Bill Text: GA HB1206 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Water well standards; require contractor license under geologist or engineer direction; change provisions

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 7-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-07-01 - Effective Date [HB1206 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB1206-Introduced.html

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10 LC 21 0823S/AP

House Bill 1206 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)

By: Representatives Maddox of the 127th, Anderson of the 117th, Williams of the 178th, Knight of the 126th, Roberts of the 154th, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Part 3 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to water well standards, so as to change certain provisions relating to the requirement for a water well contractor's license and drilling under the direction of a professional geologist or engineer; to change certain provisions relating to standards for wells and geothermal boreholes; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Part 3 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to water well standards, is amended by adding a new paragraph to Code Section 12-5-122, relating to definitions, as follows:

"(17.1) 'Geothermal borehole' means any hole in the earth which is drilled for the purpose of installing piping for heating and air conditioning systems through which water, antifreeze, water mixtures, freon, or other media are circulated to exchange heat with the earth for the purpose of heating or cooling, or both."

SECTION 2.

Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 12-5-125, relating to the requirement for a water well contractor's license and drilling under the direction of a professional geologist or engineer, as follows:

"12-5-125.

Except as provided in subsection (f) of Code Section 12-5-127, no person shall drill a water well or geothermal borehole without first having a water well contractor's license issued by the council. No person, including licensed water well contractors, shall drill any other kind of well, borehole, or corehole, other than a water well or geothermal borehole, unless such person is acting under the direction of a professional geologist or a professional engineer."

SECTION 3.

Said part is further amended by revising paragraph (5) of Code Section 12-5-134, relating to standards for wells and boreholes, by substituting a period for the semicolon at the end of subparagraph (F) and by adding a new subparagraph to read as follows:

"(G) Geothermal boreholes that penetrate into ground water shall be grouted from bottom to top by forced injection using impervious grouting material designed for such purpose. Geothermal boreholes shall be constructed or located at a safe distance from any potential source of contamination. The minimum safe distance from the following sources of contamination shall be:

(i) Ten feet from sewer lines;

(ii) Twenty-five feet from septic tanks;

(iii) Fifty feet from septic drain fields;

(iv) Ten feet from a connection between a house and a septic tank; and

(v) Ten feet from a connection between a house and a sewer line;"

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.