NE Well Driller key terms

State rules that set construction, casing, grouting, disinfection, and abandonment requirements for wells, so that groundwater is protected from surface contamination and wells perform as intended.

A person holding a state-issued license authorizing them to contract for the drilling, construction, repair, or abandonment of water wells, subject to bonding, insurance, and continuing education requirements.

A licensed individual who performs well drilling or construction work under the supervision of a licensed contractor, meeting separate experience and examination requirements set by the licensing program.

Written approval issued before drilling begins that authorizes a well at a specified location and sets conditions such as required casing depth, grout placement, and setback distances from contamination sources.

The minimum required horizontal separation between a well and a potential contamination source such as a septic system, fuel tank, or animal enclosure, intended to reduce the chance of pollutants reaching the well.

A record completed by the driller describing each well's location, depth, casing, grout, screen, water-bearing zones, and static water level, filed with the state and used for groundwater mapping and review.

The required reporting of a newly constructed, altered, or abandoned well to the state agency, supplying identifying and construction details so the well becomes part of the official statewide well record.

A unique tag or number assigned to a registered well and affixed to it, allowing inspectors, agencies, and owners to link the physical well to its official record.

The depth to the water surface in a well when the pump is off and the water has stabilized, used to evaluate aquifer conditions and to compare against pumping levels.

The depth to water in a well while it is being pumped, which is lower than the static level because of drawdown around the well and indicates the pump's operating conditions.

The proper permanent closure of an unused well by removing obstructions, filling and sealing the borehole with approved materials, and sealing the casing, to prevent contamination and physical hazards.

A low-permeability material such as neat cement or bentonite placed in the annular space between the borehole wall and casing to block movement of surface water and shallow contaminants down the outside of the casing.

The gap between the outside of the well casing and the wall of the drilled borehole, which must be sealed with grout to prevent vertical migration of water and contaminants along the casing.

The pipe installed in a borehole to keep the hole open and to isolate the well from shallow contamination, extending above grade and sealed into the ground according to standards.

A vermin-proof, tightly fitting cover on top of a well casing that seals out insects, surface water, and debris while allowing access to the well for measurement and service.

A slotted or perforated section of casing installed in the water-bearing formation to hold back sand and gravel while allowing water to enter the well.

Sorted gravel or coarse sand placed in the annular space around a well screen to filter formation material and improve flow into the well while reducing sand production.

The drop in water level in a well or aquifer caused by pumping, measured as the difference between static and pumping water levels, and used in pump setting and yield analysis.

Well yield per unit of drawdown, usually expressed in gallons per minute per foot of drawdown, used to compare well efficiency and aquifer productivity.

A controlled pumping test that measures the rate and drawdown of a well over time to determine sustainable yield and to size the pump properly.

A designated region where state rules impose additional requirements such as metering, reporting, or withdrawal limits because groundwater levels or supplies are declining or in conflict.

A locally governed entity created under state law to manage groundwater within its boundaries, often through permitting, spacing rules, and production limits for wells.

An authorization required in a managed area to pump groundwater above a threshold amount, specifying the allowed rate, volume, use, and reporting obligations.

A minimum distance required between new and existing wells, set to reduce interference between wells and protect neighboring users from excessive drawdown.

Routine measurement of groundwater levels in wells over time, used by managers to track aquifer trends, evaluate drought effects, and assess whether management goals are being met.

A managed practice of injecting treated water into an aquifer through a well for later recovery, requiring permits that address water quality, pressure, and protection of the receiving aquifer.

The regulatory program governing the injection of fluids into the subsurface through wells, classifying injection wells by type and setting construction, operating, and monitoring requirements to protect underground drinking water sources.

A category assigned to an injection well based on the type of fluid injected and where it is placed, such as wells for hazardous waste, oil and gas brine, or stormwater drainage, each with its own rules.

Written authorization from the regulatory agency allowing construction and operation of an injection well, specifying injection rates, pressures, fluids, and required monitoring and reporting.

The surrounding region evaluated around a proposed injection well to identify existing wells and pathways through which injected fluids could migrate and endanger underground sources of drinking water.

A test of an injection well's casing, tubing, and packer to confirm there are no leaks, conducted periodically as a condition of the injection permit.

An aquifer or portion of one that supplies or could supply a public water system, and which injection control rules are designed to protect from contamination.

The surface and subsurface zone around a public water supply well through which contaminants could travel to reach the well, delineated to focus protection measures.

A state and local effort to protect public water supply wells by delineating protection areas, identifying potential contaminant sources, and applying management measures within those areas.

The estimated period groundwater takes to move from a point in an aquifer to a pumping well, often used to set the outer boundary of a wellhead protection area.

The technical process of mapping the boundary of a wellhead protection area or source water protection zone using methods such as fixed radius, calculated travel time, or hydrogeologic modeling.

A state evaluation of public water systems that identifies the sources of drinking water, inventories potential contaminant sources, and rates the susceptibility of each source to contamination.

A survey and listing of land uses and facilities within a protection area that could release pollutants, such as fuel tanks, septic systems, landfills, and chemical storage sites, used to prioritize protection actions.