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The following information is provided to help property owners make informed decisions before drilling a new well or decommissioning (filling in) an old well.
Before you start the process, please open and read the Homeowners Guide to Well Construction. It includes information about well drilling and the Washington State Well Drilling Regulations. It is important that you meet all the requirements for new or decommissioned wells.
If you do not choose to use a licensed driller (not recommended), we have information on drilling your own well. Whichever route you choose, there will be well drilling fees.
Drilling Fees - Questions and Answers - A fee is required by the State of Washington to construct or reconstruct water and resource protection wells.
Well Tagging Requirements - Licensed drillers in the State of Washington are required to tag all new or reconstructed wells.
Request For Variance - Problems and Solutions - A variance is written permission to use a pre-approved alternative method of well construction. The most common types of variances requested are for locating an individual domestic well closer than 1,000 feet to a landfill or for a well less than 100 feet from a septic system or any potential source of contamination.
Surface Seals - Problems and Solutions - This pamphlet educates the public about the importance of proper surface seals on wells. Well drillers use casing, typically steel, to keep drilled holes from collapsing. If just the native materials are allowed to fill in around the casing, a conduit for water can form on the outside of the casing, so that dirty water can travel down the casing and into your well. To prevent this, a surface seal is used.
In April, 2005, Gov Christine Gregoire signed a new law that updates the fee structure for water wells, and adds a fee for decommissioning wells. This is the first time the fee structure has been amended since adoption in 1993. The statute will also add definitions for Ground Source Heat Pump Borings and Grounding Wells that will soon become regulated.
Other changes include: Adding or modifying the delegation authority, complaint, continuing education and reporting provisions; providing a suspension period at the end of a license term if license renewal is not completed; and modifying the technical advisory group composition provisions.
Chapter 18.104 RCW WATER WELL CONSTRUCTION (see Chapter 18.104.055)
If you need to find out if a drilling company is licensed and bonded, we now have a link to the Washington State Labor and Industries Web site.
Additional information specific to well drilling in the state:
Well Construction and Licensing System
Search for a Notice of Intent to Construct or Decommission a well and any well reports that have been received for a Notice of Intent.
Search for a Washington State licensed well operator and Drilling Companies.
Well Report Search and Retrieve application
Search for your well or wells in the area using a text or map search
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
