ME Well Driller flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Well setback from septic

In Maine a drilled well must generally be at least 50 feet from a septic tank and 100 feet from a leach field or disposal area, unless a variance is approved.

Casing height above grade

Well casing must extend at least 12 inches above finished grade and above known flood level, and be fitted with a vermin-proof, vented cap to keep surface water and animals out.

Static water level

The water level in a well when the pump is off and the water has recovered to equilibrium; it is recorded on the well report and used to set pump depth.

Drawdown

The drop in water level in a well while pumping, equal to static level minus pumping level. Excessive drawdown signals low yield or an oversized pump.

Well yield test

A controlled pumping or bailing test that measures how many gallons per minute a well produces, with pumping level and recovery recorded over a set duration.

Overburden casing

Steel casing installed through soil and loose material and seated into competent bedrock, then grouted along its full length to seal out shallow groundwater and contamination.

Master well driller license

Maine requires a master well driller license to drill, deepen, or abandon wells; journeymen work under a master, and a separate license covers pump installation.

Well driller's log

A required report filed with the state for each new, deepened, or abandoned well, recording depth, casing, grout, yield, and water level, with a copy given to the owner.

Maine well statute

Well drilling in Maine is governed by 10 MRSA chapter 623, with rules administered by the Maine CDC Drinking Water Program covering licensing and construction standards.

License renewal and CE

Well driller licenses renew on a set cycle and require continuing education; a lapsed license bars the holder from performing regulated drilling, deepening, or abandonment work.

Reporting abandonment

Abandoning a well requires following the state's prescribed fill-and-seal method and filing a well report; simply capping the casing does not constitute legal abandonment.

Tremie grouting

Placing grout through a pipe lowered to the bottom of the annular space and pumping upward, which avoids bridging and voids compared with pouring grout from the surface.

Grout volume formula

Annular grout volume equals 0.7854 times the difference of hole diameter squared minus casing diameter squared, times the grouted length, using consistent units.

Bentonite grout density

Bentonite grout is mixed to roughly 1.3 to 1.5 grams per cubic centimeter (about 11 to 13 pounds per gallon); thinner mixes shrink and fail to seal.

Well abandonment fill

Abandonment requires removing obstructions and filling the borehole with grout or approved bentonite from bottom to top, sealing the casing, and documenting the method.

Flowing well control

An artesian or flowing well must be controlled before grouting; grout placed against active flow will wash out and leave an unsealed annulus.

Sanitary seal

The watertight grout seal around the casing at the surface plus a vermin-proof cap, which prevents surface water and contaminants from entering the well.

Pump setting depth

The submersible pump is set below the pumping water level but several feet above the well bottom, so it does not run dry or pick up sediment.

Pressure tank precharge

The air precharge in a pressure tank is set about 2 psi below the pump cut-in pressure, for example 28 psi air with a 30/50 pressure switch.

Pitless adapter

A fitting that carries water through the well casing below the frost line, providing a sanitary, frost-free connection between the submersible pump and the building.

UV disinfection limits

Ultraviolet treatment works best on clear, low-turbidity water; iron, hardness, and sediment foul the lamp sleeve and reduce the delivered dose.

Test before treating

Water treatment is chosen from lab results: hardness calls for softening, iron and manganese for oxidation and filtration, arsenic for adsorption, and coliform for disinfection.

Voltage drop on pump wire

Submersible pump wire must be sized for the drop-pipe run; undersized wire causes excessive voltage drop, low starting torque, and premature motor burnout.

Call 811 before drilling

Maine's Dig Safe requires calling 811 to mark underground utilities and waiting the required notice period before drilling or excavating at a new site.

Drill string entanglement

Rotating drill string and top-drive hazards require keeping loose clothing, gloves, and hair clear, using guards, and never reaching across a turning string.

Confined space entry

Entering a pit or vault requires atmospheric testing, an entry permit, an attendant, and a rescue plan; never enter alone.

High-pressure injection injury

Hydraulic and air-powered equipment can inject fluid through skin, causing severe injury; any suspected injection is a medical emergency requiring immediate care.

Rig setup and stability

Level the rig and set outriggers on firm ground, using mats on soft soil, and maintain safe clearance from overhead power lines before drilling.

Per-foot contract terms

A drilling contract should state the per-foot and hourly rates, what casing and grout are included, estimated depth, and how extra depth or lost equipment is billed.

Dry well disclosure

Contracts should disclose the risk of a low-yield or dry well and set in writing, in advance, the procedure and charges if the well is unproductive.

Change order

A written authorization, signed before extra work begins, documenting added scope such as deeper casing, additional grout, or pump changes and the associated cost.

Job record retention

Keep copies of well reports, water test results, treatment recommendations, and warranties for the period required by rule, and give the owner their copies.