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Wellhead Protection Section
Monitoring Wells
Monitoring wells are different in nature from other wells. They are usually designed to have a shorter life span than other wells, such as water wells or vertical heat pump wells. The use of these wells in monitoring potentially contaminated sites also makes them different from other wells. Where the majority of other wells are open hole completions, that is the casing extends a minimum of 30 feet into bedrock and the rest of the well is open borehole to total depth, the standard construction practices for monitoring wells in Missouri require the bottom of the wells to be screened. These wells are almost always associated with an investigation or clean up of a potentially hazardous material. Any monitoring wells less than 10 feet in depth are exempt from regulation.
We offer a number of services that may be helpful in finding out about wells. These services include but are not limited to:
- Technical Assistance - This service provides technical assistance to the public and industry on construction questions. This can be accomplished over the phone or by letter.
- Well Information Reports - This is a service that provides information on wells within a specified area using our Well Information Management System, also known as W.I.M.S. It contains information on location, construction and some geology for most wells constructed after October 1986. By calling or writing, we can send you a list of all of the known wells with construction details for any specific site or location within the State. Information is available in a separate database on approximately 25,000 wells drilled prior to October 1986. This database includes more detailed geologic information that has been generated by geologists since the early 1900s. There is an associated charge for information from either database. Please be sure to inquire prior to placing your request.
- Variance Request - A variance request is required when the normal construction standards for a well cannot be met for any number of reasons. Normally the deficiency in construction will be allowed as long as the rest of the construction is augmented to protect the groundwater. A written request is preferred, however, we will take the variance information over the phone.
We will also explain the minimum construction standards required for a new well in your local area. We have in the past used the combined data resources of the division to create maps to help inform drillers who construct wells in geologic or groundwater sensitive areas, and are always looking for new ways to apply our data to benefit the citizens of Missouri.
