Minimum yield requirements increase cost to consumer, role of health officials should not include bullying citizens into drilling additional wells. The regulations are silent on the accepted means of determining well yield or storage capacity; thus the driller who has several conceivable conflicts of interest, is left to advise the property owner whether the yield is "sufficient." Water use is one parameter which is completely at the discretion of the homeowner.

Is there any data suggesting that 1/2 gpm well yield is insufficient for a 3BR home? A sewage permit would anticipate discharge of 450 gallons/day, while 1440 minutes/day gives 720 gallons from a so-called low yield well. The existing regulation has not proven problematic, and is certainly not a threat to public health or welfare.

Leave well enough alone.

12VAC5-630-460. Water system yields for residential use wells.

A. All drinking Drinking water systems that utilize one or more Class III wells shall be capable of supplying water in adequate quantity for the intended usage. All such systems, with Systems with a capacity less than under three gallons per minute, shall have a capacity ability to produce and store 150 gallons per bedroom per day and be capable of delivering a sustained flow of five gallons per minute per connection for 10 minutes for ordinary residential use. Systems with a capacity of three gallons per minute or more do not require additional storage.

B. The certified water well systems provider shall certify the storage capacity and the yield of the well on the Uniform Water Well Completion Report.