General Groundwater and Private Water Well Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Do I need to register my water well, and if so, how do I do that?
- How can I test the water quality in my private water well?
- How can I find the well report for my well?
- How is groundwater regulated in Texas?
- Where can I find the rules and regulations for drilling or plugging a well in Texas?
- Is there any financial assistance available for repairing or replacing a private water well?
- What do I need to know before buying a house with a private water well?
Top FAQs
Do I need to register my water well, and if so, how do I do that?
Private water well owners in Texas do not need to register their well unless the property falls within the jurisdiction of a groundwater conservation district (GCD). You can use the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) GCD Index to determine if your property falls within the boundary of a GCD. Just enter your address in the "Find Address or Place" box at the bottom right corner of the map. Each GCD has its own set of rules so if your property does fall within the boundary of a GCD you'll want to contact that district to see what, if any, steps you need to take to register your well.
While private well owners do not need to register their wells with the state, registered water well drillers, and landowners who drill their own wells, are required to submit a State of Texas Water Well Report when they drill a new well. To locate a copy of your well report, see Locating a Water Well Report
How is groundwater regulated in Texas?
Groundwater is the property of the landowner, and has historically been governed by “the rule of capture,” or the law of the biggest pump, which allows the landowner to pump whatever groundwater is available, regardless of the effects that pumping may have on neighboring water wells. Texas courts have limited the rule of capture in order to prohibit a landowner from:
- Pumping water for the purpose of maliciously harming an adjoining neighbor;
- Pumping water for a wasteful purpose;
- Causing land subsidence (sinking) on adjoining land from negligent pumping; and,
- Drilling a slant well that crosses the adjoining property line.
Additionally, Texas law authorizes groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) to modify the rule of capture by regulating groundwater production through permitting of non-exempt water wells, well spacing requirements, and any other rules deemed necessary to conserve, protect, recharge, and control subsidence.
For more information check out:
You can also visit the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) GCD Index to determine if your property falls within the boundary of a GCD.
Where can I find the rules and regulations for drilling or plugging a well in Texas?
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Program provides licensing services and technical guidance to water well drillers and pump installers. Visit their webpage: www.tdlr.texas.gov/wwd/wwd.htm to find information on
- Laws and Rules for drilling and plugging wells;
- Technical Guidance and Reports;
- Applying for, or renewing, your license;
- Complaints and enforcement.
Or email them at water.well@tdlr.texas.gov with any additional questions.
What do I need to know before buying a house with a private water well?
We highly recommend that anyone considering buying a house that has a private water well reads the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee's guidance document, What You Should Know Before Buying Property with a Private Water Well.
One of the steps they recommend is to ask for a copy of the well report. If the seller does not have a copy, you may want to check out our page on How to locate a Water Well Report.
- Do I need to register my water well, and if so, how do I do that?
- How can I test the water quality in my private water well?
- How can I find the well report for my well?
- Is there any financial assistance available for repairing or replacing a private water well?
- Is there any financial assistance available for plugging a private water well?
- My house is currently connected to community water, am I allowed to still drill a well?
- What do I need to know before buying a house with a private water well?
- I have questions about leasing or selling my groundwater, who should I contact?
Private Water Well Basics
Do I need to register my water well, and if so, how do I do that?
Private water well owners in Texas do not need to register their well unless the property falls within the jurisdiction of a groundwater conservation district (GCD). You can use the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) GCD Index to determine if your property falls within the boundary of a GCD. Just enter your address in the "Find Address or Place" box at the bottom right corner of the map. Each GCD has its own set of rules so if your property does fall within the boundary of a GCD you'll want to contact that district to see what, if any, steps you need to take to register your well.
While private well owners do not need to register their wells with the state, registered water well drillers, and landowners who drill their own wells, are required to submit a State of Texas Water Well Report when they drill a new well. To locate a copy of your well report, see Locating a Water Well Report
Is there any financial assistance available for plugging a private water well?
Some groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) provide financial assistance for plugging water wells. You can check the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) GCD Index to see if your well falls within the boundaries of a GCD that provides this type of assistance. Just enter your address in the "Find Address or Place" box at the bottom right corner of the map. This User Guide provides additional information on how to navigate the TAGD GCD Index map viewer.
My house is currently connected to community water, am I allowed to still drill a well?
There is no state-wide regulation regarding drilling a water well on your property regardless of whether you are connected to a water utility or not. However, no cross-connection between the public drinking water supply and a private water system is permitted. Also, there may be restrictions at the local level, such as a homeowner's association or a city ordinance, and there may be costs involved to disconnect from the public water supply. You will need to coordinate the disconnect with your current community water company, and may also need to obtain permission from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas. Contact the PUC's Consumer Protection Team for more information.
What do I need to know before buying a house with a private water well?
We highly recommend that anyone considering buying a house that has a private water well reads the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee's guidance document, What You Should Know Before Buying Property with a Private Water Well.
One of the steps they recommend is to ask for a copy of the well report. If the seller does not have a copy, you may want to check out our page on How to locate a Water Well Report.
I have questions about leasing or selling my groundwater, who should I contact?
While the Texas Water Development Board cannot provide specific answers regarding leasing or selling groundwater, we can direct you to a couple of resources where you may find some answers to your questions.
For general questions about any rules and regulations and the process of selling or leasing groundwater, you can contact the Texas A&M University Texas Real Estate Center at info@recenter.tamu.edu, or visit their website at https://www.recenter.tamu.edu.
For information on how to find a broker that specializes in groundwater transactions, try contacting the Texas Real Estate Commission at information@trec.texas.gov or visit their website at https://www.trec.texas.gov.
- How is groundwater regulated in Texas?
- Where can I find the rules and regulations for drilling or plugging a well in Texas?
- How can I locate a registered water well driller?
- What are the spacing requirements for septic and property lines when installing a new well?
- How many acres do you need to drill a well in Texas?
- Is my well considered a public water supply well?
- Can I convert an abandoned oil and gas well into a water well?
Drilling a Water Well: Regulations/Permits
How is groundwater regulated in Texas?
Groundwater is the property of the landowner, and has historically been governed by “the rule of capture,” or the law of the biggest pump, which allows the landowner to pump whatever groundwater is available, regardless of the effects that pumping may have on neighboring water wells. Texas courts have limited the rule of capture in order to prohibit a landowner from:
- Pumping water for the purpose of maliciously harming an adjoining neighbor;
- Pumping water for a wasteful purpose;
- Causing land subsidence (sinking) on adjoining land from negligent pumping; and,
- Drilling a slant well that crosses the adjoining property line.
Additionally, Texas law authorizes groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) to modify the rule of capture by regulating groundwater production through permitting of non-exempt water wells, well spacing requirements, and any other rules deemed necessary to conserve, protect, recharge, and control subsidence.
For more information check out:
You can also visit the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) GCD Index to determine if your property falls within the boundary of a GCD.
Where can I find the rules and regulations for drilling or plugging a well in Texas?
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Program provides licensing services and technical guidance to water well drillers and pump installers. Visit their webpage: www.tdlr.texas.gov/wwd/wwd.htm to find information on
- Laws and Rules for drilling and plugging wells;
- Technical Guidance and Reports including Well Construction and Plugging Specifications and Technical Guidance on Well Drilling and Pump Installing Operations ;
- Applying for, or renewing, your license;
- Complaints and enforcement.
Or email them at water.well@tdlr.texas.gov with any additional questions.
How can I find a registered water well driller?
For a complete list of licensed drillers and pump installers within the State of Texas, you can visit:
TDLR's License Data Search page or
WellOwner.Org's Find a Contractor site.
What are the spacing requirements for septic and property lines when installing a new well?
The required separation distance between a water well and septic systems is 50 feet from a septic tank and 100 feet from drain fields or spray areas with minimum well construction specifications met, and 50 feet from any adjacent property line.
For additional information on septic systems check out the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension On-Site Sewage Facilities page.
How many acres do you need to drill a well in Texas?
There is no state-wide requirement for a minimum number of acres needed to drill a water well on your property; however, many local entities such as county and city permitting offices, and groundwater conservation districts may have their own minimum requirements, so you'll want to check with them for their specific requirements.
Is my well considered a public water supply well?
If you supply water to other people, even if it's bottled, you might be a public water system (PWS). State and federal regulations define PWSs [30 TAC §290.38(71), Fed Ref].
A PWS provides potable water for the public’s use. A system must be a certain size to be considered public:
- It must have at least 15 service connections
OR
- serve at least 25 individuals for at least 60 days out of the year.
This includes folks that live in houses served by a system, but can also include people that don't live there. For instance, people served could include employees, customers, or students.
If you meet the definition of a PWS then you will need to go through an approval process with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The best way to get started is to send an email to the TCEQ Plan Review Team
This starts the process of approving a well for public use. This is the group that works with potential and/or new water systems.
- What is an abandoned water well and why are they important?
- How can I report a deteriorated or abandoned water well?
- What are my options if I have an abandoned well?
- How can I check to see if there have been any groundwater contamination issues in my area?
Abandoned Water Wells/Groundwater Contamination
What is an abandoned water well and why are they important?
A water well is considered abandoned when it is no longer being used. It may be unable to produce useable water or may no longer function due to years of wear and tear.
Abandoned wells pose a threat to the health of groundwater by providing a direct channel for surface contaminants to flow straight down to the aquifer below. They are also a danger to people (especially children), and pets and wild animals that can get hurt or trapped if they fall into the unplugged well.
By law, Texas landowners are responsible for plugging abandoned wells and liable for any water contamination or injury.
Sites like Wellowner.org and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provide additional resources on abandoned water wells.
How can I report a deteriorated or abandoned water well?
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Well Driller/Pump Installer/Abandoned Well Referral Program webpage provides a wealth of useful information, including:
- Reporting an abandoned well online
- Reviewing the status of an abandoned well complaint
- A checklist that can be used to determine whether a well is abandoned
- The definition of an abandoned or deteriorated well
- A link to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about abandoned wells (complete with example photos)
What are my options if I have an abandoned well?
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has this guidance document on plugging abandoned water wells for landowners.
Several groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) have well plugging programs. You can use the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) GCD Index to see if the abandoned well falls within the jurisdiction of a GCD and if they have any well plugging programs.
Additional information may be available through the Texas Well Owner Network, or by contacting a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent at https://counties.agrilife.org/.
How can I check to see if there have been any groundwater contamination issues in my area?
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Groundwater Contamination Viewer allows users to query and obtain spatial relationship information about groundwater contamination cases. It includes groundwater contamination cases for the current year as well as some previous years.
You may also want to check out our page on How to test the water quality in a private water well.
Didn't find an answer to your question?
Send us an email at GroundwaterData@twdb.texas.gov