Drilling a Well

Poor construction or maintenance of a well can severely effect its longevity and water quality. The Texas Groundwater Protection Committee recommends that citizens use professional, licensed water well drillers and pump installers for constructing and maintaining a well. While the state can not guarantee the work of any drilling and pump business, the licensing of professionals helps hold professional drillers and installers accountable for their work, encourage high technical standards, and promote quality construction. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) investigates citizen's drilling complaints and maintains a database of licensed drillers and pump installers:

• Click on “Search Everything” at the top center of the TDLR home page, then click on the link for “Search for Individuals and Businesses” under the License Search heading.
• Select “Water Well Drillers, Pump Installers” from the Inquire by License Type pulldown menu, and any other qualifying information, and then click on “Search”.

Regardless of who drills a well, constructions standards and Groundwater Conservation District (GCD) rules must be followed. A licensed driller will take responsibility and liability for the constructions standards and will usually be knowledgeable of GCD requirements. However, the landowner is also responsible for abiding by GCD policies and should become familiar with their new well-owner responsibilities.

• TDLR's Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Program contains information on well specifications, well reports, the licensing of well drillers and pump installers, and reporting construction violations.
• TDLR provides Well Construction and Plugging Specifications.
• The Railroad Commission of Texas Groundwater Advisory Unit provides groundwater protection determination letters.
• Links to the Statewide Water Well Databases can be found on the TGPC's Water Wells webpage under the Well Basics heading.