<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".17" citation="COMAR 26.04.04.17" title_num="26" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="04" heading="Construction Standards — Casing.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Well Casing.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Markings.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Except as provided in §A(1)(b) of this regulation, all casing shall be marked by the manufacturer sufficiently to allow identification of the casing.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Well casing for monitoring wells is exempt from displaying markings.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The well driller shall provide, upon request, sufficient information to allow identification of casing used for monitoring wells.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Plastic Well Casing.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Plastic well casing shall be polyvinyl chloride, PVC, manufactured to meet the standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard F-480.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Plastic well casing shall be installed in accordance with the maximum depth limits specified:</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>In Hydrogeologic Areas 3, 4, and 5, plastic well casing may not be used for the main casing where caving conditions occur before casing placement.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Plastic well casing 4 inches or less in diameter shall be a minimum of schedule 40.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>All plastic well casing greater than 4 inches in diameter shall be a minimum of SDR 26.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Metal Well Casing.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Metal well casing shall meet one of the following standards:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>ASTM standard A-53 or A-589;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>American Petroleum Institute standard 5A or 5L; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>ASTM standard A-312, type 304 minimum, for stainless steel.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Metal well casing of 4 inches or less, nominal size, shall be schedule 40 or better.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Metal well casing greater than 4 inches, nominal size, shall have a minimum nominal wall thickness of 0.188 inches.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The Approving Authority may require that Schedule 40 or Standard Schedule metal well casing be used where there is corrosive water, soil, or geology.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Metal casing shall be new, prime pipe, being free of pits or breaks.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Casing material is not permitted which will cause the delivered water to be toxic or violate State or federal primary drinking water standards in effect at the time the well is constructed.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Other types and sizes of well casing may be approved by the Approving Authority for special applications, upon written request by the well driller.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Minimum Casing Length.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In Hydrogeologic Areas 1 and 2, the casing shall extend to the top of or into the aquifer used.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In Hydrogeologic Areas 3, 4, and 5, the casing shall extend through the weathered zone and be seated a minimum of 2 feet into bedrock.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Less than 20 feet of casing may not be used in any area except as provided in Regulation .23 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>In Hydrogeologic Area 4, the minimum casing length is 40 feet.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Minimum Casing Diameter.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Potable water supply wells shall have a minimum main casing diameter of 4 inches in all hydrogeologic areas of the State.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In Hydrogeologic Areas 1 and 2, for potable water supply wells, the 4-inch minimum main casing diameter shall extend to, whichever comes first:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A minimum of 250 feet; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The top of the aquifer used.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Criteria for Variance for Telescoping Casing.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Approving Authority shall submit a report to the Department for approval prior to granting variances to §C(2) of this regulation for increasing or decreasing the minimum depth of the 4-inch minimum main casing diameter.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The report shall contain at a minimum the following information:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Area of county where variance is being considered;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Aquifer for which variance is being considered;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Discussion of current aquifer usage and predicted aquifer usage; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Proposed variance wording.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The report shall be incorporated in the county Master Water and Sewer Plan prior to implementation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Well Casing Joints.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Joints shall be watertight.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Joints for metal casing may be either electrically welded or threaded.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Joints for plastic well casing may be either threaded, solvent welded, or o-ring.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Screws or other mechanical devices may only be used to join PVC well liner:</text>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>For solvent welded joints used in liners;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(ii)">
        <text>With nonpenetrating stainless steel screws;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(iii)">
        <text>And per the recommendations of the pipe manufacturer to maintain their warranty.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Other Installation Requirements.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Liners shall meet the standards for well casing under §§A and D of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Well casing may not be cut off or cut into below ground except to install a pitless unit.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Well casing shall extend at least 8 inches above the finished grade.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>