The purpose of this article is to prevent contamination of groundwater
and to protect public health, safety and welfare by assuring that
unused, unsafe or noncomplying wells, or wells which may serve as
conduits for contamination, or wells which may be illegally cross-connected
to the municipal water system, are properly abandoned.
This article applies to all wells located on premises served
by the Village of Grantsburg municipal water system.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A system for the provision to the public of piped water for
human consumption when such system has at least 15 service connections
or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents owned or operated
by a city, village, county, town, town sanitary district, utility
district or public institution or a privately owned water utility
serving any of the above.
A well or pump installation which does not comply with the
provisions of § NR 812.42, Wis. Adm. Code, in effect at
the time the well was constructed, a contamination source which was
installed, the pump was installed, or work was done on either the
well or pump installation.
The pump and related equipment used for withdrawing water
from a well, including the discharge piping, the underground connections,
pitless adapters, pressure tanks, pits, sampling faucets and well
seals or caps.
A well or pump installation which produces water which is
bacteriologically contaminated or contaminated with substances in
exceedance of the standards of Ch. NR 809 or 140, Wis. Adm. Code,
or for which a health advisory has been issued by the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources.
A well or pump installation which is not in use or does not
have a functional pumping system.
An excavation or opening into the ground made by digging,
boring, drilling, driving, or other methods for the purpose of obtaining
groundwater for consumption or other use.
The filling and sealing of a well according to the provisions
of § NR 812.26, Wis. Adm. Code.
All wells located on premises served by the municipal water
system shall be abandoned in accordance with the terms of this article
and § NR 812.42, Wis. Adm. Code, by no later than one year
from the date of connection to the municipal water system, unless
a well operation permit has been obtained by the well owner from the
Village of Grantsburg Water Utility.
The Village of Grantsburg Water Utility may grant a permit to
a private well owner to operate a well for a period not to exceed
five years provided the conditions of this section are met. The Village
of Grantsburg or its agent may conduct inspections or have water quality
tests conducted at the applicant's expense to obtain or verify information
necessary for consideration of a permit application or renewal. Permit
applications and renewals shall be made on forms provided by the Village
of Grantsburg Water Utility, and a fee as prescribed in the Village
of Grantsburg's Schedule of Fees shall be paid. The following conditions
must be met for issuance or renewal of a well operation permit:
A.
The well and pump installation meet or are upgraded to meet the requirements
of Ch. NR 812, Wis. Adm. Code.
B.
The well construction and pump installation have a history of producing
bacteriologically safe water as evidenced by at least two samplings
taken a minimum of two weeks apart. No exception of this condition
may be made for unsafe wells, unless the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources approves, in writing, the continued use of the well.
C.
There are no cross-connections between the well and pump installation
and the municipal water system.
D.
The proposed use of the well and pump installation can be justified
as being necessary in addition to water provided by the municipal
water system. Permits shall not be granted for a new domestic use
private well. Permits may only be issued for existing or new nondomestic
use private wells, used solely for a nondomestic consumption purpose
such as gardening.
A.
All wells abandoned under the jurisdiction of this article shall
be abandoned according to the procedures and method of Ch. NR 812,
Wis. Adm. Code. All debris, pump, piping, unsealed liners and any
other obstructions which may interfere with sealing operations shall
be removed prior to abandonment.
B.
The owner of the well, or the owner's agent, shall notify the Village
of Grantsburg Water Utility at least 48 hours prior to commencement
of any well abandonment activities. The abandonment of the well shall
be observed by a representative of the Village of Grantsburg Water
Utility.
C.
An abandonment report form, supplied by the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources, shall be submitted by the well owner to the
Village of Grantsburg Water Utility and the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources within 10 days of the completion of the well abandonment.
Any well owner violating any provision of this article shall,
upon conviction, be punished by forfeiture of not less than $25 nor
more than $500 and the cost of prosecution. Each day of violation
is a separate offense. If any person fails to comply with this article
for more than 10 days after receiving written notice of the violation,
the municipality may impose a penalty and cause the well abandonment
to be performed and the expense to be assessed as a special tax against
the property.
