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Basic Information
The information provided below explains how Class V wells work. It will help you understand how to manage your Class V wells to prevent contamination of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs).
- What is a Class V well?
- What are the common uses of Class V wells?
- What are the types of Class V wells?
- How do the requirements for Class V wells prevent contamination?
- What can I do to protect drinking water?
What is a Class V well?
A Class V well is a system used to inject non-hazardous fluids underground. Fluids are injected either into or above an underground source of drinking water. This diverse group ranges from simple shallow wells to complex experimental injection technologies.
Most Class V wells are "low-tech" and depend on gravity to drain fluids directly below the land surface. Drywells, cesspools, and septic system leach fields are examples of simple Class V wells. Because their construction often provides little or no pretreatment and these fluids are injected directly into or above an underground source of drinking water, proper management is important.
More sophisticated Class V wells may rely on gravity or use pressure systems for fluid injection. Some sophisticated systems include advanced wastewater disposal systems used by industry, experimental wells used to test new or unproven technologies, and even systems used to inject and store water for later reuse.
Class V Wells
Class V Wells - Manage the shallow injection of all other fluids to prevent contamination of drinking water resources.
What are the common uses of Class V wells?
Class V wells provide for the injection of fluids for a variety of municipal, business and industry practices: These wells can be found at:
- Gas stations where service floor drains lead to a septic system.
- Apartment buildings that use septic systems for sanitary waste disposal.
- Highway rest areas that use cesspools.
- Municipalities where stormwater flows into drywells.
- Strip malls where businesses such as photo processors and dry cleaners discharge sanitary wastes and process chemicals into septic systems.
- Office buildings that inject water passed through heat exchangers to cool the buildings.
- Carwashes where wastewater enters a floor drain that leads to a drywell or septic system.
What are the types of Class V wells?
Class V wells vary according to the businesses that use them, their construction, and the fluids they receive. In 1999 EPA conducted a study of Class V well types and estimated that there are more than 650,000 of these wells in use in the United States. They are located in every state, especially in unsewered areas where the population is also likely to depend on ground water for their drinking water. To find out more about specific Class V well types, Class V wells in your State, the type of fluids injected, and how your State regulates them, go to:
- The Class V Underground Injection Control Study
- State-by-State Inventory of Class V Wells (PDF) (1 pg, 11K, About PDF)
How do the requirements for Class V wells prevent contamination?
Class V wells are a concern because they pose a risk to underground sources of drinking water. Because of this they are regulated by the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program under the Authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The Class V Rule was written to specifically regulate motor vehicle waste disposal wells and large capacity cesspools to protect public health and the environment by eliminating or reducing the injection of wastes from these operations. To find out more, go to:
- UIC Regulations
- Minimum Requirements for Class V Wells
- Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells
- Large-Capacity Cesspools
What can I do to protect drinking water?
Preventing contamination can save you money and protect your family's health. Here are some things you can do to help protect your drinking water source:
- Know where the drains in your home or business discharge. Many homes or businesses have septic systems equipped with leach fields or drywells. You should only dispose of household sanitary wastes in these wells.
- Become involved in source water protection. Every state has performed a “source water assessment” that identifies the major threats (including Class V wells) to public drinking water supplies. Communities can use this information to plan drinking water protection activities. These activities may include proper management of Class V wells to prevent contamination of drinking water sources. For example, EPA has banned motor vehicle waste disposal wells in some areas near drinking water sources. States are also encouraged to target these areas for protective measures. Class V well owners who are also business owners can be important advocates for a community’s source water protection plan.
- Read your consumer confidence report. Published once a year by your water company, this report has information about the quality of your drinking water and about threats to drinking water sources.