DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT NO.2
AlconaCountyIoscoCountyOgemawCountyOscodaCounty
311 Lake St./ P.O. Box 218420 W. Lake Street/ P.O. Box 98630 Progress St. 393 S. Mt. Tom Road
Harrisville, MI48740Taws City, MI 48764West Branch, MI48661Mio, MI48647
Tel: 989-724-6757Tel: 989-362-6183Tel: 989-345-5020Tel: 989-826-3970
guidance for well owners installing their own well
Part 127 of Michigan’s Public Health Code, Act 368, PA 1978 as amended, allows a property owner the option of installing his/her own well on their own property. However, it is important to understand that there are specific well construction and pump installation requirements that must be followed in order to ensure compliance with state and local rules. In addition, there are many areas, such as known contamination sites or vulnerable geologic areas that will require special well construction methods that may necessitate that the well be installed by a registered well drilling contractor in order to ensure that the well is properly constructed. Please note that some areas withinDistrict Health Department No. 2 (DHD2) are known to produce flowing wells. Constructing your own well in these areas is strongly discouraged and should be completed by a well drilling professional.Regulations, policies and related informational documents, as well as a current list of known contamination sites, are available at all DHD2 offices. They are also available online at
DO NOT BEGIN WELL CONSTRUCTION UNTIL YOUR NOTIFICATION/PERMIT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BY DHD2.
Prior to construction of a new water well it is first necessary to submit a completed Well Notification/Permit toDistrict Health Department No. 2. Once the Notification/Permit is submitted, DHD2 has four (4) working days to review the form and contact the property owner to arrange a site visit to review the proposed well construction site. Approval or denial will be based on the conditions at the site of the proposed well construction The four day review process may be extended due to incomplete or inaccurate forms,or if the proposed well construction is located in a vulnerable geologic area.
The DHD2 Notification/Permit Form can be obtained at any of the four DHD2 offices in West Branch, TawasCity, Harrisville, and Mio. The fee for the Notification/Permit is currently $120.00 which must be paid at the time the Notification/Permit is obtained. Additionally, every well installed by an individual well owner is subject to a pre-drilling site visit, and MUST receive a final construction inspection to verify compliance with applicable rules before final approval will be granted. Fees associated with the individual pre-drilling and final inspection visits are included in the initial Notification/Permit fee. However, all other site visits will be assessed an $85.00 consultation fee due BEFORE any additional site visit(s) will be conducted and before well construction approval can be granted.
Upon written approval of the Notification/Permit by DHD2, construction of the new well may begin. Please keep in mind that should any problems occur or if there are any questions or concerns before or during the well construction process, DHD2 should be contacted immediately. Failure to properly construct the well in accordance with the applicable rules will result in non-approval of the well construction and a correction order to bring the well into compliance.
The Following are Some Fundamental Well Construction Requirements for Installing a New Well
Please be advised that this is not a complete list.
See the attached construction rules and associated documents.
1.All well construction components must be approved for use (see attached approved materials list)
2. The well casing shall not extend less than 25 feet below (not including the screen), and terminate not less than 12 inches above the ground surface. Well pits are not allowed.
3. The well shall be located not less than 3 feet from a building, pump room, or any projectionthereof. (Example: If the building has a two foot overhang, you must place the well minimum of 5 feet from the building). This allows access for well maintenance.
4. The well shall be located a minimum distance of 50 feet from a septic tank, drain field, dry well, gas/fuel oil tank, outhouse or an animal or poultry yard, unless otherwise specified in a subdivision or deed restriction or other applicable regulation.. (A list of additional minimum isolation distances is attached.)
5.The well shall not be located in an area subject to flooding.
6. A drop pipe shall be installed inside the well casing to below the pumping water level in the well. The casing shall not be used as the suction line.
7. The buried portion of a water service line between the well casing and the pressure tank shall be under positive pressure at all times.
8. The well shall be properly grouted in accordance with the rules.
9.A safe bacteriological water sample is required by the state well construction code prior to placing the well into service.
10. A record of the well construction and pump installation is required to be submitted to DHD2within 60 days of completion of your new well.
BOH on 5-23-11