4725.2150 REQUIRED DISTANCE FROM GAS PIPES, LIQUID PROPANE
TANKS, AND ELECTRIC LINES.
Subpart 1. General distances. The minimum isolation distances in item A or B
must be maintained during construction, repair, or sealing of a well or boring, and
installation of a pipe with flammable or volatile gas, an overhead or underground
electric transmission, distribution, service, supply, feeder, branch, or conductor
line hereinafter called “electric line” or “line”, or a liquid propane tank. The
distances are measured horizontally from the closest part of the well or boring to
the closest part of the pipe, tank, or line; or closest part of the vertical projection
on the earth of an overhead or buried pipe, tank, or line. The minimum isolation
distance between a well or boring and a pipe with flammable or volatile gas, an
electric line, or a liquid propane tank is:
A. ten feet; or
B. five feet if:
(1) the person constructing the well or boring, or the person installing the
pipe, line, or tank, marks the well or boring with a permanent sign warning of the
location of the electric line, liquid propane tank, or gas pipe; and;
(2) during construction of the well or boring:
(a) the electric line has been deenergized and visibly grounded, or insulating
barriers not a part of, or an attachment to, the equipment or machinery have been
erected to prevent physical contact with the line during well or boring
construction; and
(b) the propane tank does not contain flammable or volatile gas.
A pipe with flammable or volatile gas means a product in the gaseous state such as natural gas; it does not
refer to (liquid) gasoline. Natural gas is the most common gas in this category, but other flammable
gasses such as oxygen are also included.
The separation distance is required from aboveground and buried electric lines, gas pipes, and liquid
propane (LP) tanks.
The separation distance applies to all types of new wells or borings installed near an existing utility, or a
utility installed near an existing well or boring.
The distance is measured horizontally from the vertical projection of an overhead or underground utility
onto the ground.
Deenergization does not apply when collecting a water sample; however, appropriate safety precautions
should be followed.
The earth is not an insulating barrier.
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An electric transmission line includes private electric service line(s) to or between a house or other
building(s), but does not include electric wiring within a building.
Between July 15, 1974, and August 4, 2008, the rules required a 25-foot separation to an electric line over
50 kilovolts. This requirement was removed in August 2008. Even though it is no longer a requirement,
maintaining distances greater than 10 feet may be a good idea where high voltages exist, or where other
conditions such as line sag increase the potential for contact with the conductor, or where future utility or
construction work is planned. As indicated later in this rule part, this rule does not exempt persons from
requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA requires a 10-foot
(radial) separation between an electric line less than 50kV and the closest part of a mast. For lines over
50kV, the distance is increased 0.4 inch for each one kV over 50kV. Current OSHA standards should be
consulted.
A well or boring may be drilled between 5 and 10 feet from an electric line, a gas pipe, or an LP tank if
the well or boring is placarded and the safety precautions are followed. The person constructing a well or
boring between 5 and 10 feet from the utility, or the person installing the utility between 5 and 10 feet
from a well or boring is responsible for installing the sign. The permanent sign warning of the location
of an electric transmission line and/or gas pipe must be constructed of a weatherproof material (i.e.,
plastic, steel, brass or aluminum, not paper) that will remain legible for the life of the well or boring. If
the permanent sign becomes unreadable or detached from a well or boring, then the well owner must
replace this sign.
ATTACHMENT OF PERMANENT SIGNS WARNING OF
ELECTRIC AND GAS HAZARDS
ABOVE-GRADE – For wells and borings completed above-grade, the permanent sign must be attached
in a visible location to the well or boring outer casing, or the protective overshot casing with appropriate
adhesive or with a stainless steel or metal clamp, band, or strap. The sign may also be screwed or bolted
to a concrete pump pedestal. The sign should not be attached to the cap.
AT-GRADE – For wells and borings completed at-grade, the permanent sign must be attached to the
casing with a metal strap, attached to the inside of the vault with suitable adhesives or screws, attached to
the exterior of the vault with bolts, or cemented or bolted to the concrete pad surrounding the vault. The
sign may not be placed into the vault without attachment, nor attached to the vault cover or cap.
Subp. 2 [Repealed, 33 SR 211]
Subp. 3. Exceptions. Subpart 1 does not apply to:
A. an electrical service line for the well or boring;
B. a television, fiber optic, or other low voltage electric line with a voltage less
than 50 volts;
C. a temporary liquid propane tank used during the construction, repair, or
sealing of a well or boring;
D. an overhead electric line when the repairing or sealing of a well or boring
does not involve the use of a drilling machine or hoist; or
E. a buried electric line or buried gas pipe when the repairing or sealing of a
well or boring does not involve excavation.
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The requirements of this part are minimum standards, and do not exempt persons
from more restrictive requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety
Administration.
It is recommended that the appropriate utility company be contacted for any additional safety precautions
or requirements prior to any construction, repair, or sealing work.
In summary: for gas pipes, LP tanks, and electric lines
SEPARATION BETWEEN WELL
OR BORING AND HAZARD
RESTRICTIONS
> 10 feet
No MDH restrictions (consult OSHA regulations for
additional requirements).
5 – 10 feet
Gas pipe – placard.
LP tank – placard, remove gas or move tank during
well or boring construction.
Electric line – placard and either deenergize and
ground, or install insulating barriers
(consult OSHA regulations for additional
requirements).
< 5 feet
Not permitted.
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
4725.2175 LOCATION OF WELL OR BORING WITHIN BUILDING.
Subpart 1. Location in a building. A well or boring must not be located within a
building, and a building must not be constructed to enclose a well or boring,
unless the building (well house) meets the requirements of this part. Environmental
bore holes and monitoring wells are exempt from this subpart if sealed within 72
hours of the time construction begins on the well or boring.
A well or boring may not be constructed inside a building. A building, building addition, deck or
other structure may not be built over or within 3 feet of an existing well or boring, except for a
“well house,” (see Minnesota Rules, part 4725.2185). If a well or boring is inside a building, and the
building above the well or boring is torn down, burns down, or is otherwise removed, a new building may
not be built over the well or boring.
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The purposes of the rule are to: (1) allow for service, repair, and sealing of the well or boring including
access for a drilling machine, if necessary; (2) prevent contamination due to spills and leaks inside the
building which would be contained by the walls and footings of the building; (3) reduce the release of
toxic (hydrogen sulfide, radon) or flammable (methane) gas into a habited or confined space; and
(4) protect worker safety inside a confined area.
The “72-hour rule” applies only to monitoring wells and environmental bore holes. The time starts when
drilling begins, and sealing must be completed within 72 hours.
Subp. 2. Requirements for a building (well house) containing a well or boring.
A building (well house) containing a well or boring must:
A. have adequate access for a drilling machine and hoist to construct, maintain,
repair, and seal the well or boring;
B. be constructed at or above the established ground surface. If a floor drain is
installed, it must discharge to the established ground surface, a gravel pocket, or a
sewer constructed to prevent backup of sewage within 50 feet of the well or boring;
C. not be used to store materials or chemicals that may cause contamination of
the well, boring, or groundwater, including fertilizers, pesticides, petroleum
products, paints, and cleaning solvents;
D. have a concrete floor sloped to divert water away from the casing;
E. have a watertight gasket or caulk between the casing and the floor;
F. have any door hinged to swing outward;
G. be constructed according to this part exclusively to contain and protect the
well, boring, pump, and water treatment equipment and water treatment
chemicals; no other uses of the building are permitted; and
H. not be contained in, or part of, another building, except that a well house
may be constructed with not more than one wall in common with another building.
The common wall must not allow access to, or be open to, the well house.
This subpart details the requirements for buildings containing a well or boring, sometimes referred to as
“well houses.”
While simple repairs and pump replacement may often be done by hand or with simple tools, some work,
particularly extensive repairs or sealing may require a full-sized drilling machine.
Refer to Minnesota Rules, part 4725.3150 for information regarding connections to a casing.
Caulk may be silicone or other nontoxic materials.
Well houses may not be below ground, or built into hillsides (walkouts). The floor of the well house must
be at or above the established ground surface. Well houses may be attached to other structures, such as a
lean-to built against a home or other building. Well houses may not be a building or room enclosed within
another building.
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Floor drains in well houses are not recommended. A floor drain must be constructed to prevent backup
or flooding of the well house. This can be accomplished by use of an air gap as detailed in the Minnesota
Plumbing Code, Chapter 4715. A well house must not have toilets, sinks, or other plumbing fixtures.
Water treatment chemicals such as chlorine or polyphosphate may be stored in a well house. A well
house for a remedial well may enclose the well and remediation equipment, including water treatment
equipment, water treatment chemicals, and remediation product tanks, subject to appropriate backflow
prevention.
Subp. 3. Requirements for a well or boring inside a building. A well or boring
located in a separate building (well house) must:
A. have casing extending at least 12 inches above the established ground
surface, and at least 12 inches above the building floor; and
B. be located according to part 4725.2185, except that this does not apply to a
removable well house.
The preceding subpart (2) detailed the requirements for the well house, this subpart details requirements
for a well or boring within a well house.
Minnesota Rules, part 4725.2185 requires the well or boring to be at least 3 feet from a wall. A well or
boring in a well house is not required to be 3 feet from the walls of the well house except for the common
wall of a building if the well house is a “lean-to” on the side of a building.
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
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4725.2185 DISTANCE FROM A BUILDING.
A minimum horizontal isolation distance of three feet must be maintained
between a well or boring and the farthest exterior projection of a building,
including the walls, roofs, decks, overhangs, and other permanent structures
unless the well or boring is located in a building constructed according to part
4725.2175. A building, deck, or other permanent structure, except a well house,
must not be built to enclose a well or boring. The well or boring must be accessible
for repair and sealing. Environmental bore holes and monitoring wells are exempt
from this subpart if sealed within 72 hours of the time construction begins on the
well or boring.
A minimum 3-foot horizontal separation distance must be maintained between a well or boring and the
furthest projection of any building or structure. Building projections include roof overhangs and gutters
and any attachments to a building including, but not limited to, additions, steps, canopies, porches, or
decks. The 3-foot distance is measured from the outermost portion of the well or boring, including the
vertical projection of the well or boring, to the closest part of the building, building projection, or
structure. Buildings, building projections, or other structures may not be built over the top of a well or
boring, and may not be built to surround a well or boring.
Clear access must be provided so that a well drilling machine and hoist may back up to the well or boring
to perform maintenance, repair, and permanent sealing.
If a well or boring is located inside a building and the building is torn down or otherwise removed, a new
building may not be constructed over the well or boring.
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
4725.2200 [Repealed, 17 SR 2773]
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