The person-in-charge shall ensure that: A source of water for finished product water is an approved source; Within the State, a ground water appropriation permit is obtained from the Maryland Department of the Environment as required in COMAR 26.17.06; and A spring is constructed, developed, or improved in accordance with §B of this regulation. Spring Requirements. The person-in-charge shall ensure that: A spring is constructed, developed, or improved in accordance with the following requirements: A fissure or opening in the geologic formation from which the water flows into the spring is: Enclosed within an encasement of concrete, tile, steel, or another impervious material; or Otherwise tapped in a manner that ensures the capture of only ground water flowing from the geologic formation; The walls of a spring encasement penetrate the geologic formation from which the water flows to intercept and contain ground water; A spring encasement is provided a cover; The material used in the construction or improvement of the spring does not impart a toxic or deleterious substance to the water; A fence or other physical barrier is used to exclude animals and unauthorized persons from the area within 100 feet of the spring; Water in the spring is transported to the point of bottling or into bulk storage by: Gravity; or When pumping is required, first flowing by gravity to a separate holding reservoir from which it is extracted and delivered to the point of bottling by use of a pump; A spring is protected from direct surface water intrusion and other sources of contamination; and A spring does not contain ground water under the direct influence of surface water; A spring is constructed, developed, or improved in accordance with a plan made by a registered professional engineer or professionally qualified hydrogeologist that: Contains a hydrogeological study and a sanitary survey as set forth in Regulation .04E(4)(d) and (e) of this chapter; and Is approved by the approving authority or the Department; and A borehole used to obtain spring water: Is hydraulically connected to an aquifer that supplies a constantly flowing spring; Contains only water that has all the physical properties before treatment as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth or into a body of water; Is shown to comply with §B(1)(g) and (h) of this regulation by a hydrogeological study submitted to the Department; and Is constructed in compliance with §B(2) of this regulation. The person-in-charge shall ensure that: A well within the State that is used as a source of finished product water is permitted, constructed, and installed in conformance with COMAR 26.04.04; When bottling artesian water, a hydrogeological report is kept at the plant that shows that the static water level in the well is at some height above the aquifer; When ground water is a source of finished product water, the ground water is not under the direct influence of surface water; A statement of acceptability for a source of water is kept on file at the plant and available for inspection by the Department; and A public water supply system in the State that is used as a source of finished product water is a community water system that complies with COMAR 26.04.01.