[§174C-86]  Well construction and pumpinstallation standards.  (a)  The commission shall adopt minimum standardsfor the construction of wells and the installation of pumps and pumpingequipment.  The standards shall be such as to ensure the safe and sanitarymaintenance and operation of wells, the prevention of waste, and the preventionof contamination of the waters.  The minimum standards for well constructionshall include the criteria for well location and the procedures for grouting,sealing, capping, and plugging wells.  They shall also provide for theinstallation of devices to measure the amount of ground water being withdrawnfrom the wells.  The minimum standards for the installation of pumps andpumping equipment shall include the required equipment characteristics andconstruction.

(b)  If any well construction or pumpinstallation standard is violated and as a consequence ground water is wastedor any well is contaminated, the commission, after giving notice of the defectto the owner of the land on which the well is located and giving such owner areasonable time to correct the defect, may itself correct the defect and chargethe landowner for the cost of such correction.  Such cost constitutes a lien onthe land until paid.  The lien may be foreclosed in any court of competentjurisdiction, and in such foreclosure suit, the court shall allow thecommission reasonable attorney's fees. [L 1987, c 45, pt of §2]