ME Well Driller key terms

The minimum required horizontal separation between a well and a pollution source, property line, or structure, measured from the wellhead to the nearest point of the source.

The land surface and subsurface zone surrounding a well through which contaminants could reasonably travel to reach the well water, used to guide land-use and construction decisions.

A study of the land area and activities that could affect a drinking water source, identifying potential contamination risks and their relative sensitivity.

Unconsolidated soil, sand, gravel, and clay lying above solid bedrock, through which a well must be cased or sealed before reaching rock.

A water well completed in solid rock, typically drilled through overburden, cased to rock, and left open in the bedrock fractures that supply water.

The volume of water per minute a bedrock well can produce from intersecting fractures, which varies widely and may change with drilling depth or seasonal conditions.

A controlled measurement of a well's pumping rate and drawdown over a set period, used to estimate sustainable capacity and compare against demand.

The drop in water level in a well caused by pumping, measured as the difference between the static water level and the pumping water level.

The water level in a well when no pumping has occurred recently, reflecting the natural equilibrium of the aquifer at that location.

The water level measured in a well while it is being pumped at a steady rate, used with static level to calculate drawdown.

The pipe installed in a borehole to keep the hole open, prevent collapse, and isolate the well from shallow contamination before grouting is placed.

A cement-based or bentonite-based material placed in the annular space between casing and borehole wall to seal the well against surface and shallow subsurface contamination.

The gap between the outside of the well casing and the wall of the drilled borehole, which must be filled with grout or sealing material.

A mixture of Portland cement and water without sand, commonly used to seal well annulus because it forms a low-permeability, durable plug.

A clay-based sealing mixture, often blended with cement or sand, that swells on contact with water and is used where cement grout is impractical.

A small-diameter pipe lowered into the annular space to deliver grout from the bottom upward, preventing voids and dilution by water.

The permanent closure of a well no longer in use, requiring removal of obstructions, sealing of the borehole, and proper documentation.

Placing impermeable material such as grout or bentonite into a well bore and annulus to prevent vertical migration of water and contaminants after abandonment.

A written record filed after closing a well that documents the well location, depth, sealing materials used, method, and date of completion.

The driller's record of a well's construction, including depth, casing, grout, water-bearing zones, and yield, filed with the state as required.

The state body that licenses well drillers and pump installers, adopts rules for well construction, and handles complaints and enforcement in Maine.

A person holding a current Maine license to drill, construct, or abandon water wells, issued after meeting experience, examination, and insurance requirements.

Required periodic training hours a licensed driller must complete to renew a license and stay current on rules, safety, and technology.

The state regulations that set minimum standards for well location, casing, grouting, disinfection, yield testing, and record filing.

A pump designed to operate underwater in the well, with a sealed motor coupled to the pump stages and power supplied by a drop cable.

A shallow or deep-well pump that uses a venturi nozzle to create suction and lift water, typically mounted above ground or in a shallow pit.

The vertical pipe that carries water from a submersible pump up to the wellhead and supports the pump and its cable.

The depth at which a submersible pump is installed, chosen to stay submerged under drawdown while avoiding the well bottom and poor water zones.

A tank with a captive air charge that stores pressurized water, reducing pump cycling and maintaining steady household water pressure.

A device that starts and stops the pump at preset low and high pressure settings, controlling the operating range of a pressure tank system.

Treating a new or repaired well with a chlorine solution to kill bacteria introduced during construction, followed by flushing before use.

A group of indicator organisms used in water testing; their presence suggests possible contamination and requires investigation and corrective action.

Equipment and processes installed to remove contaminants or correct water quality problems such as hardness, iron, sediment, or bacteria.

An ion-exchange treatment unit that removes hardness minerals, typically calcium and magnesium, in exchange for sodium or potassium ions.

A space with limited entry and exit that is not designed for continuous occupancy and may contain hazardous air, requiring assessment before entry.

A safety procedure that isolates energy sources and applies locks and tags so equipment cannot be started while workers service it.

Gear such as hard hats, hearing protection, safety glasses, gloves, and high-visibility clothing worn to reduce injury risk on the jobsite.

A signed agreement stating scope, price, payment terms, exclusions, and warranties, which protects both driller and customer and supports clear expectations.

A written amendment to a contract that documents added or deleted work, its cost, and its effect on schedule, signed before the work proceeds.

A legal claim against a property for unpaid work or materials supplied for improvements, which a driller may file to secure payment.