to the ground water quality, constitutes a safety hazard, or found to be abandoned, it must be destroyed under a well destruction permit.
<br />EHD 43-12 10/7/13 WATER WELL NOTICE TO ABATE
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