10 CSR 23-3.020 General Protection of Groundwater Quality and Resources PURPOSE: This rule is for the overall protection of water quality and resources in Missouri.

(1) Reuse of Water, Disposal, Recharge or Gas Storage Wells.

(A) A well for the storage of gas or liquid under pressure may not be drilled without first having secured a permit from the Department of Natural Resources in accordance with the Missouri Statutes.

(B) Water used for cooling parts of engines, air compressors or other equipment shall not be returned to any part of the groundwater system. A well shall not be used for disposal or injection of any substance, including surface water, groundwater or any liquid, gas or chemical associated with the drilling of an oil or gas well, including coal bed methane wells, without first receiving a permit from the Underground Injection Control Program's rules and 10 CSR 50-2, Oil and Gas Council, Oil and Gas Drilling and Production. A permit through the Division of Environmental Quality, Water Pollution Control Program may be required.

(C) A well previously used for storage of gas or liquid under pressure may not be converted to a well used for water supply.

(2) Maintenance and Repair of Wells.

(A) Every well shall be maintained by the owner in a condition where it will conserve and protect the groundwater resources and where it will not be a source or channel of contamination or pollution to the water supply of that well or any aquifer.

(B) All materials used in maintenance, replacement or repair of any well subject to these rules shall meet the requirement of these rules for new installation.

(C) Broken, punctured or otherwise defective or unserviceable casing, screens, fixtures, seals or any part of the wellhead shall be repaired or replaced. The well shall be plugged in accordance with the requirements of these rules if that repair or replacement is not performed.

(D) Repairs to wells originally completed with the wellhead terminating below ground (buried seal) should include extending the well casing one foot (1') above the finished surface grade. The casing extension material must be of similar material to the original casing (for example, steel to steel and plastic to plastic). On steel casing the joint must be welded, coupled or threaded. On plastic casing, the joint must be glued or fused. All joints and extensions must be sealed to prevent contamination from entering the groundwater. Sealing material must not be a contaminant such as tar. When this type of repair to a well is completed, it must not move at the joint under normal operating conditions. The use of devices specially designed to join dissimilar casing materials together will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the division. Approval must be received in advance.

(3) Cross connections between wells and other systems or equipment containing water or other substances of unknown or questionable safety, including pesticides and fertilizers, are prohibited, except where equipped with a suitable protective device such as a break tank or backflow preventer which is approved by the division and which the owner agrees to install, test and maintain to assure proper operation.

(4) All other wells except those specifically exempted by the law shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with standards from the division.

AUTHORITY: sections 256.606, 256.614, 256.615 and 256.626, RSMo Supp. 1991.*Original rule filed April 2, 1987, effective July 27, 1987. Emergency amendment filed Nov. 16, 1993, effective Dec. 11, 1993, expired April 9, 1994. Amended: Filed Aug. 17, 1993, effective March 10, 1994.
*Original authority: 256.606, RSMo 1991; 256.614, RSMo 1985, amended 1991; 256.615, RSMo 1991; and 256.626, RSMo 1985, amended 1991.

MO Dept. of Natural Resources: CODE OF STATE REGULATIONS - Matt Blunt (11/30/01) Secretary of State

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