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Closed Loop Well
- 6 TCC 9-1
- 6 TCC 9-2
- 6 TCC 9-3
- 6 TCC 9-4
- 6 TCC 9-5
- 6 TCC 9-6
- 6 TCC 9-7
- 6 TCC 9-8
- 6 TCC 9-9
- 6 TCC 9-10
- 6 TCC 9-11
- 6 TCC 9-12
- 6 TCC 9-13
- 6 TCC 9-14
- 6 TCC 9-15
6 TCC 9-1 Definitions
Closed Loop Well - means a sealed, watertight loop of buried pipe outside of a building foundation, intended to recirculate a liquid solution through a heat exchanger but is limited to the construction of the borehole, piping in the bore hole, heat exchange fluid, and the grouting of the bore hole and does not include the piping and appurtenances used in any other capacity. This includes but is not limited to vertical loop, horizontal loop and body of water loop systems. “Closed loop well” does not include any horizontal closed loop well systems where grouting is not necessary by law or standard industry practice.
Closed Loop Well Contractor - any person who installs closed loop wells for another person. “Closed loop well contractor” does not include the employee of a closed loop contractor.
Department-Tazewell County Health Department
Food grade propylene glycol - a coolant added to a closed loop well system which will allow the reduction of setbacks between the closed loop well system and a water well. The product container shall be labeled “Propylene Glycol USP” or equivalent. Any product not containing the letters “USP” will not be acceptable for this use, unless vendor documentation is produced to demonstrate equivalency.
Horizontal Closed Loop Well Systems means any open cut excavation where a watertight loop of pipe is buried outside of a building foundation that is intended to re-circulate a liquid solution through a heat exchanger.
Thermal Grout an Illinois Department of Public Health approved grout specifically developed to enhance the heat transfer in a closed loop well. The Illinois Department of Public Health will maintain a list of approved closed loop well grouts on its website.
6 TCC 9-2 Adoption by Reference
This ordinance shall adopt by reference and shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with provisions set forth in the current, unabridged form of the State of Illinois, Department of Public Health, “Illinois Water Well Construction Code” found at 415 Illinois Compiled Statutes 30/1 et seq., the “Water Well Construction Code” found at 77 Ill. Adm. Code 920, the “Illinois Water Well Pump Installation Code” found at 415 Illinois Compiled Statutes 35/1 et seq., the “Water Well Pump Installation Code” found at 77 Ill Adm. Code 925 and any subsequent amendments or revisions thereto.
6 TCC 9-3 Inspection Requirement
A closed loop well system shall not be placed into operation until the closed loop well system has been inspected by the Department to verify compliance with this Ordinance and until written approval has been issued by the Department.
6 TCC 9-4 Exemption
Closed Loop Well systems installed within the corporate limits of a municipality shall be exempt from the inspection requirement of this ordinance provided the municipality has a closed loop well system inspection process in place.
6 TCC 9-5 Set Back Distances
All closed loop well systems must meet the minimum location requirements as set forth in the Illinois Department of Public Health Water Well Construction Code Section 920.180 subject to penalties as set forth in Section 6 TCC-13. If any of location requirements cannot be met, a variance may be applied for in accordance with Section 920.200h) of the Illinois Department of Public Health Water Well Construction Code and/or Section 6 TCC 9-9 of this ordinance.
6 TCC 9-6 Application for Permit
No closed loop well system shall be constructed or modified in Tazewell County, except in accordance with these regulations, and it shall be unlawful to proceed with the construction or modification or sealing of a closed loop well system without first obtaining a permit from the Department.
Application for Permit to construct, modify or seal a closed loop well system shall be in writing and on such forms provided by the Department. The closed loop well system contractor shall sign every permit application.
(A) The application to construct or modify a closed loop well system shall be accompanied by a plan and drawing of the proposed construction or modification showing the lot size and location of property lines and distances from closed loop well construction to the location of all existing structures, wells, septic tanks, seepage fields, secondary sewage treatment units, cesspools, privies, sewers, lakes, ponds, or streams on the applicant’s property and on neighboring properties, if they are within 200 feet of the proposed closed loop well system(s).
(B) The application shall include a borehole layout. The borehole layout shall include borehole depth, grouting material, placement procedure and diameter of the heat exchange equipment that is to be grouted into the borehole. The application shall identify the registered closed loop well contractor.
(C) The application shall identify the type of liquid that will be pumped through the closed loop piping if necessary to determine reduced setbacks.
(D) Prior to the approval of the permit application, the Board of Health, at its discretion, may require additional information. The Department shall have the authority, subject to constitutional limitations, to enter at reasonable times upon private or public property, by its representatives after identification, for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions relating to the administration and enforcement of this ordinance and the Illinois Water Well Construction Code and/or inspect the property and neighboring properties.
(E) After an application to construct a closed loop well system has been reviewed and approved, a notice to proceed shall be issued to the registered closed loop well contractor. After the application is approved and issued, no modifications shall be made without reapplying to the Department. No construction of a closed loop well system shall commence prior to approval of the application by the Department.
6 TCC 9-7 Permit Fee
Each application to construct or modify a closed loop well system shall be accompanied by a fee payable to the Department of $100 for the first 10 closed loop well boreholes drilled and $10 for each additional borehole drilled. Each application for the sealing of the closed loop well system shall be accompanied by a fee payable to the Department of $100. This fee shall not be refundable in the event that an individual decides not to construct, modify or seal the closed loop well system. A permit shall be void within one year after date of issuance.
6 TCC 9-8 Registration of Closed Loop Well System Contractors
(a) No person shall install a closed loop well system unless that person has registered with the Illinois Department of Public Health as a Closed Loop Well Contractor.
(b) All persons who construct closed loop well systems in Tazewell County shall be registered annually with the Board of Health. A registration fee of $50 shall accompany the registration application. The registration shall expire on December 31st of the year of issue. The registration requirement shall not apply to a person who constructs a closed loop well system on land which is owned or leased by him and is used by him for farming purposes or as his place of abode.
6 TCC 9-9 Notifications
Any closed loop well contractor who constructs, modifies or seals a closed loop well must notify the Tazewell County Health Department by telephone or in writing at least 48 hours prior to the commencement of the work. Further notification may be requested by the Department as they deem necessary to assure proper construction practices and methods, e.g., installation of heat exchange equipment in the borehole, grouting of the borehole and setback distances. Information to be provided to the Tazewell County Health Department includes: date drilling/excavating started, name of closed loop well contractor, phone number of closed loop well contractor, and permit number of closed loop well system.
6 TCC 9-10 Use of Food Grade Propylene Glycol as Coolant
If food grade propylene glycol is used as a coolant, a closed loop well may be located within 25 feet of a water well. The installation of the coolant shall be witnessed by a representative of the Tazewell County Health Department. Annually, the property owner shall certify in writing on the form prescribed by the Board of Health that the food grade propylene glycol coolant was not modified in any way other than to add replacement food grade propylene glycol coolant. In the case of the sale of the property, the seller shall so certify prior to the sale of the property.
6 TCC 9-11 Casing
When permanent casing is installed, the casing and grouting shall meet the requirements for water well casing in the Illinois Water Well Construction Code. The outside of the casing shall be grouted prior to the grouting of the heat exchange equipment on the inside of the casing.
6 TCC 9-12 Grouting
Each closed loop well shall be grouted as required in Section
920.180 And 920 Table C of the Illinois Water Well Construction Code. Each closed loop well shall be grouted in the same day as the closed loop well is constructed.
6 TCC 9-13 Supersession by State Law
Should any of the provisions of this ordinance conflict with a closed loop well system state law or code passed subsequent to this ordinance, the state law or code shall take precedence over this ordinance.
6 TCC 9-14 Penalties
The following penalties shall apply to persons who construct closed loop well systems upon violation of the following requirements:
Failure to meet location requirements as required by Section 920.180 of the Illinois Department of Public Health Water Well Construction Code (variance not obtained) - $250.
Failure to submit an application to construct, modify or seal a closed loop well system - $250.
Failure to inform the Tazewell County Health Department of the availability of a closed loop well system installation for inspection, with the result that the closed loop well holes are covered without being inspected - $250.
Failure to register with the Board of Health - $250.
6 TCC 9-15 Date of Effect
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effective immediately on its adoption.