OAR 690-217-0015: Policy Statement

(1) The owner of a well which is the source of water listed on a water right permit or certificate shall conduct, or cause to be conducted, pump tests and report the results to the Water Resources Commission as outlined in OAR 690-217-0005 to 690-217-0055. (2) The Water Resources Commission delegates to the Water Resources Director (the Director) all authority pertaining to implementation of these rules. (3) If there is a reason why a pump test cannot be performed on a well, the owner may request from the Director an exemption from the pump test requirement. Requests shall be in writing and include the reason why a pump test cannot be performed. Exemptions, or conditioned exemptions, shall be granted if the reasons are found to be valid and eliminating the problem would place an unreasonable burden on the well owner. Exemptions shall be granted for public water supply wells if pump testing will cause interruption of service to customers. (4) If there is a reason why a pump test cannot meet all of the specifications outlined in OAR 690-217-0005 to 690-217-0055, the well owner may request from the Director exceptions to the pump test requirements. Requests shall be in writing and include the reason why a pump test cannot meet the requirements. Exceptions, or conditioned exceptions, shall be granted if the reasons are found to be valid and meeting the full specifications would place an unreasonable burden on the well owner. (5) The pump test requirement shall be waived, if requested, in situations where the water right is for land temporarily taken out of production under a government program. (6) Pump tests shall not be required of wells with diameters greater than 36 inches and depths less than 30 feet. (7) Pump tests shall not be required of collector-type wells or infiltration galleries. (8) Transferring the point of diversion of a ground water right shall have no effect on the pump testing schedule unless specifically mentioned as a condition of the transfer. (9) Pump tests are intended to provide aquifer and well information for ground water resource characterization and to help solve well problems.