Table of Required Well Clearances
What are the
Distances Between Drinking Water Wells and Septic Systems, Treated Soils, Farm Buildings, & Other Site Features?
Well clearance distances: setbacks and clearances for wells for other site features: property lines, septic components, oil tanks
Distances from private well to other site features
U.S. HUD/FHA Well Clearance Distances Table
U.S. EPA Well Clearance Distances
Canadian & U.K. clearance distances or setbacks required for oil storage tanks
Questions & Answers about the required clearance distance between wells, septic systems and other site features
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Well clearances and distances to other site features: This document provides a table giving the required distances between wells and other site features which could affect drinking water quality - potential sources of well contamination.
If a property takes its drinking water supply from a site where these distances are violated, or where there are other reasons to be concerned for water quality, the well water should be tested regularly. Our procedure is to perform an extensive
broad-spectrum water test, depending on what we know about the property, its history, and its location. We're not only concerned for bacterial contamination - the common "water coliform test". Our page top photo shows a well located in the basement of a home. Is this OK?
Online Tables of Required Well Clearances to Site Features
Below we provide tables of recommended distances between drinking water wells and just about anything else on or around a building site that could affect the well water.
In addition to considering the actual well clearances you observe at a property you should decide whether addtiona or specific water contamination tests are thus appropriate. Here are some examples of how well setback distances affect water testing advice.
Water serving a farmhouse near an apple orchard might get extra testing for pesticides or fertilizers. Water at a property where fuels
or heating oil were stored close to a well may need water testing for petroleum products. Site features which risk well contamination include nearby cesspools, drywells (for gray water), soils which have been chemically treated, such as to provide a termite barrier, farm buildings, manure piles, livestock yards, silos, and fertilizer storage.
Consideration should also be given to surface water runoff from adjoining properties, orchards (pesticide-treated),
highways and roads, or properties with above ground or buried storage tanks such as for heating oil, fuel oil, or farm and orchard chemicals. Also see Drinking Water Supply, Contamination Levels, Water Testing Procedures and for other site clearance distances see SEPTIC CLEARANCES for required distances between septic systems and other site features.
The table below gives distance requirements between drinking water supply wells and septic systems, farm buildings, chemically-treated soils (such as for termites)
and other property features which may affect drinking water quality. Common guidelines require at least 50' clearance distance between a well and a septic system tank or 150' between a well and a septic drainfield or leaching bed but you will see that different authorities may recommend different distances.
US-HUD/FHA, Canadian, & U.K. Well Clearance Distances
Local soil and rock conditions can make these "rules of thumb" unreliable. See the U.S. "One and Two Family Dwelling Code, Section P-2510-Combined
Seepage Pits and Disposal Fields," and Table P-2504, "Location of Sewage Disposal System." Other references are cited at the end of this table. A separate table SEPTIC CLEARANCES gives the required distances between septic systems and other site features.
US-HUD/FHA Distances from Well to:
Note 1 below
Minimum Horizontal Distance (feet) from Drinking Water Well to Potential Sources of Pollution
Supplemental Requirements*
Property line
10
(*EP)
Septic tank
50
Absorption field
100 [Old distance was 75] (may be modified based on local conditions)
(SUP1)(*EP)
Seepage pit
100 [Old distance was 75] (may be modified based on local conditions)
(SUP1) - clearance may be increased or reduced depending on special circumstances given below
Absorption pit
100 [Old distance was 75] (may be modified based on local conditions)
(SUP1)
Sewer line
10 if line has permanent watertight joints
Other sewer line
50
Chemically poisoned soil
25
(SUP3) - can reduce to 15 ft in special circumstances given below
Dry well
50
CISTERNS
Properties served by cisterns are not acceptable for mortgage insurance. However, the HOCs have the authority to consider waivers in areas where cisterns are typical.
See notes below for link to key document
Oil Tanks - above ground distance to well - U.S.
5 ft. to property line, up to 275G, 10' from property line (larger tanks) - MA
8 ft. to well (oil tanks tanks smaller than 1500 gals) - WI
100' oil tank to well or water reservoir (larger oil storage tanks) - WI
Oil storage tank setback or clearance distance requirements vary by U.S. state, Canadian Province, Other Countries (U.K. for example).
The oil tank distance to well example data shown is for Wisconsin.
The oil tank distance to property line data shown is for Massachusetts.
Oil storage tanks, underground or buried tanks, distance to well - U.S.
25' to well (single family home) - WI
100' to well (other buildings) - WI
Oil storage tank setback or clearance distance requirements vary by U.S. state, Canadian Province, Other Countries (U.K. for example). The example data shown is for Wisconsin.
Oil Tank Setbacks to Well - Canada
5 meters (16.25') distance, oil tank to well, for new home residential construction, oil tanks 1200 liters or less - Canada
15 meters (48.75') distance, oil tank to well, for new home construction, oil tanks larger than 1200 liters - Canada
Existing oil storage tanks and replacement oil storage tanks do not have to meet these oil tank-to-well distance requirements
760mm from property boundary for tanks under 3400 Liters. Larger oil storage tanks must be no closer than 1.8 meters to the building.
Other requirements
(SUP2) - local health regulations also apply
WELL & SEPTIC SYSTEM CLEARANCE DISTANCES - TABLE NOTES:
Distances from a drinking water well to the contamination sources above are in feet unless otherwise stated.
HUD distances to septic drainfield, and similar components changed from 75' to 100' prior to 10/2009 - thanks to a reader [anonymous by request].
-1 Distance from source of pollution - proposed construction, US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, FHA, Local acceptable standard No. 3, June 18, 1992, Ref. Hud Handbook 4910.1 Chg 1, Appendix K, Pg K-27
(SUP1) This clearance may be increased or decreased depending upon soil and rock penetrated by the well and aquifer conditions. The clearance may be increased in creviced limestone and permeable strata of gravel and sand. The clearance may be reduced to 50 ft. only where the ground surface is effectively separated from the water bearing formation by an extensive, continuous and impervious strata of clay, hardpan, or rock. The well shall be constructed so as to prevent the entrance of surface water and contaminants.
(SUP2) The recommendations or requirements of the local health authority shall apply.
(SUP3) This clearance may be reduced to 15 feet only where the ground surface is effectively separated from the water bearing formation by an extensive, continuous and impervious strata of clay, hardpan, or rock.
(*EP) For Existing Properties. If the locality permits distance requirements less than those prescribed by FHA, the property may be considered eligible for a mortgage insured by FHA provided that the lender submits evidence in the case binder that the subject property is in compliance with the applicable local or state distance requirements and meets the conditions stated in Mortgagee Letter 2002-25.
These tables give typical required clearances for septic tank, soil absorption system (SAS), etc. but you will see that different authorities may recommend different distances. These distances are
for conventional onsite waste disposal systems which specify clearances presuming that effluent is being disposed-of after minimal treatment such as is received by a septic tank or cesspool. Advanced onsite
wastewater treatment systems, such as those described by Jantrania and Gross (2006), permit substantial reduction in these clearances, depending on the level of treatment achieved.
Is your well located on your property?
Individual Water Systems/Wells should be located on the subject property site. If not, they must be on an adjacent property, and evidence of water rights and recorded maintenance agreement must be provided for acceptance of the well as the primary source of water for an FHA insured property.
Is a Hand Dug or Driven Point Well Acceptable to HUD?
New wells must be drilled, no less than 20 feet deep, and cased. Casing should be steel or other casing material that is durable, leak-proof, and acceptable to (either) the local health authority and (or) the trade or profession licensed to drill and repair wells in the local jurisdiction.
Additional information on new wells, pumps, and storage tanks construction information may be referenced from HUD Handbook 4910.1, Appendix K and 24CFR 200.926d(f) [DJF note: we removed the link to this CFR citation because it is not working at the HUD site; accurate link citation needed]
Is a Cistern an Acceptable Water Supply for HUD Financing?
CISTERNS:HUD Handbook 4150.2 Section 3-6 indicates that properties served by cisterns are not acceptable for mortgage insurance. However, the HOCs have the authority to consider waivers in areas where cisterns are typical.
Our photo (above left) shows a hybrid system: this outdoor cistern is filled by pumping from an open casing in a drilled well that was inserted in the bottom of a dug well that went "dry" (photo, above right).
As will be apparent to readers, both the open top of this cistern and the open casing in the bottom of the dug well are sources of water contamination.
See CISTERNS for more information about this water source.
Is Water Purification Equipment Required by or Acceptable to HUD for HUD Financing?
Individual Residential Water Purification Equipment - If a property is otherwise eligible for insurance but does not have access to a continuing supply of safe and potable water without the use of a water purification system, the requirements in Mortgagee Letter 1992-18 must be satisfied.
Our photo (left) shows a UV light water treatment system installed to address low-level bacterial contamination in a private water supply. See WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES for details. The HUD letter states that effective 5 June 1992, [we quote key portions of the document]:
Effective immediately, the Department (HUD) will accept individual water purification units on all single family properties including both proposed and existing construction. This Mortgagee Letter sets forth the requirements for HUD acceptance of these individual water purification units. This Mortgagee Letter supersedes Mortgagee Letter 91-4 dated January 25, 1991.
B. CERTIFICATION BY LOCAL (or STATE) HEALTH AUTHORITY. A local
(or State) health authority certification must be submitted
to HUD which certifies the following:
1. That a "point-of-use" or "point-of-entry" water
purification unit is operating on the property.
If "point-of-use" equipment is used, a water
purification unit must be employed on each water supply
source (inside and outside faucet) serving the
property. (If a "point-of entry" system is used, a
separate water supply system carrying untreated water
for flushing toilets may be used);
2. That the water purification unit is sufficient to
assure an uninterrupted supply of safe and potable
water, adequate to meet household needs;
3. That the water supply, when treated by the water
purification unit, meets the water quality standards of
the local (or State) health authority.
If there are no local (or State) water quality
standards, then water quality must meet the standards
set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as
prescribed in the National Primary Drinking Water
requirements in 40 CFR Parts 141 and 142; and
4. That there exists a Plan that provides for the
monitoring, servicing, maintenance, and replacement of
the water purification equipment, and which meets the
requirements listed in paragraph G below.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Well Clearance Distances
US-EPA Distances from Well to:
Septic tanks
50 [This distance may not be acceptable by most local, state, and other agencies and probably needs updating - DJF]
Septic leach fields
50 [This is unlikely to be acceptable by most local, state, and other agencies and probably needs updating - DJF]
Livestock yards
50 [This is unlikely to be acceptable by most local, state, and other agencies and probably needs updating - DJF]
Silos
50 [This is unlikely to be acceptable by most local, state, and other agencies and probably needs updating - DJF]
Cisterns: HUD Handbook 4150.2 Section 3-6 indicates that properties served by cisterns are not acceptable for mortgage insurance. However, the HOCs have the authority to consider waivers in areas where cisterns are typical.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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Crystal Clear Supply provides portable ceramic water filter purifiers and portable reverse osmosis water treatment equipment - see http://www.crystalclearsupply.com/category_s/7.htm
Handbook of Disinfectants and Antiseptics, Joseph M. Ascenzi (Editor), CRC, 1995, ISBN-10: 0824795245 ISBN-13: 978-0824795245 "The evaluation of chemical germicides predates the golden age of microbiology..." -
This well-focused, up-to-date reference details the current medical uses of antiseptics and disinfectants -- particularly in the control of hospital-acquired infections -- presenting methods for evaluating products to obtain regulatory approval and examining chemical, physical, and microbiological properties as well as the toxicology of the most widely used commercial chemicals.
Principles and Practice of Disinfection, Preservation and Sterilization (Hardcover)
by A. D. Russell (Editor), W. B. Hugo (Editor), G. A. J. Ayliffe (Editor), Blackwell Science, 2004. ISBN-10: 1405101997, ISBN-13: 978-1405101998.
"This superb book is the best of its kind available and one that will undoubtedly be useful, if not essential, to workers in a variety of industries. Thirty-one distinguished specialists deal comprehensively with the subject matter indicated by the title ... The book is produced with care, is very readable with useful selected references at the end of each chapter and an excellent index. It is an essential source book for everyone interested in this field. For pharmacy undergraduates, it will complement the excellent text on pharmaceutical microbiology by two of the present editors."
The Pharmaceutical Journal: "This is an excellent book. It deals comprehensively and authoritatively with its subject with contributions from 31 distinguished specialists. There is a great deal to interest all those involved in hospital infection ... This book is exceptionally well laid out. There are well chosen references for each chapter and an excellent index. It is highly recommended." The Journal of Hospital Infection.: "The editors and authors must be congratulated for this excellent treatise on nonantibiotic antimicrobial measures in hospitals and industry ... The publication is highly recommended to hospital and research personnel, especially to clinical microbiologists, infection-control and environmental-safety specialists, pharmacists, and dieticians."
New England Journal of Medicine: City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. Covers the many methods of the elimination or prevention of microbial growth. Provides an historical overview, descriptions of the types of antimicrobial agents, factors affecting efficacy, evaluation methods, and types of resistance. Features sterilization methods, and more. Previous edition: c1999. DNLM: Sterilization--methods.
U.S. Army Field Manual 21-10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation, 1988, web search 07/02/2010, original source: http://www.enlisted.info/field-manuals/fm-21-10-field-hygiene-and-sanitation.shtml The purpose of this manual is to assist individual soldiers, unit commanders, leaders and field sanitation teams in preventing disease and environmental injuries. The manual provides information on preventive medicine measures (PMM) to the individual soldier as well as essential information for the unit commander, unit leaders, and the unit field sanitation team on applying unit level PMM.
When Technology Fails, Matthew Stein, Chelsea Green Publisher, 2008,493 pages. ISBN-10: 1933392452 ISBN-13: 978-1933392455, "... how to find and sterilize water in the face of utility failure, as well as practical information for dealing with water-quality issues even when the public tap water is still flowing". Mr. Stein's website is www.whentechfails.com/
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