Public comment on the draft of the ANSI NGWA-01-07 Water Well Construction Standard will be accepted through the close of business on July 15, 2011, the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) has announced.

Comments received will be considered in the final water well construction standard to be submitted for approval to ANSI (American National Standards Institute).

A “standard” is a formal technical document for generally accepted processes, procedures, and policies. NGWA is seeking establishment of standards to protect ground water resources and public health, and to help ensure capable professionals by establishing a benchmark for water well construction.

 Among the areas covered by the proposed standard are:

• Well site selection
  
• Casing and casing installation
  
• Screens, filter packs, and formation stabilizer
  
• Grouting
  
• Plumbness and alignment
  
• Well development
  
• Testing for well performance
  
• Data recording
  
• Disinfection with chlorine
  
• Water sampling
  
• Permanent well and test hole decommissioning.

Among those encouraged to comment are stakeholders in the ground water industry, including contractors, regulators, scientists, engineers, suppliers and manufacturers, as well as consumers, such as private water well owners.

Interested parties should download the draft of the standard (available here), as well as the comment form; comments will be accepted only via this form, and must be received by e-mail, fax or postal mail on or before 5 p.m. ET July 15, 2011.

For further information, contact Jonathan Jenkins at jjenkins@ngwa.org or 800 551.7379.