Groundwater Resources and Information for Private Landowners

Depending on where the well or property is located and how the water will be used, there may be permitting requirements. Refer to our Groundwater Permitting in Texas page for more information.

Records of wells were first required to be submitted to the state around 1965 and collected electronically starting in 2003. If the well was drilled after 1965, you can search for well records on the Well and Plugging Reports page. If the well is older than that it's unlikely that a record will exist but you can check with the Groundwater Conservation District if the property falls within a district's boundary. Use the GCD Index to determine if the property falls within a GCD boundary.

An unused or abandoned well can pose a risk to people, animals and groundwater. Texas Law requires unused or abandoned wells be plugged within 180 days of the landowner learning about an abandoned well on their property. Refer to our Plugging Abaondoned Wells page for more information on capping and plugging unused wells.

Some GCDs offer free water quality testing of wells for land owners in their district. Use the GCD Index to determine if your property falls within a GCD boundary and if the GCD offers free water quality sampling.

If the property does not fall within the boundaries of a GCD or the GCD does not provide water quality sampling refer to ourResources for Sampling Private Water Wells page.

While the Texas Water Development Board does not currently provide any financial assistance for drilling or plugging private water wells, we have compiled a list of entities that do. You can find this information on our Funding Resources for Drilling Private Water Wells page.

Some GCDs provide assistance to landowners in their district for plugging wells. Use the GCD Index to determine if your property falls within a GCD boundary and if the GCD offers assistance with plugging wells.