The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's well construction and siting regulations provide minimum distances that some pollution sources should be from a well:
Types of Wells
A video about the three different types of well construction.
There are three types of well construction: dug wells, driven wells, and drilled wells. The pictures and descriptions below may help you determine what type of well construction you have if do not know. Any type of work done on your well should be done by a registered well driller or pump installer.
Dug Well
Dug by hand or machine into sand and gravel
Lined with pre-cast concrete, stone, or other material. The casing should be grouted with a water tight seal.
The casing should be 12 - 18 inches above the ground.
10-30 feet deep
Typically older in age
When you lift the cover, you will probably see water in the well.
Because they are so shallow, a dug well is at a higher risk of pollution
Driven Well
From the surface, it may look very similar to the dug well photo above, but when you lift the cover it will look similar in the photo above.
The 2 -3 inch diameter well pipe sticking up from the ground and the water line that goes into the house
Usually 30 or more feet deep
Driven by machine into sand and gravel
Well casing should be 12 - 18 inches above the ground
Drilled Well
Drilled by machine into sand and gravel, or bedrock
Can be 100 feet deep or more
Well casing extends 12-18 inches above the surface
Well casing is at least 18 feet deep and sealed into the bedrock
A video about the importance of proper well cap construction.
URI Home*A*Syst provides equal program opportunities
without regard to race,age, sex or preference, creed, or disability. The
University is an Affirmative
Action /
Equal Opportunity employer. AES and CE programs are nondiscriminatory
(Non-Discrimination
Statement).
