United States           Otfice of Water (WH 550G)      EPA 570/9-91-036M
                 Environmental Protection                          January 1992
                 Agency

v>EPA       Best Management Practices

                 For Protecting Ground  Water

                        Facilities Using Storm Water
                         Drainage Wells, Improved
                          Sinkholes, and Industrial
                                  Drainage Wells
                     (Class V Well  BMP Fact Sheet Number 4)
                 EPA recognizes that drainage well disposal practices may pose a threat of contamination to Underground
                 Sources of Drinking Water These wells while necessary, may need additional attention to minimize their impact
                 on ground water resources For more information, contact the person named below
                      Prevention

                          • Install and operate new wells and/or continue use of improved sinkholes
                           only in areas where there is an adequate confinement barrier or filtration
                           medium between wells and USDWs, where other BMPs can be applied to
                           reduce contaminant loading, and where construction of storm sewers is
                           impractical

                          • Connect drains to sewer where possible (drains connected to Industrial
                           Drainage Wells should not be connected to storm water-only systems)

                          • Maintain an inventory of all wells for cleaning and comply with federal,
                           State, and local well registration requirements

                          • Sweep streets and parking lots regularly

                          • Use alternative de-icers in place of salt

                          • Apply for a permit to continue injecting if so directed

                      Structural Controls

                          • Install, as appropriate:
                             — fabric filters in wolls
                             — beehive grates over wells
                             — oil/grease traps at tops of wells
                             — permanent silt checks (clean periodically to prevent sediment
                                from entering wells)
                             — gravel berms around wells
                             — straw bale filter traps around wells

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             • Plant vegetation, build aggregate-lined or sodded ditches in runoff
               containment areas, and build swales and sedimentation basins around
               wells where appropriate to filter out contaminants before they reach wells

             • Install or require temporary erosion controls at construction sites near
               wells

Note: EPA has prepared BMP Fact Sheets for Industrial Disposal Wells. Many of the
BMPs on these Fact Sheets may be applicable to facilities operating Industrial Disposal
Wells
Note: These BMPs are adapted from a May 1991 EPA report titled, "Class V Well BMP Guidance • Phase I and
Phase II" and have been modified in response to comments by EPA Regions For a copy of the EPA report,
please contact the Underground Injection Control Branch of the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water,
US EPA

For further information contact:

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