This article shall apply to water wells drilled within town limits under New Mexico Statutes Annotated section 72-12-1, 72-12-3, 72-12-7, 72-12-22, 72-12-23, or 72-12-24, or any other applicable statute.
(Ordinance 03-04, sec. 1, adopted 2003)
A. 
No person shall construct, install, or use a new water well unless such well is constructed and maintained in accordance with any rules or regulations promulgated under this article.
B. 
The location of the well on the site shall be at a point normally free from flooding and hydrologically upgradient of all known sources of pollution and contamination.
C. 
The surface completion of the well shall be graded to drain away in all directions and a concrete platform at least four inches (4") thick and extending at least three feet (3') from the casing on all sides shall be provided around the casing.
D. 
The casing or piping shall be exposed at least twelve inches (12") above the platform and capped with a secure cap and the surface of the platform shall slope away from the casing to the edges.
E. 
The water well pump and equipment shall be designed and installed to ensure a pollution-proof and, where necessary, a frost-proof installation. New and reconstructed water wells constructed after the effective date hereof shall be constructed with a pitless adapter and the well shall not be placed in a pit.
F. 
Every water well must be maintained to prohibit entrance of pollution or contaminants into the well or annular space.
G. 
Within ten (10) days of completion of the well, the property owner or agent shall submit to the town a copy of the well record/driller’s log. The log shall contain all completion information required in this article. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until such time as these requirements are fulfilled.
H. 
The town may perform site inspections during construction of the system and after completion of the well.
(Ordinance 03-04, sec. 1, adopted 2003)
Construction of wells defined under section 13.04.210 of this article shall comply with the following sealing and casing requirements:
A. 
Nonpublic well.
Any person who proposes to drill a nonpublic well within the town limits under a permit issued by the New Mexico office of the state engineer under New Mexico Statutes Annotated section 72-12-1, 72-12-3, 72-12-7, 72-12-22, 72-12-23, or 72-12-24 and other applicable statutes and by the town shall be required to complete the well in a manner that will seal the annular space to prevent contaminated surface and ground waters from entering the borehole, annular space or well.
B. 
Annular seal.
All proposed wells included in subsection A of this section shall be completed with an annular seal or surface/conductor casing. Annular seals shall be placed above the filter pack or screened interval and shall consist of either a bentonite seal overlain by a neat cement grout, or by installation and grouting of surface or conductor casing. The bottom of the tremie tubing shall be no more than forty feet (40') above the top of the filter pack during placement. Annular seals shall be emplaced by one of the following methods:
1. 
Placing of bentonite seal.
The bentonite seal material shall be a minimum of ten feet (10') thick, be placed immediately above the gravel pack, and consist of bentonite pellets or chips which will not hydrate too rapidly or bridge off as they fall from the surface. The neat cement grout seal shall be a minimum of eight feet (8') thick and shall be placed in the annulus by tremie method above the bentonite seal to within five feet (5') of ground surface, and shall have the following properties:
Neat cement grout: Grout shall consist of a mixture of Portland cement meeting the requirements of ASTM C150 type II, and water shall be approximately 15.6 lbs./gal. (117 lbs./ft.3). A maximum of two (2) to five percent (5%) by weight of bentonite may be added. If bentonite is added, mixing water shall be increased by 0.6 gallon per sack for each one percent (1%) by weight addition of bentonite.
2. 
Placing of surface casing and grouting.
In the portion of the well in which surface casing is to be installed, the pilot hole shall be reamed to the confining layer above the principal water bearing strata. The diameter of the boring shall be a minimum of four inches (4") greater than the outside diameter of the casing. The conductor casing then shall be cemented with neat cement grout, by tremie, the Haliburton method or an approved equal. Regardless of the cementing method used, the casing must be kept completely full of liquid at all times until cement is set. The cementing of the conductor casing shall be approved by the town. All drilling equipment and specialized tools shall be operated by personnel thoroughly trained in the operation and application of their equipment. The placing of the cement grout shall be performed in a manner that shall seal the annulus against infiltration of water. Upon completion of grouting, cement grout shall set for a minimum period of twenty-four (24) hours. The time shall not exceed seventy-two (72) hours.
C. 
Protection of the well.
The open annulus shall be protected from entry of unwanted material at all times. The contractor shall construct and maintain drainage berms around the wellhead to prevent surface runoff from reaching and entering the well during construction.
D. 
Certification of work.
The applicant and/or well driller shall provide its log and a certification to the town certifying that all work has been performed as required under this chapter.
(Ordinance 03-04, sec. 1, adopted 2003)