Buildings and wells

[Jamiew66]

I've been researching pole barn companies for a while and have finally decided the company I want to use. I had them come out and take a look at the yard and the location I want the barn to be built. Then, yesterday I went to the town building to get the information on the set backs needed to be sure it would be compliant. No problem, 60' from the street and 15' from the other property lines. SWEET.

Then I asked if there were any restrictions on the distance from the well. The lady looked it up and couldn't find the answer, so she consulted another worker in the building. She returned and said it's 100'. No buildings within 100' of the well. That's going to push me all the way back to the rear of the property, not what I want. As well as that It's going to make me have all the entries on the front of the building and not the side as I was planning.

The builder is going to check with them on Monday.

 

[billbart5]

That is surprising they want 100' distance from the building to well head. That kind of distance is usually reserved for septic drain fields. In Idaho, many people have their well heads fairly close to the house (mine is 30'). Hopefully your contractor can find someone who knows what they are talking about.

 

[stikman56]

Depends on your county codes. My house is 21 feet from our well, we built it that way a few months ago. No restrictions for that in Clark County Washington.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Sounds ridiculous to me,...

My well is under a shed,...

 

[rburke65]

I think my garage is...8' from my well. 100' sounds like someone my be confused.....

 

[nh_yota]

It varies by jurisdiction and usually they're more concerned with the distance between the well and septic system than anything else. Regulations have changed over the years, so what was acceptable 20, 30, 50 years ago may not be kosher nowadays.

I know people who have wells under their basement or under their barn and I've always thought that was ridiculous, but I guess it's not that uncommon if it's a shallow hand-dug well as opposed to a machine drilled deep well like I'm used to.

100' definitely sounds excessive and the lady may be mistaking it for the distance between a well and a septic system.

 

[The FIB]

That sounds a bit excessive, had one drilled about 10-15 years ago, and if I remember correctly, at that time it was a minimum 30' from the nearest roof edge.

 

[Jamiew66]

Our (the wife and I) thoughts last night were that maybe they got confused with the Well/septic distance. I hope so because while 100' will be doable it is not ideal by any means.

 

[southalabama]

I think you asked a question that they didn't know the answer and made one up.

I'd keep researching it.

 

[Richard Cranium]

yes, it sounds like some one just pulled that answer out of their ***.

 

[bczygan]

I would just submit my project without even mentioning the well location.

I would not show it's location on the plot plan.

Hope you asked anonymously.

Call a well driller what the regulations are, who has jurisdiction, and get a look at how they read.

Look here:
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/EnvironmentalHealth/Onsite/regulations/


Never ask a government official a question, that you don't already know the answer to!
Bill

 

[bczygan]

This may be what they are talking about. It is part of what must be submitted for a well permit. It refers to table 3C which is also in the document I linked to. The table says 10' from a building foundation.

Is the well existing?

6. A site plan showing the proposed well site, property boundaries, recorded easements, and accurate locations of actual or proposed sources of contamination (including, but not limited to those listed in Table 3.1) within 100 feet of the proposed well site, and at the option of the applicant a proposed well design. If the proposed well site is located on or at the base of sloping topography, the minimum separation distances shown on the site plan for any sources of
contamination within a 60 degree arc slope of the proposed well site must be increased 25 feet for every 5.0% slope.

Bill

 

[NUTTSGT]

Our (the wife and I) thoughts last night were that maybe they got confused with the Well/septic distance. I hope so because while 100' will be doable it is not ideal by any means.

I think they are confused and like the others, believe they are guessing/mixing it up with the well/septic distances.

I believe you either need to go back and inquire with someone else or look elsewhere for the code in print.

 

[Jamiew66]

Bill I think you've found it, it looks like 10' according to the table. I should be good then in that case. That's some good information and I appreciate it.

Thank you.