[§174C-86]  Well construction and pump
installation standards.  (a)  The commission shall adopt minimum standards
for the construction of wells and the installation of pumps and pumping
equipment.  The standards shall be such as to ensure the safe and sanitary
maintenance and operation of wells, the prevention of waste, and the prevention
of contamination of the waters.  The minimum standards for well construction
shall include the criteria for well location and the procedures for grouting,
sealing, capping, and plugging wells.  They shall also provide for the
installation of devices to measure the amount of ground water being withdrawn
from the wells.  The minimum standards for the installation of pumps and
pumping equipment shall include the required equipment characteristics and
construction.



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