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The Demystification
columns

of Class V Injection

Wells Robyn Hoerr, MRWA Source Water Protection Specialist

T Most of the Class V wells utilize simple technology

There are many topics that come up in discussion
that have required additional explanation during
my experience working with public water supply
and gravity drainage. Also, they are more likely
to be found in areas not served by a municipal
systems on Wellhead Protection (WHP) issues. I
sewer utility and are associated with land uses that
suppose it’s to be expected; as federal and state
generate substances needing disposal.
regulatory agencies gather new data it seems to
bring new issues to light requiring
us all to bring ourselves up to
illegal in the state of Minnesota
speed. However, there are few
and are no longer approved
WHP topics that have been met Some Class V well types are considered to be
with such hazy understanding for construction by land
as that of Class V wells; just use planning and permitting
what are they, and what is programs. Examples of illegal
their significance in relation to Class V wells in Minnesota
protecting drinking water? include auto repair shops
with a floor drain leading to a
I have to admit I am not as septic system, municipal utility
familiar with this type of land systems where stormwater flows
use and potential source of to dry wells, open-bottomed
contamination to drinking tanks receiving wastewater
water as I am with many (cesspools), apartment buildings
others since there are such a vast whose sanitary sewer waste flows
range of types of Class V wells— to a septic tank and drainfield, or a
there are at least 23 different carwash whose waste empties to
kinds--utilizing various types a floor drain leading to a dry well
of technology. Also, Class V or septic system. Many Class V
wells are not as commonly wells of this nature have already
used in Minnesota as they are been identified and corrected
elsewhere in the country. It’s since the inception of the Class
easy to recognize the reason for V program in the 1990’s, and
the need of further description the more recently discovered
of what this land use is when are referred to the USEPA UIC
bringing up the topic. program for remediation.
For general understanding, a Class A different type of Class V well, large
V well, also referred to as a shallow capacity septic systems, are legal to use
disposal well, is one whose in Minnesota. Examples of
purpose is to inject non-hazardous this type of Class V well are
substances underground, either businesses serving at least
into or above a source of twenty people per day, or a
drinking water. These wells are septic system that serves more
regulated by the United States than two homes. These Class
Environmental Protection V wells are required to have
Agency (USEPA) Underground a permit from the USEPA for
Injection Control (UIC) operation. Due to the potential
program under the Authority for these land uses to impart a
of the federal Safe Drinking large volume of contaminants into
Water Act. Class V wells are the ground that may reach the
part of a larger group of wells that have groundwater aquifers, the USEPA
been divided into a total of six groups (I – VII) simply wants to know the locations
based on their uses. The Class V well category is of these Class V wells, and no further requirements
a ‘catch all’ of wells not already falling into one are necessary other than for the property owner to
of the other five injection well categories making comply with local and state rules for construction
this a diverse group typically used for municipal, and operation, and keep the system in good
commercial or industrial practices. working order.

10 MRWA TODAY S SPRING 2021