UIC – Drywell Maintenance
The Washington State Department of Ecology Underground Injection Control Program (UIC) protects groundwater quality by regulating discharges to UIC wells. Register UIC Dry Wells on-line. Clean drywells when possible contaminants have been spilled, debris accumulates to more than 60% of the depth, or if 3 or more years have passed since the last clean-out.
UIC wells are manmade structures used to discharge fluids into the subsurface. Examples are drywells, infiltration trenches with perforated pipe, and any structure deeper than the widest surface dimension. The majority of UIC wells in Washington are used to manage storm water (i.e., drywells) and sanitary waste (large on-site systems), return water to the ground, and help clean up contaminated sites. The potential for groundwater contamination from injection wells depends upon well construction and location; quality of the fluids injected; and the geographic and hydrologic settings in which the injection occurs.
Examples of UIC wells: drywells, infiltration trenches with perforated pipe, storm chamber systems, geo probes or push probes, and septic system drain fields serving 20 or more people per day.
All UIC wells need to be registered once, except wells receiving residential roof runoff from a single family home or to control basement flooding at single family homes (includes duplexes). Registration is free. Register UIC Wells on-line.