4725.6050 REMEDIAL WATER-SUPPLY WELLS.
“Remedial well,” sometimes referred to as “recovery well,” means a well used to lower a groundwater
level to control or remove contamination in groundwater and excludes (1) horizontal trenches and
(2) sumps or pits less than 10 feet deep. Remedial wells are a type of water-supply well. Remedial
wells must be constructed to the standards of the general well and boring rules, Minnesota Rules,
parts 4725.2010 through 4725.3875, the water-supply well standards of Minnesota Rules, parts 4725.4050
to 4725.5550, and the remedial well standards of this rule part, which provide some exemptions to the
water-supply well requirements.
A remedial well requires a notification prior to construction.
The monitoring well rules do not apply to remedial wells. Flush threaded casing may not be used to
construct a remedial well.
A remedial well must be constructed by a licensed well contractor. A monitoring well contractor or
dewatering well contractor may not construct a remedial well. A person who is not licensed may place a
water sampling device, including a well pump or pumping equipment, in a remedial well to obtain a water
sample if the device is immediately removed after the sample is collected. Any other pump must be
installed by a licensed well contractor or licensed pump contractor.
Subpart 1. Additional requirements. In addition to the general standards in parts
4725.2010 to 4725.3875, and the standards for water-supply wells in parts
4725.4050 to 4725.5550, a remedial well must:
A. have spark arresters installed if petroleum products or other flammable or
explosive materials are present;
Spark arresters are devices or methods which minimize or prevent electrical sparking at a place where a
circuit is made or broken. This generally refers to explosion-proof, sealed motors Class 1 or Group D.
B. be equipped with a casing vent or collect and treat gases, if toxic or
flammable gases are present; and
If toxic or flammable gases are present, the gases must be vented to the outside atmosphere or treated.
C. have connections protected with an air gap or back flow prevention device
as specified in parts 4715.2010 to 4715.2170, if the well discharges to a sewer or
surface water.
The air gap is explained in the Minnesota Plumbing Code, part 4715.2010.
Portions of the Minnesota Plumbing Code are contained in the appendix.
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A remedial well must follow the rules for Disposal of Materials in Minnesota Rules, part 4725.2975.
Drilling mud, cuttings, treatment chemicals, or discharged water may contain materials that are
contaminated. Information concerning proper disposal of contaminated materials may be obtained from
the MPCA, telephone number - metro 651-296-6300, and outstate 800-657-3864 or their Web site at
www.pca.state.mn.us. Environmental releases must be reported to the Minnesota Duty Officer
at 651-649-5451 or toll free at 800-422-0798.
Subp. 2. Exemptions. A remedial well is exempt from:
A. the distance from contamination source requirements in parts 4725.4350,
subpart 1, and 4725.4450;
B. the minimum protective depth requirements in part 4725.4550;
C. the requirement in part 4725.2250, subpart 11, to extend the casing 12
inches above the established ground surface if the remedial well is constructed
according to part 4725.6850 for at-grade construction;
A remedial well must not terminate in a pit, valve box, basement, manhole, or other below-grade
structure. The casing must either terminate a minimum of 12 inches above-grade, or where allowed,
terminate in an approved at-grade vault.
A variance, permit, or plan approval is not required to terminate a remedial well at-grade. However, the
casing for a remedial well may terminate at-grade only on a roadway, sidewalk, driveway, or a parking
area. At-grade termination is not allowed in “green” areas such as boulevards, lawns, or grassed areas.
The requirements for at-grade termination are found in the at-grade monitoring well section in Minnesota
Rules, part 4725.6850.
D. the requirement in part 4725.4250, subpart 5, to extend the casing 20 feet
below the static water level if the well screen or open hole intersects the water
table, the casing terminates no more than ten feet above the static water level, and
all casing installed in limestone or dolomite is grouted with neat-cement grout or
cement-sand grout;
E. the venting requirements in part 4725.5450, except as provided in subpart 1,
item B; and
F. the disinfection requirements in part 4725.5550 where disinfection will
interfere with water quality analysis or create dangerous reactions with
contaminants.
REMEDIAL WELL EXEMPTION SUMMARY
A remedial well is exempt from the requirement to:
● Follow the contamination source isolation distances (Minnesota Rules, part 4725.4450), including the
distance to the ordinary high-water level of a river, pond, or lake (Minnesota Rules,
part 4725.4350);
● Be cased to a depth of at least 15 feet from the established ground surface, or to terminate the gravel
pack at least 15 feet below the established ground surface (Minnesota Rules, part 4725.4550);
● Extend the casing 12 inches above grade if the well is completed as an approved at-grade well;
● Extend the casing 20 feet below the static water level in limestone or dolomite bedrock;
● Vent the casing (Minnesota Rules, part 4725.5450); and
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●
Disinfect. The rules require disinfection of water-supply wells including remedial wells. This practice
is encouraged to prevent the introduction of bacteria, including iron bacteria or other well fouling
organisms. Disinfection of remedial wells will not be required if the disinfection will interfere with
water quality analysis or create dangerous reactions with contaminants in the well (Minnesota Rules,
part 4725.5550).
Even though remedial wells are exempt from the requirements above, it is recommended to follow the
rules whenever possible.
A remedial well is not exempt from the building, gas pipe, electric line, and LP tank separation distances.
A remedial well may not be located in a building except for a well house.
Subp. 3. Screen or open hole across an unconsolidated formation and bedrock
contact. A remedial well that is constructed to remove contaminants from the
water surface by placing a screen or open hole across the contact of an
unconsolidated formation and bedrock is exempt from the requirements of part
4725.2020, subpart 1, if the screen or open hole:
A. intersects the water surface of an unconfined aquifer;
B. does not penetrate a confining layer; and
C. does not extend more than 20 feet into bedrock.
Subp. 4. Stainless steel casing. A remedial well may be constructed with
stainless steel casing meeting ASTM Standard A312/A312M-04b, having at least
ANSI Schedule 5 for welded joints, and ANSI Schedule 40 for threaded joints.
STAT AUTH: MS s 103I.101; 103I.111; 103I.205; 103I.221; 103I.301; 103I.401;
103I.451; 103I.501; 103I.525; 103I.531; 103I.535; 103I.541; 103I.621; 144.05;
144.12; 144.383; 157.04; 157.08; 157.09; 157.13
HIST: 17 SR 2773; 33 SR 211
4725.6100 [Repealed, 17 SR 2773]
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End
of
Remedial Wells Section
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