Water Resources > Wells - Licensing, Construction and Reporting

Wells - Licensing, Construction and Reporting

Information for Property Owners

You may be able to drill a well... but can you use the water?

Many basins do not have enough water for new wells and may be closed to further withdrawal of groundwater.  A closure in your area may prohibit withdrawal even from permit-exempt wells.  You must determine whether the basin where you intend to withdraw water is open to withdrawals.  More information can be found by reading the Water Availability Focus Sheets at:

• Water availability in your watershed

Notice of Intent (NOI) to Drill a Well

• The Notice of Intent is not a permit, certificate, or application for a water right. 
• Your Notice of Intent does not represent approval or permission to use water from the well. 
• Once the well is drilled, the water may only be withdrawn if it is legally available and then NEEDS TO BE put to beneficial use to establish a "right" to use of the water.
• Notice of Intent Forms - link to the Notice of Intent Form to Construct a Water Well

The Homeowner's Guide to Well Construction is a handbook that provides you with helpful information in planning the construction of your well.

The publication Information to help property owners has information to help you make informed decisions before drilling a new well or decommissioning (filling in) an old well. 

Decommissioning of Abandoned Wells - It is not uncommon in Washington state to find old wells which are no longer usable.  These are called abandoned wells. The most common type of abandoned well is the shallow dug type.  Abandoned wells can pose safety and environmental problems, and are required to be properly decommissioned as soon as possible after use stops.  Closing down an old well is called decommissioning.

Information for Well Drillers

Information for licensed well drillers, including- well construction, decommissioning a well, licensing, and continuing education.

Publications

• Well Construction Related Ecology Publications
• Abandoned Wells: Problems and Solutions

Laws, Rules, and Forms

• Well Report Forms
• Notice of Intent for Well Construction and Decommissioning - Link to the Forms page
• Applications for Drilling License
• How to Send a Payment to the Department of Ecology
• Measuring Water Use - information on measuring groundwater withdrawals
• Laws and Rules specific to Well Construction
  • Chapter 18.104 RCW “Washington Well Construction Act”
  • Chapter 90.36 RCW “Artesian Wells”
  • Chapter 90.44 RCW “Regulation of Public Groundwaters”
  • Chapter 173-160 WAC “Minimum Standards for Construction and Maintenance of Wells”
  • Chapter 173-162 WAC  “Regulation and Licensing of Well Contractors and Operators”
• 2008 Rule Amendment to Chapter 173-160 WAC
• County Delegated Contacts - for well sealing and decommissioning

Well Log Report Search and View

Search for wells which have well reports (logs), and view the well report using a Text and Map Search application developed by Ecology

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. You can also search for a Washington State licensed well operator and Drilling Companies. Licensed well operators will be able to view CEUs, address information and type and expiration date of licenses.

Contacts

Headquarters (Lacey) Bill Lum (360) 407-6648 Well Construction, Technical Advisory Group, Laws, Regulations and Legislative Activities	Headquarters (Lacey) Mary Lynum (360) 407-6650 Well Construction and Licensing System, Well License Testing, Notice of Intent, Continuing Education
Northwest Region Noel Philip (425) 649-7044 Well Construction Arlene Harris (425) 649-7020 Well Report Tracking	Southwest Region John Pearch (360) 407-0297 Well Construction Opal Smitherman (360) 407-6859 Well Report Tracking
Central Region Avery Richardson (509) 575-2639 Well Construction Erin Gutierrez (509) 454-7206 Well Report Tracking	Eastern Region Mark Ader (509) 329-3544 Well Construction	Hanford Jeff Ayres (509) 372-7881 Well Construction Well Report Tracking