Standard Practice for Monitoring Well Protection

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
An adequately designed and installed surface protection system will mitigate the consequences of naturally or man caused damages which could otherwise occur and result in either changes to the data, or complete loss of the monitoring well.
The extent of application of this practice may depend upon the importance of the monitoring data, cost of monitoring well replacement, expected or design life of the monitoring well, the presence or absence of potential risks, and setting or location of the well.
Monitoring well surface protection should be a part of the well design process, and installation of the protective system should be completed at the time of monitoring well installation and development.  
Information determined at the time of installation of the protective system will form a baseline for future monitoring well inspection and maintenance. Additionally, elements of the protection system will satisfy some regulatory requirements such as for protection of near surface groundwater and well identification.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice identifies design and construction considerations to be applied to monitoring wells for protection from natural and man caused damage or impacts.
1.2 The installation and development of a well is a costly and detailed activity with the goal of providing representative samples and data throughout the design life of the well. Damages to the well at the surface frequently result in loss of the well or changes in the data. This standard provides for access control so that tampering with the installation should be evident. The design and installation of appropriate surface protection will mitigate the likelihood of damage or loss.
1.3 This practice may be applied to other surface or subsurface monitoring device locations, such as piezometers, permeameters, temperature or moisture monitors, or seismic devices to provide protection.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5787 − 95(Reapproved 2009)
Standard Practice for
Monitoring Well Protection
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5787; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This practice for monitoring well protection is provided to promote durable and reliable protection
ofinstalledmonitoringwellsagainstnaturalandmancauseddamage.Thepracticescontainedpromote
the development and planning of monitoring well protection during the design and installation stage.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This practice identifies design and construction consid- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
erations to be applied to monitoring wells for protection from C150 Specification for Portland Cement
natural and man caused damage or impacts. C294 Descriptive Nomenclature for Constituents of Con-
crete Aggregates
1.2 The installation and development of a well is a costly
D5092 Practice for Design and Installation of Groundwater
and detailed activity with the goal of providing representative
Monitoring Wells
samples and data throughout the design life of the well.
Damages to the well at the surface frequently result in loss of
3. Terminology
the well or changes in the data. This standard provides for
3.1 Definitions:
access control so that tampering with the installation should be
3.1.1 barrier—any device that physically prevents access or
evident. The design and installation of appropriate surface
damage to an area.
protection will mitigate the likelihood of damage or loss.
3.1.2 barrier markers—plastic, or metal posts, often in
1.3 This practice may be applied to other surface or subsur-
bright colors, placed around a monitoring well to aid in
face monitoring device locations, such as piezometers,
identifying or locating the well.
permeameters, temperature or moisture monitors, or seismic
3.1.3 barrier posts—steelpipe,typicallyfrom4to12inches
devices to provide protection.
in diameter and normally filled with concrete or grout that are
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
placed around a well location to protect the well from physical
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
damage, such as from vehicles.
standard.
3.1.4 borehole—a circular open or uncased subsurface hole
1.5 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
created by drilling.
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
3.1.5 casing—pipe, finished in sections with either threaded
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
connections or bevelled edges to be field welded, which is
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
installed temporarily or permanently to counteract caving, to
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
advancetheborehole,ortoisolatethezonebeingmonitored,or
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
a combination thereof.
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
3.1.6 casing, protective—a section of larger diameter pipe
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
that is emplaced over the upper end of a smaller diameter
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
monitoring well riser or casing to provide structural protection
title of this document means only that the document has been
to the well and restrict unauthorized access into the well.
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
3.1.7 riser—the pipe extending from the well screen to or
above the ground surface.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater and
Vadose Zone Investigations. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2009. Published April 2009. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D5787 – 95 (2000). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/D5787-95R09. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5787 − 95 (2009)
3.1.8 sealed cap—a sealable riser cap, normally gasketed or an acceptable design in those areas where frost heave is not a
sealed, that is designed to prevent water or other substances problem. The principle behind this is to design the protective
from entering into, or out of the well riser. casingsothatitwillbeabletowithstandtheimpactofvehicles
without damage to the riser within.
3.1.9 vented cap—acapwithasmallholethatisinstalledon
top of the riser.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 An adequately designed and installed surface protection
system will mitigate the consequences of naturally or man
caused damages which could otherwise occur and result in
either changes to the data, or complete loss of the monitoring
well.
4.2 The extent of application of this practice may depend
upon the importance of the monitoring data, cost of monitoring
well replacement, expected or design life of the monitoring
well, the presence or absence of potential risks, and setting or
location of the well.
4.3 Monitoring well surface protection should be a part of
the well design process, and installation of the protective
system should be completed at the time of monitoring well
installation and development.
4.4 Information determined at the time of installation of the
protective system will form a baseline for future monitoring
well inspection and maintenance.Additionally, elements of the
FIG. 1 Example of Protective Design
protection system will satisfy some regulatory requirements
such as for protection of near surface groundwater and well
identification.
5.3.1.2 Barrier Posts placed in an array such that any
anticipated vehicle can not pass between them to strike the
5. Design Considerations
protective casing. Barrier posts are typically filled with con-
5.1 The design of a monitoring well protective system is
crete and set in post holes several feet deep which are
like other design processes, where the input considerations are
backfilled with concrete. Barrier posts typically extend from 3
determined and the design output seeks to remedy or mitigate
to 5 feet above the ground surface. Barrier posts are frequently
the negative possibilities, while taking advantage of the site
usedinandaroundindustrialorhighvehicletrafficareas.Costs
characteristics.
for installation can be substantial however they provide a high
5.2 The factors identified in this practice should be consid- degree of protection for exposed wells. Cost of removal at
ered during the design of the monitoring well protective decommissioning can also be substantial.
system. The final design should be included in the monitoring
NOTE 1—Cattle frequently rub against above ground completions
well design and installation documentation and be completed
leading to damage of unprotected casings. Concrete filled posts or driven
and verified during the final completion and development of T-posts, wrapped with barbed wire, are frequently used.
the well.
5.3.1.3 Barrier Markers are relatively lightweight metal or
often plastic posts which provide minimal impact resistance
5.3 In determining the level or degree of protection
required, the costs and consequences, such as loss of data or but which by their color, location, and height, warn individuals
of the well presence. The use of barrier markers is effective in
replacement of the well, must be weighed against the probabil-
ity of occurrence and the desired life of the well. For areas that are well protected from impact type damage by other
monitoring wells which will be used to obtain data over a short features, such as surrounding structures or fences. They are
time period, the protection system may be minimal. For wells relatively inexpensive to install.
which are expected to be used for an indefinite period, are in a 5.3.1.4 Signs—An inexpensive means of identifying the
vulnerable location, and for which the costs of lost data could presence of a monitoring well. Signs provide protection only
be high, the protective system should be extensive. Factors to by warning of the well presence. Signs may be required in
consider and methods of mitigating them are presented in the some circumstances and appropriate in others. Wells known to
following sections. containhazardous,radioactive,orexplosivecompoundsshould
5.3.1 Impact Damages—Physical damages resulting from be marked to warn sampling personnel of potential dangers.
construction equipment, livestock, or vehicles striking the Whenapotentialexistsforwaterusage,signageindicatingthat
monitoring well casing frequently occur. Protective devices the water is non-potable and is utilized strictly as a monitoring
and approaches include: well, and not for any other purpose, may be appropriate.
5.3.1.1 Extra heavy protective casings with a reinforced Disadvantages of signs are that they may be ignored, are often
concreteapronextendingseveralfeetaroundthecasingmaybe difficult to maintain, and may invite vandalism to the well.
D5787 − 95 (2009)
5.3.1.5 Recessed or Subsurface casings may be used to Locks used on wells are subject to weather, dirt and deterio-
mitigate impact damage by allowing the vehicles to pass over. ration.Frequentlylocksmustbecutifnotregularlymaintained
Frequently used techniques include recessing the casing below and the design and selection of the cap and lock should include
ground level, using commercially available covers. These may this consideration. Construction of the hasps, locking lugs, or
take the form of valve pits or manholes, as examples. Advan- othermechanismsshouldberugged,madeofmetalandwelded
tages include both protecting the well while minimizing the to prevent access to the casing by prying, hammering or other
interference to surface traffic, such as in parking lots or urban typical vandalism.The casing should be heavy enough to resist
areas and screening the well from view. Using this technique, penetration by bullets in areas where shooting may occur. A
wells may be located in the most desired locations from a concrete apron or grout collar around the casing will provide
mass to defeat attempts to pull the casing upwards, or side-
groundwater monitoring perspective. Disadvantages include
theneedtoassuresurfacedrainagedoesnotenterthewellriser, ways. Additional physical barriers should be added in consid-
either by maintaining positive drainage or by using a sealed eration of the location and likelihood of vandalism. These
riser cap (or both). When the risk is from the influx of surface include locked chainlink fences, use of barbed or concertina
water, drains below the level of the riser should be installed. In wire, concrete walls, or enclosure inside of buildings or other
extremecases,suchasinlocationwithhighgroundwaterlevels fenced or enclosed areas. When placed in below ground level
or potential drainage from surrounding areas, automatic sump structures,suchassumpsormanholes,theaccesscoverscanbe
pumps may be required. Consideration should be given to the equipped with a lock. Access to keys should be controlled to
samplingpersonnelwhowillrequireadequatespacetoperform prevent unauthorized use and entry.
sampling, particularly in manhole situations. Additionally,
5.3.2.3 Protection of the well and the data, (for example,
personnel protection requirements from working in a confined
groundwater level elevations), that the well will provide can be
space should be considered.
generally achieved by the physical barriers previously de-
5.3.1.6 Fencing, such as commercial chainlink type fences scribed. Detection of access to a well should also be consid-
may provide adequate protection in areas with light risk from ered. While not protecting the well and the sample data
vehicles, but where people or animals may interfere or affect
directly, it will be valuable in evaluating the data derived from
the well. Advantages are relative minimal costs, ease of
the well samples. Sampling personnel should be alert and
removal or opening. Disadvantages include maintenance, ad-
inspect the well and the protective devices for signs of
equacy of protection from hard vehicle impacts, and visual and
vandalism. Foil or paper seals can be applied to the riser and
traffic interference.
cap at the end of each sampling to allow visual verification that
the riser cap has not been disturbed between samplings. Seals
5.3.2 Vandalism—Damage from vandals can take two
are inexpensive and provide assurance of the well integrity and
forms, those which seek to damage or destroy the well itself,
and those which intend to damage the data that the well may should be considered for use on all wells.
provide. Theft of sampling pumps, loss of access to the riser,
5.3.3 Landslides—Movement of the surface layers of soil
plugging of the well with foreign debris, or injection of foreign
due to seismic activity or other changes can result in lateral
materials or chemicals are potential results of vandalism.
movement with the riser being bent or ultimately sheared. The
5.3.2.1 Physical damage to the well can be minimized with primary protection against this type of damage is location.
Whenever possible, the well should be located outside of the
many of the same techniques as used to protect the well from
impact damages. Generally two techniques can be used to slide area. When relocation is not possible and the moving soil
protect a well from physical damage, one, by hiding or layer is relatively thin, limited protection may be achieved by
camouflaging the well, the other by constructing the surface extending the protective casing several feet below the shear
protectionofthewellwithmultiplephysicalbarriers.Hidingor line. Additional protection may be gained by driving piling or
camouflaging the well utilizes the philosophy that what can’t posts through the surface layer and below the shear line to
be found can’t be damaged. Camouflage techniques include anchor the surface. Protection and maintenance of wells in
enclosing the well in manholes or sumps, planting shrubs or slide areas can be expensive and may result in only delaying
vegetation to shield the well from view, enclosing the well in the loss of the well.
another structure, such as inside a raised planter or a small
5.3.4 Freeze Damage—Freezing of the gr
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