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The Maryland Department of the Environment has proposed revisions to its well construction regulations that address the latest building practices and uses. These updated, proposed regulations will provide greater protection for groundwater resources and ensure safe, adequate drinking water for citizens who rely on wells.
With the advent of new construction practices and new uses for wells, MDE thoroughly reviewed and revised well construction regulations to protect the aquifer from surface contamination or cross-contamination from other aquifers. While providing access to groundwater for many beneficial uses such as drinking water supply and irrigation, if improperly done, well drilling can contaminate aquifers and drinking water.
As new well construction increases along with population growth, the interest in using geothermal energy to combat climate change grows, and the need for irrigation increases, sound construction practices will protect Maryland’s groundwater resources. These revisions will clarify regulatory provisions and promote uniformity in enforcement of those regulations. These proposed regulations will ensure that the groundwater will continue to be able to be used as a safe supply of drinking water and for other uses such, as irrigation. The draft regulation will:
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Specify construction practices that prevent contamination of the groundwater resource and the resulting drinking water; and
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Increase the requirements for well drillers to notify local authorities before sealing off large capacity wells, constructing or monitoring and geothermal wells, installing related plumbing, and testing yields.
The proposal constitutes the first major revision to well construction regulations since 1983. The proposed regulation was submitted to the Maryland Division of State Documents for publication on September 21, 2009. Once the regulation is published in the Maryland Register, a 30-day comment period will begin and MDE will host a public hearing to obtain comments.
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The current well construction regulation 26.04.04 is available at the Division of State Documents www.dsd.state.md.us. The proposed regulation will be published on Friday, October 23, 2009, and will also be available at www.dsd.state.md.us.
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