OAR 690-210-0250: Top Terminal Height

(1) The casing head or pitless unit of any well shall extend a minimum of 12 inches above the finished ground surface or pumphouse floor, and a minimum of 12 inches above the local surface runoff level. The ground surface immediately surrounding the top of the well casing or pitless unit should be graded so as to drain surface water away from the well. Without permission of the Director, no casing shall be cut off below land surface except to install a pitless unit or during permanent abandonment of a well. (2) Application to the Director to reduce the top terminal height of casing shall include: (a) A description of physical characteristics of the well site which make the requested change necessary; and (b) A description of additional steps to be taken over and above the minimum standards in these rules which will assure adequate protection of the ground water resource. (3) The Director may approve a reduction of the top terminal height of the casing only upon a determination that the additional precautions to be taken and specific physical characteristics of the site would prevent contamination of the ground water resource.