ASTM D5787-95(2000)

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Designation:D5787–95 (Reapproved 2000)
Standard Practice for
Monitoring Well Protection
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5787; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This practice for monitoring well protection is provided to promote durable and reliable protection
ofinstalledmonitoringwellsagainstnaturalandmancauseddamage.Thepracticescontainedpromote
the development and planning of monitoring well protection during the design and installation stage.
1. Scope C 294 Descriptive Nomenclature of Constituents of Natural
Mineral Aggregates
1.1 This practice identifies design and construction consid-
D 5092 Design and Installation of Ground Water Monitor-
erations to be applied to monitoring wells for protection from
ing Wells in Aquifers
natural and man caused damage or impacts.
1.2 The installation and development of a well is a costly
3. Terminology
and detailed activity with the goal of providing representative
3.1 Definitions:
samples and data throughout the design life of the well.
3.1.1 barrier—any device that physically prevents access or
Damages to the well at the surface frequently result in loss of
damage to an area.
the well or changes in the data. This standard provides for
3.1.2 barrier markers—plastic, or metal posts, often in
access control so that tampering with the installation should be
bright colors, placed around a monitoring well to aid in
evident. The design and installation of appropriate surface
identifying or locating the well.
protection will mitigate the likelihood of damage or loss.
3.1.3 barrier posts—steel pipe, typically from 4 to 12
1.3 This practice may be applied to other surface or subsur-
inches in diameter and normally filled with concrete or grout
face monitoring device locations, such as piezometers, per-
that are placed around a well location to protect the well from
meameters, temperature or moisture monitors, or seismic
physical damage, such as from vehicles.
devices to provide protection.
3.1.4 borehole—a circular open or uncased subsurface hole
1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
created by drilling.
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
3.1.5 casing—pipe, finished in sections with either threaded
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
connections or bevelled edges to be field welded, which is
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
installed temporarily or permanently to counteract caving, to
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
advancetheborehole,ortoisolatethezonebeingmonitored,or
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
a combination thereof.
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
3.1.6 casing, protective—a section of larger diameter pipe
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
that is emplaced over the upper end of a smaller diameter
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
monitoring well riser or casing to provide structural protection
title of this document means only that the document has been
to the well and restrict unauthorized access into the well.
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
3.1.7 riser—the pipe extending from the well screen to or
2. Referenced Documents above the ground surface.
3.1.8 sealed cap—a sealable riser cap, normally gasketed or
2.1 ASTM Standards:
sealed, that is designed to prevent water or other substances
C 150 Specification for Portland Cement
from entering into, or out of the well riser.
3.1.9 vented cap—acapwithasmallholethatisinstalledon
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and top of the riser.
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on GroundWater and
Vadose Zone Investigations.
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 1995. Published January 1996. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D5787–95 (2000)
4. Significance and Use
4.1 An adequately designed and installed surface protection
system will mitigate the consequences of naturally or man
caused damages which could otherwise occur and result in
either changes to the data, or complete loss of the monitoring
well.
4.2 The extent of application of this practice may depend
upon the importance of the monitoring data, cost of monitoring
well replacement, expected or design life of the monitoring
well, the presence or absence of potential risks, and setting or
location of the well.
4.3 Monitoring well surface protection should be a part of
the well design process, and installation of the protective
system should be completed at the time of monitoring well
installation and development.
4.4 Information determined at the time of installation of the
protective system will form a baseline for future monitoring
FIG. 1 Example of Protective Design
well inspection and maintenance.Additionally, elements of the
protection system will satisfy some regulatory requirements
5.3.1.2 Barrier Posts placed in an array such that any
such as for protection of near surface ground water and well
anticipated vehicle can not pass between them to strike the
identification.
protective casing. Barrier posts are typically filled with con-
crete and set in post holes several feet deep which are
5. Design Considerations
backfilled with concrete. Barrier posts typically extend from 3
5.1 The design of a monitoring well protective system is
to 5 feet above the ground surface. Barrier posts are frequently
like other design processes, where the input considerations are
usedinandaroundindustrialorhighvehicletrafficareas.Costs
determined and the design output seeks to remedy or mitigate
for installation can be substantial however they provide a high
the negative possibilities, while taking advantage of the site
degree of protection for exposed wells. Cost of removal at
characteristics. decommissioning can also be substantial.
5.2 The factors identified in this practice should be consid-
NOTE 1—Cattle frequently rub against above ground completions
ered during the design of the monitoring well protective
leading to damage of unprotected casings. Concrete filled posts or driven
system. The final design should be included in the monitoring T-posts, wrapped with barbed wire, are frequently used.
well design and installation documentation and be completed
5.3.1.3 Barrier Markers are relatively lightweight metal or
and verified during the final completion and development of
often plastic posts which provide minimal impact resistance
the well.
but which by their color, location, and height, warn individuals
of the well presence. The use of barrier markers is effective in
5.3 In determining the level or degree of protection re-
areas that are well protected from impact type damage by other
quired, the costs and consequences, such as loss of data or
features, such as surrounding structures or fences. They are
replacement of the well, must be weighed against the probabil-
relatively inexpensive to install.
ity of occurrence and the desired life of the well. For
5.3.1.4 Signs—An inexpensive means of identifying the
monitoring wells which will be used to obtain data over a short
presence of a monitoring well. Signs provide protection only
time period, the protection system may be minimal. For wells
by warning of the well presence. Signs may be required in
which are expected to be used for an indefinite period, are in a
some circumstances and appropriate in others. Wells known to
vulnerable location, and for which the costs of lost data could
containhazardous,radioactive,orexplosivecompoundsshould
be high, the protective system should be extensive. Factors to
be marked to warn sampling personnel of potential dangers.
consider and methods of mitigating them are presented in the
When a potential exists for water usage, signage indicating that
following sections.
the water is non-potable and is utilized strictly as a monitoring
5.3.1 Impact Damages—Physical damages resulting from
well, and not for any other purpose, may be appropriate.
construction equipment, livestock, or vehicles striking the
Disadvantages of signs are that they may be ignored, are often
monitoring well casing frequently occur. Protective devices
difficult to maintain, and may invite vandalism to the well.
and approaches include:
5.3.1.5 Recessed or Subsurface casings may be used to
5.3.1.1 Extra heavy protective casings with a reinforced
mitigate impact damage by allowing the vehicles to pass over.
concreteapronextendingseveralfeetaroundthecasingmaybe
Frequently used techniques include recessing the casing below
an acceptable design in those areas where frost heave is not a
ground level, using commercially available covers. These may
problem. The principle behind this is to design the protective
take the form of valve pits or manholes, as examples. Advan-
casing so that it will be able to withstand the impact of vehicles
tages include both protecting the well while minimizing the
without damage to the riser within. interference to surface traffic, such as in parking lots or urban
D5787–95 (2000)
areas and screening the well from view. Using this technique, penetration by bullets in areas where shooting may occur. A
wells may be located in the most desired locations from a concrete apron or grout collar around the casing will provide
ground-water monitoring perspective. Disadvantages include
mass to defeat attempts to pull the casing upwards, or side-
theneedtoassuresurfacedrainagedoesnotenterthewellriser,
ways. Additional physical barriers should be added in consid-
either by maintaining positive drainage or by using a sealed eration of the location and likelihood of vandalism. These
riser cap (or both). When the risk is from the influx of surface
include locked chainlink fences, use of barbed or concertina
water, drains below the level of the riser should be installed. In
wire, concrete walls, or enclosure inside of buildings or other
extreme cases, such as in location with high ground-water
fenced or enclosed areas. When placed in below ground level
levels or potential drainage from surrounding areas, automatic
structures,suchassumpsormanholes,theaccesscoverscanbe
sump pumps may be required. Consideration should be given
equipped with a lock. Access to keys should be controlled to
to the sampling personnel who will require adequate space to
prevent unauthorized use and entry.
perform sampling, particularly in manhole situations. Addi-
5.3.2.3 Protection of the well and the data, (for example,
tionally, personnel protection requirements from working in a
ground-water level elevations), that the well will provide can
confined space should be considered.
be generally achieved by the physical barriers previously
5.3.1.6 Fencing, such as commercial chainlink type fences
described. Detection of access to a well should also be
may provide adequate protection in areas with light risk from
considered. While not protecting the well and the sample data
vehicles, but where people or animals may interfere or affect
directly, it will be valuable in evaluating the data derived from
the well. Advantages are relative minimal costs, ease of
the well samples. Sampling personnel should be alert and
removal or opening. Disadvantages include maintenance, ad-
inspect the well and the protective devices for signs of
equacy of protection from hard vehicle impacts, and visual and
vandalism. Foil or paper seals can be applied to the riser and
traffic interference.
cap at the end of each sampling to allow visual verification that
5.3.2 Vandalism—Damage from vandals can take two
the riser cap has not been disturbed between samplings. Seals
forms, those which seek to damage or destroy the well itself,
are inexpensive and provide assurance of the well integrity and
and those which intend to damage the data that the well may
should be considered for use on all wells.
provide. Theft of sampling pumps, loss of access to the riser,
5.3.3 Landslides—Movement of the surface layers of soil
plugging of the well with foreign debris, or injection of foreign
due to seismic activity or other changes can result in lateral
materials or chemicals are potential results of vandalism.
movement with the riser being bent or ultimately sheared. The
5.3.2.1 Physical damage to the well can be minimized with
primary protection against this type of damage is location.
many of the same techniques as used to protect the well from
Whenever possible, the well should be located outside of the
impact damages. Generally two techniques can be used to
slide area. When relocation is not possible and the moving soil
protect a well from physical damage, one, by hiding or
layer is relatively thin, limited protection may be achieved by
camouflaging the well, the other by constructing the surface
extending the protective casing several feet below the shear
protectionofthewellwithmultiplephysicalbarriers.Hidingor
line. Additional protection may be gained by driving piling or
camouflaging the well utilizes the philosophy that what can’t
posts through the surface layer and below the shear line to
be found can’t be damaged. Camouflage techniques include
anchor the surface. Protection and maintenance of wells in
enclosing the well in manholes or sumps, planting shrubs or
slide areas can be expensive and may result in only delaying
vegetation to shield the well from view, enclosing the well in
the loss of the well.
another structure, such as inside a raised planter or a small
5.3.4 Freeze Damage—Freezing of the ground surrounding
shed. Color characteristics of the above ground can be used to
a well riser can result in heaving which can sever the riser
disguise the well or to assist in making it blend into the
resulting in the loss of the well. In areas where extended
surroundings. Costs for camouflage can vary widely, but are
freezing temperatures are expected, the well protective casing
generally minimal when included with other protections. Dis-
should be constructed to minimize the possibility of damage.
advantages are that if found, the well is still susceptible to
damage by vandals, that damage may be undetected, and that The protective casing should extend several feet below the
frost line and the space between the we
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