93.03 WELL PROTECTION.

All land uses, and the construction of all structures or facilities, must meet the separation distances from all City wells as required in the Iowa Administrative Code 567-Environmental Protection, Chapter 43 Water Supplies – Design and Operation.

Table A from the current Iowa Administrative Code is included on the following pages for reference.

TABLE A: SEPARATION DISTANCES

SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION	REQUIRED MINIMUM LATERAL DISTANCE FROM WELL AS HORIZONTAL ON THE GROUND SURFACE, IN FEET
	Deep Well1	Shallow Well1
WASTEWATER STRUCTURES:
Point of Discharge to Ground Surface
Sanitary and industrial discharges	400	400
Water treatment plant wastes	50	50
Well house floor drains	5	5
Sewers and Drains2
Sanitary and storm sewers, drains	0 – 25 feet: prohibited 25 – 75 feet if water main pipe 75 – 200 feet if sanitary sewer pipe	0 – 25 feet: prohibited 25 – 75 feet if water main pipe 75 – 200 feet if sanitary sewer main pipe
Sewer force mains	0 – 75 feet: prohibited 75 – 400 feet if water main pipe 400 – 1,000 feet if sanitary sewer pipe	0 – 75 feet: prohibited 75 – 400 feet if water main pipe 400 – 1,000 feet if sanitary sewer main pipe
Water plant treatment process wastes that are treated onsite	0 – 5 feet: prohibited 5 – 50 feet if sanitary sewer pipe	0 – 5 feet: prohibited 5 – 50 feet if sanitary sewer main pipe
Water plant wastes to sanitary sewer	0 – 25 feet: prohibited 25 – 75 feet if water main pipe 75 – 200 feet if sanitary sewer pipe	0 – 25 feet: prohibited 25 – 75 feet if water main pipe 75 – 200 feet if sanitary sewer main pipe
Well house floor drains to sewers	0 – 25 feet: prohibited 25 – 75 feet if water main pipe 75 – 200 feet if sanitary sewer pipe	0 – 25 feet: prohibited 25 – 75 feet if water main pipe 75 – 200 feet if sanitary sewer main pipe
Well house floor drains to surface	0 – 5 feet: prohibited 5 – 50 feet if sanitary sewer pipe	0 – 5 feet: prohibited 5 – 50 feet if sanitary sewer main pipe
Land Disposal of Treated Wastes
Irrigation of wastewater	200	400
Land application of solid wastes3	200	400
Other
Cesspools and earth pit privies	200	400
Concrete vaults and septic tanks	100	200
Lagoons	400	1,000
Mechanical wastewater treatment plants	200	400
Soil absorption fields	200	400

 

SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION	REQUIRED MINIMUM LATERAL DISTANCE FROM WELL AS HORIZONTAL ON THE GROUND SURFACE, IN FEET
	Deep Well1	Shallow Well1
CHEMICALS:
Chemical application to ground surface	100	200
Chemical and mineral storage above ground	100	200
Chemical and mineral storage on or under ground	200	400
Transmission pipelines (such as fertilizer, liquid petroleum, or anhydrous ammonia)	200	400
ANIMALS:
Animal pasturage	50	50
Animal enclosure	200	400
Earthen silage storage trench or pit	100	200
Animal Wastes
Land application of liquid or slurry	200	400
Land application of solids	200	400
Solids stockpile	200	400
Storage basin or lagoon	400	1,000
Storage tank	200	400
MISCELLANEOUS:
Basements, pits, sumps	10	10
Cemeteries	200	200
Cisterns	50	100
Flowing streams or other surface water bodies	50	50
GHEX loop boreholes	200	200
Railroads	100	200
Private wells	200	400
Solid waste landfills and disposal sites4	1,000	1,000

 

1   Deep and shallow wells, as defined in IAC 567-40.2(455B): A deep well is a well located and constructed in such a manner that there is a continuous layer of low permeability soil or rock at least five feet thick located at least 25 feet below the normal ground surface and above the aquifer from which water is to be drawn. A shallow well is a well located and constructed in such a manner that there is not a continuous layer of low permeability soil or rock (or equivalent retarding mechanism acceptable to the department) at least five feet thick, the top of which is located at least 25 feet below the normal ground surface and above the aquifer from which water is to be drawn.

2   The separation distances are dependent upon two factors: the type of piping that is in the existing sewer or drain, as noted in the table, and that the piping was properly installed in accordance with the standards.

3   Solid wastes are those derived from the treatment of water or wastewater. Certain types of solid wastes from water treatment processes may be land-applied within the separation distance on an individual, case-by-case basis.

4   Solid waste means garbage, refuse, rubbish, and other similar discarded solid or semisolid materials, including but not limited to such materials resulting from industrial, commercial, agricultural, and domestic activities.