State Well Codes

100 ft.

Any person who engages in well drilling activities shall obtain a well driller’s license issued by the state engineer (except, under New Mexico state law, a well driller’s license is not required for driven wells that do not require the use of a drill rig and which have an outside casing diameter of two and three-eighths inches or less). A person found engaged in the business of well drilling within the state of New Mexico without a license can be prosecuted in accordance with New Mexico statutes. A well driller license is not required to install or repair pumping equipment.

Commercially made float shoe shall be installed on lowermost point of casing to be landed unless an alternate method for cementing is approved. OSE approved sealing materials may be located on the OSE website: http://www.ose.state.nm.us/STST/wdForms.php

In constructing a well, the well driller shall take all reasonable precautions to protect the producing aquifer from final retention of drilling solids, including cuttings, drilling mud, and drilling fluid additives. Prior to setting of filter pack, or upon completion of well, the well driller shall to the extent possible remove additives and drilling solids introduced into or accumulated in the wellbore during well drilling. Maximum specific capacity or estimated yield information to be obtained upon completion.

Artesian wells shall be constructed such that groundwater does not move appreciably between hydrogeologic units nor flow uncontrolled to the ground surface. For regulatory purposes, the final determination of whether a well is artesian shall be based upon evaluations made by the state engineer. The casing, cementing, plugging, and testing of an artesian well shall be witnessed by an authorized representative of the state engineer. Plan of operations to be submitted and approved before drilling. If unexpected artesian flow is encountered, flow shall be controlled immediately and state engineer notified.

Shall have sufficient thickness to withstand pressures during installation, well development, and use. All materials to meet ASTM, AWWA, NSF, and API standards. Couplings and threaded steal casing used to construct artesian well shall meet minimum standard API. If well casing or joint connection is not listed in table provided 19.27.4.31 NMAC then must be approved by state engineer. If casing length exceeds 1,000 ft and diameter of the casing is ≥13⅜ inch diameter, H-grade or better shall be used. The casing for artesian wells shall be inspected by an authorized representative of the state engineer prior to well construction. (ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS FOR ARTESIAN DOMESTIC WELLS)

A non-artesian well that is permanently discontinued, not properly constructed, a replaced well with a permit condition shall be immediately plugged. Plan to be filed with state engineer prior to plugging unless well is a replaced well with a permit condition to plug. To be filled from bottom upwards to surface with a tremie pipe using approved sealant. Wells not encountering water bearing formation shall be immediately plugged by filling with drill cuttings or clean native fill to within 10 ft of land surface, and plugging remaining 10 ft with a plug of approved sealant. Contaminated wells require coordination with state engineer prior to plugging. [19.27.4.30 NMAC - Rp, 19.27.4.30 NMAC, 6/30/2017] (Additional requirements for artesian domestic wells)

To be watertight and extend at least 12 inches above finished ground surface. No casing shall be cut off or into below ground level except to install a pitless unit or adapter.

All wells shall be watertight to exclude contamination. Wells shall be designed to seal off formations that are or may be contaminated or undesirable.

If greater than 2 ft diameter to be developed only where geological conditions don’t allow drilling. Must have continuous watertight casing. Annular space to be sealed with neat cement grout, high-solids bentonite clay grout, bentonite chips, or bentonite tablets.

Flow shall be controlled with valved pipe connections or watertight pump connections. Casing to be installed and annular space grouted with neat cement to form a tight seal. Grout shall extend upward from within 20 ft of the top of aquifer to upper end of well casing if pitless unit or adapter is installed. Casings shall be joined in watertight manner.

Must be WSC certified for size and pressure, coated or made of corrosion resistant materials, nontoxic materials or coatings, have a means of draining. Hydropneumatic tanks must have working pressure rating in excess of max system pressure but not less than 75 psi. Atmospheric storage tanks must have cover to prevent entrance of contaminants, and must be vented with return bend vent pipe with area not less than area of down feed riser pipe. Vent must be screened with corrosion-resistant screen with not less than 14 and not more than 20 openings per linear inch.

Grout to extend outward from casing wall to min thickness = to 1/3 diameter of O.D. of casing or 2 in. if >. In no case shall a well be required to have an annular grout seal thickness greater than 4 inches.

Shall not contain organic or toxic substances, or include non-potable water. May only be comprised of formational material encountered during drilling or materials manufactured specifically for the purpose of borehole conditioning or water well construction.

Shall consist of a mixture of non-organic, non-toxic materials with characteristics of expansion, chemical-resistance, rate or heat of hydration, viscosity, density or temperature-sensitivity applicable to specific grouting requirements. Specialty grouts may not be used without prior approval by the Secretary. Approval of the use of specialty grouts shall be based on demonstration that the finished grout has a permeability less than 10(^-6) cm/sec and will not adversely impact human health or the environment.

Shall consist of a mixture of not more than six gallons of clear, potable water to one 94 lb bag of Portland cement. Up to 5% by wt bentonite may be used. If bentonite is used, additional water may be added at a rate not to exceed 0.6 gallons of water for each lb of bentonite.

Slurry shall consist of a mixture of not more than 24 gallons of clear, potable water to one 50 lb bag of commercial sodium bentonite. Non-organic, non-toxic substances may be added to bentonite slurry grout mixtures to improve particle distribution and pumpability. Bentonite chips or pellets shall consist of pre-screened sodium bentonite chips or compressed sodium bentonite pellets with largest dimension of at least 1/4 inch but not greater than 1/5 of the width of the annular space into which they are to be placed. Bentonite chips or pellets shall be hydrated in place. May only be used in accordance with the manufacturer's written instructions. Bentonite grout shall not be used to seal zones of water with a chloride concentration of 1,500 milligrams per liter or greater.

All known sources of contamination otherwise not specified, 100 ft.

Shall be 2 inches if pressure replacement grout is used, 4 inches if gravity replacement grout is used. Shall be filled with grout, not required for wells in sand & gravel formation overlain by sand & gravel, and not required for wells in bedrock overlain by hardpan, clay, till, shale or similar materials of thickness >19 ft.

Shall be obtained from a public water system or from a non-public drinking water source provided such non-public source is not surface water nor otherwise known or suspected to be contaminated. Any chemicals or other additives, including disinfectants, used during construction shall be of a specification acceptable for use in water wells and any excess not required for operation of the well shall be cleaned out of the well. All drilling fluids used for drilling operations shall be of food grade quality or NSF or UL approved or shall be water that complies with paragraph 5-B.3(b)(23).

Material that has a low permeability, such as neat cement, bentonite slurry, bentonite chips, bentonite pellets, granular bentonite, or other materials that have equivalent sealing properties.

200 ft.

300 ft.

150 ft.

Must be located to allow for maintenance, inspection, repair, renovation, treatment, and testing. Avoid flood prone areas or surface water contamination. Shall be located up gradient of potential or known source of contamination unless restricted by property lines, topography, and structures. If water enters well at less than 50 ft below grade, separation distances shall be increased by 50%, or greatest possible increase if 50% increase not possible.

Without watertight liner, 100 ft.

200 ft.

Surface wastewater recharge absorption system constructed to discharge storm water from parking lots, roadways or driveways, 100 ft. Surface water recharge absorption system with no automotive-related Wastes (e.g., clear-water basin, clear-water dry well) 50 ft.

Stream, lake, watercourse, drainage ditch, or wetland 25 ft.

Water pumped from well to ensure all debris removed, total depth of well sealed with cement-based sealing materials, or filled with sand or gravel to 3 ft of surface and thoroughly tamped. Remainder of well filled with topsoil Additional topsoil shall be mounded over the well to allow for settlement.

All water used in the construction, alteration, repair or decommissioning of any well shall be potable quality. Adequate protection shall protect top of borehole during construction to prevent contamination.

54 lbs bentonite, 200 lbs thermal enhanced compound, 17.5 gals water. Thermal enhanced compound shall be washed, dried silica sand which is graded and shall have less than 20 %wt retained on a U.S. Sieve #50 and shall have AFS GFN between 55.0 and 75.0. The silica content (SiO2) shall be greater than 99 %.

No new category 1 or 2 well shall be located in basement or cellar. New wells must be built in location to allow access for repair, replacement, or decommissioning. Where gravel, limestone, or fractured, creviced or fissured rock formations are encountered and may pose a threat to water supply, greater distances may be required from subsurface sewage disposal system. The Department may modify minimum distances if it determines that additional controls are necessary for water protection.

250 ft, and all regulated substances except gasoline underground storage tank systems shall be located at least 75 ft from non-public water supply well.

75 ft.

50 ft.

75 ft., but 100 ft. if well is constructed in unconsolidated materials.

Wells constructed in unconsolidated materials by excavation shall not be located in an area prone to flooding or subject to standing water.

Casing to be concrete tile of interlocking type, steel, or plastic and shall extend above ground surface minimum 18 inches. Additional height shall be required in areas prone to flooding. Upper joints in casing within 6 ft of land surface shall be sealed. Bottom of casing to be set on bed of clean crushed stone or naturally occurring coarse gravel, if present. Crushed stone shall be placed around the exterior casing at the bottom section, if appropriate for soil conditions. Backfill shall be appropriate material and placed to deter soil and surface waters intrusion. Organic material shall not be used for backfill. Pea stone or other non-polluting barrier shall be used over crushed stone, and shall be compacted. Cover top of backfill with at least 2 ft of impervious material, like clay or hardpan, and ground surface shall be raised and graded away with minimum slope of 2 in/ft.

Casing to be of steel or plastic, and shall extend above ground surface minimum 8 inches, and minimum of 20 ft to be installed. Additional height may be required in areas prone to flooding. Contractor to determine appropriate termination of casing based on conditions including open end casing, well screen, gravel packs or perforated casing. Drilled or washed wells, constructed for household use, shall not be constructed in unconsolidated materials unless an adequate quantity of clear water can be withdrawn.

Shall be placed in a manner to allow seal to prevent groundwater to enter along the length of the casing. Drive shoe to be used to seat steel casing. Jaswell type seal tip, shale packer or equal used to seal plastic casing.

Locate wells to reduce likelihood of contamination. Per Env-Wq 1008.06, a protective area designated as the protective well radius shall be maintained around every private commercial or non-commercial drinking water well. Protective well radius shall be wholly on-lot, on recorded easement on land permanently dedicated to use precluding development, or within property line setbacks to septic systems. Setback reduction requests must be preapproved by the board as specified in We 602.13(d). Shall not be constructed on lots serviced by a public water system per RSA 485:1-a, XV, when the provisions of RSA 485-A:30-b cannot be met, or when the construction of the well would violate subdivision approval, pursuant to RSA 485-A:29. when the provisions of RSA 485-A:29 and RSA 485-A:30-b are satisfied, no property owner shall be required to connect to a public water system.

Mixture of cement and sand, without aggregate, with cured compressive strength of 300 psi.

Ensure unperforated casing extends through the confining strata above the artesian zone. The annular space must be sealed by placing neat cement, cement grout or bentonite chips by tremie pipe in an upward direction from the top of the artesian zone to the level necessary to prevent the leakage.

Must be sealed watertight with grout using tremie from bottom in upward direction. Well bore must be at least 4 inches larger in diameter than largest diameter of outermost casing, plus any joints, collars, or fill pipes used.

Must be minimum 2 inches, filled from top of primary aquifer seal to bottom of surface seal. Must have at least 5 ft of non-slurry bentonite, high solids bentonite slurry, or sand cement grout placed between 5-15 ft below grade or at static water level, whichever is less. If pitless unit is used to terminate the top of the well, surface seal must extend 5 ft down the borehole below bottom of pitless adapter.

Must consist of inorganic mixture of soda ash for pre-treatment of makeup water, a minimum of 20% by weight active solids bentonite-to-water ratio, and fine to medium grade sand added at a minimum ration of 4:1 sand to bentonite by weight, and if needed additives designed for yield/rate control for bentonite products that form a low permeability seal not greater than 1x10-7 cm/sec which resists flow of fluid through the seal, is pumpable, and is mixed to the manufacturer’s specifications.

1000 ft from any Title 179 community water supply well or industrial well under different ownership.

600 ft from any irrigation well under different ownership.

10 ft. See Department for requirements to obtain written approval for distances between 5-10 ft.