Georgia's Underground Injection Control Program Protects Ground Water from Improper Waste Disposal
Author(s)
Fuller, Wayne R.
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
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Abstract
To maintain ground water quality, the Georgia Geologic Survey Branch of the Environmental Protection Division
(EPD), Georgia Department of Natural Resources, implements the Georgia Rules for Underground Injection Control. Underground injection of waste fluids is not a
viable disposal practice in Georgia. No Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class I (industrial waste disposal wells), Class II (wells for enhanced oil and gas recovery),
Class III (subsurface fluid mining), or Class IV (hazardous waste disposal wells) have been issued operating permits
in the State.
Several UIC Class V Injection Wells exist in Georgia. Class V Injection wells are injection wells not classified as Class I - Class IV. Two Class V wells that return non-contact cooling water to the aquifer from which it is withdrawn have received operating permits in order to maintain aquifer pressure. Another Class V injection
system was permitted in the past to return non-contact ground water to an aquifer to prevent sinkholes from developing. Permitting some Class V injection wells and
plugging others contributes to maintaining the overall quality of Georgia's ground water.
Sponsor
Sponsored by U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Date
1991
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings