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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".26" citation="COMAR 26.04.04.26" title_num="26" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="04" heading="Minimum Yield and Yield Testing for Domestic Water Supply Wells.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A domestic well or double well combination shall produce a minimum yield of 1 gallon per minute for 6 hours.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Replacement wells servicing an existing dwelling are exempt from the minimum yield requirement of 1 gallon per minute.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The Approving Authority may require a mandatory yield test in any hydrogeologic area of the State for any well, if it is determined that a yield test is necessary to assure an adequate water supply.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The County Water and Sewer Plan shall delineate those areas where a mandatory yield test is required for water supply wells in Hydrogeologic Areas 1, 2, 4, and 5.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Each domestic well in Hydrogeologic Area 3 shall be tested for yield in accordance with §G of this regulation unless the requirement has been waived pursuant to §F of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The County Water and Sewer Plan shall delineate those areas in Hydrogeologic Area 3 where the mandatory yield test is waived.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Yield Test Procedures.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §F of this regulation, all domestic wells drilled in Hydrogeologic Area 3 shall be yield tested as provided below:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>On the yield test report form, the permittee shall note pertinent data related to the yield test, including but not limited to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Static water level;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Measured depth of well;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Whether the well has been hydrofractured;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Estimated well yield prior to hydrofracturing;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Depth of test pump in well;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>Name of the person performing the test;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>License number of person performing test; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(viii)">
          <text>Well construction permit number;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The pump and related equipment shall be placed in the well;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Pumping shall begin at a rate of withdrawal greater than 8 gallons per minute until the water level drops to a point close to the pump;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>If the water level drops to near the pump, the pumping rate shall be adjusted so that the water level remains constant;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Measure and record the flow rate of water discharged and water level at 15 minute intervals throughout the test; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Discharge water at least 50 feet from the well and any on-site sewage disposal system.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A single interruption of pumping of up to 15 minutes due to equipment failure or other unusual circumstances is permitted, but the amount of down time shall be made up by additional pumping at the end of the test.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The criteria for approval shall be a minimum yield of one gallon per minute for 6 hours continuous pumpring after the well has been pumped out as provided in §G(1)(c) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The pump test may be terminated early and the well yield shall be considered adequate if a well:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Cannot be pumped out after 3 hours pumping as provided in §G(1)(c) of this regulation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Yields 4 gallons per minute or greater for 3 hours continuous pumping, after the well has been pumped out as provided in §G(1)(c) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>The Approving Authority may permit two wells to be connected to meet the minimum yield requirement if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A written request is submitted to the Approving Authority for each installation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The wells to be connected are tested in accordance with the yield test procedures of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Each well demonstrates a yield of at least 0.5 gallons per minute during the yield test; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Both wells are tested for yield at the same time.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>The yield test data shall be submitted to the Approving Authority for review.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Domestic Water Supply System Standard.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The water supply system shall produce not less than 500 gallons of water in a 2-hour period, at least once each day.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the sustained yield of the well is not capable of meeting the total water supply standard, sufficient storage shall be provided.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>Well Storage.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If well storage is selected, the amount of storage required is calculated by subtracting the well's yield over a 2-hour period from 500 gallons.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A quantity of water in storage is equal to the number of feet below the static water level and 10 feet from the bottom of the well, multiplied times 1.5 gallons per foot for a 6-inch well or 0.65 gallons per foot for a 4-inch well.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>