Part I. General, Cathodic Protection Well Standards

Section 1. Definitions

Note: Technical terms are defined in Appendix A.

• A. Cathodic Protection Well. A cathodic protection well is defined in Section 13711 of the California Water Code as:
  ". . . any artificial excavation in excess of 50 feet constructed by any method for the purpose of installing equipment or facilities for the protection electrically of metallic equipment in contact with the ground, commonly referred to as cathodic protection."
• B. Enforcing Agency. An agency designated by duly authorized local, regional, or State government to administer and enforce laws or ordinances pertaining to the construction, alteration, maintenance, and destruction of cathodic protection wells.
• C. Casing. All vent pipe, anode access tubing, electrical cable conduit, and other tubular materials that pass through the interval to be sealed.
• D. Conductor Casing. A tubular retaining structure temporarily or permanently installed in the upper portion often installed to keep the borehole open during drilling if caving conditions are expected. Despite its title, conductor casing does not normally serve an "electrical" function for cathodic protection wells.

Section 2. Exemptions Due to Unusual Conditions

Under certain circumstances the enforcing agency may waive compliance with these standards and prescribe alternate requirements. These standards may be waived only where they are impractical or ineffective because of unusual conditions, or would result in unsatisfactory condition or well function. In waiving any of these standards, the enforcing agency shall, if at all possible, require that measures be implemented to provide the same or greater level of water-quality protection that would otherwise be provided by these standards.

Section 3. Special Standards

The enforcing agency may prescribe measures more stringent than standards described here, where needed to protect public safety or protect water quality.

Section 4. Responsible Parties

Corrosion control engineers are normally responsible for the design and supervision of corrosion control facilities incorporating cathodic protection wells. Pursuant to Section 13750.5 (Division 7, Chapter 10, Article 3) of the California Water Code, construction, alteration, and destruction of cathodic protection wells shall be performed by contractors licensed in accordance with the California Contractors' License Law (Division 3, Chapter 9, California Business and Professions Code), except where exempted by law. Above-ground electrical facilities for cathodic protection wells should be installed by an appropriately licensed contractor.

Section 5. Reports

Cathodic protection well construction, alteration, and destruction reports shall be completed on forms provided by the California Department of Water Resources. Other types of forms may be used for submission to the Department with the prior approval of the Department. The completed forms shall be submitted to the Department in accordance with relevant provisions of Sections 13750 through 13754 (Division 7, Chapter 10, Article 3) of the California Water Code. Information concerning completion and submission of well construction, alteration, and destruction reports is contained in “Guide to the Preparation of the Water Well Drillers’ Report,” Department of Water Resources, October 1977, or its latest version.