Anaheim Public Utilities utilizes groundwater to provide up to 75% of the City’s water needs. Because of this heavy reliance on groundwater, it is important that this valuable resource is protected. One protection strategy is to ensure that all wells, or borings, that could impact groundwater quality are installed using proper methodology. Therefore, all well construction or destruction actions must be conducted under the authorization of a permit (Ordinance #3257). Obtaining a well permit is very simple and the fees are set as low as possible to recover only the actual costs for inspection and administration of the permit program.

Another important reason for requiring a permit is to make sure that the well owner acknowledges responsibility for the ultimate destruction of the well, according to California Well Standards. Therefore, the well owner, or the owner’s representative, must sign the Well Permit form.

In addition, in order to prevent negative impacts to existing wells, or wells that have been planned by Anaheim, a well permit application for any well expected to produce over 500 gallons per minute, must include verification that the proposed well will not negatively impact these other wells. The document shall be signed by a State certified hydrogeologist and written concurrence from the Orange County Water District should be provided.

Well Permits
Well permits are required for all wells. Wells are defined as any vertically drilled excavations that have a casing installed. Soil borings or push probes to a depth of 20 feet or more, or that encounter groundwater, also require a well permit. Well drillers must possess a current C-57 contractor’s license.

Well permit Fees:

• $110 for the permit application
• An additional $80 for each well installed or destroyed
• An additional $80 for each vapor probe installed or destroyed. This fee will be waived if the probes are destroyed within one week of installation.
• Borings and push probes are included in the $110 permit application fee

Download Well Permit Application       

Download Well Permit Application Instructions

In addition to requiring a well permit, Class V injection wells must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9. The registration form can be found on their website: http://www.epa.gov/region09/water/groundwater/uic-classv.html. Verification of EPA registration must be submitted to Anaheim Public Utilities with the Well Completion Report.

DESTRUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY WELLS
A well destruction permit is required and a C-57 licensed contractor must be used. The following is a list of minimum requirements (see City’s W-630 Standard in PDF format). Additional requirements may be required depending on actual conditions.

1. Remove all obstructions, contaminants and pumping apparatus from the well casing. Note: Contaminants are to be properly stored/disposed according to local, state and federal regulations.
2. Measure total depth and casing diameter to determine amount of sealing material required.
3. If required by the City inspector, perforate the well casing to ensure backfilling of annular space outside of casing.
4. Pump an approved sealing material using a tremie pipe from the bottom of the well to eight feet from the top of the well.
5. Excavate around casing, a minimum of five feet below existing or proposed grade, whichever is lower. Cut casing at the five foot depth. The casing is to be swaged (flared); rebar is to be installed; and a cement mushroom cap is to be installed.
6. Fill the excavation to grade w/ compacted fill as directed by the City Inspector.

Destruction of Monitoring wells, Vadose wells, VAPOR PROBES, and Soil Borings
All abandoned wells and soil borings shall be properly destroyed and sealed. Wells are considered abandoned if unused for a period of one year.

1.   Monitoring wells, vadose wells and vapor probes are to be destroyed using one of the following methods:

• Overdrilling the entire well, removing the well casing, filter pack, annular seal and well box. The borehole shall then be filled with an approved sealing material or;
• Pressure grouting with an approved sealing material that flows through the perforations. The casing may need to be perforated to ensure sealing material penetrates the filter pack and all other voids. The top five feet of the well and well box shall be overdrilled/removed and filled with an approved sealing material or a combination of sealing materials such as bentonite, capped with concrete and followed by native fill or;
• If site is excavated, the wells may be excavated, the casing pulled and any voids filled with sealant.

2.       Soil borings are to be destroyed by filling the borehole with an approved sealing material. Approved sealing materials per California’s Department of Water Resources’ Well Standards Bulletin 74-90 and Anaheim Public Utilities’ W-630 Standard are:

• Bentonite
• Bentonite grout
• Neat cement
• Sand cement grout
• Concrete

RIGHT OF WAY CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
For wells or borings to be drilled in City streets, sidewalks, or other rights-of-way, the applicant must obtain a Right-of-Way Construction Permit from the Public Works Department (714-765-5176). This link provides general information about these permits:
http://www.anaheim.net/depts_servc/pub_works/dev_svc/rowconstrpermit.pdf

WELL COMPLETION REPORT
Within 60 days of the date of completion, a copy of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Well Completion Report must be submitted to Anaheim Public Utilities for each well constructed or destroyed. A copy of the Right-of-Way Construction Permit should be included with the well completion report (if applicable). The links below provide access to instructions on how to complete the DWR form and a copy of the Well Completion Report in PDF format.