Washington State is unique in that it gives appropriators the choice to apply for permitted groundwater use or simply submit a groundwater exempt use statement. While eligible and exempt rights may have the same legal status, this decision may affect an appropriator`s priority under the doctrine of prior appropriation. This consequence is discussed in section IV below. This doctrine, also known as the “English rule,” allows the landowner to pump as much water from the aquifer under his property as he or she sees fit, regardless of the impact this may have on others who may share the same aquifer. Of course, the Absolute Dominion doctrine benefits well owners with the largest and most powerful pumping system, as there is no limit to the amount of water that can be extracted. Yes, it is legal to drill your own well in Nevada. In Nevada, you`re allowed to build a well for domestic use if it`s running at less than 1,800 gallons per day (usually fine in home use). This means that domestic wells are exempt from state law most of the time. Nevertheless, drillers must submit drilling records to the State Engineer.
Although domestic wells do not necessarily require a permit, you will need to register your domestic drilling logs with the administration. Since 1981, all well drillers have been required to submit this information to the State Engineer within 10 days of well construction. The state of Virginia states that groundwater laws are administered by each local health district. While most counties require a permit and license to drill wells, each local county should be consulted for details. Grit. (n.d.). Grit. www.grit.com/farm-and-garden/do-it-yourself/dig-your-own-water-well-zm0z18mjzmcg/ The State of Arizona requires anyone attempting to drill a well to file a letter of intent. As stated by the Ministry of Water Resources: We will do our best to update this section regularly, as water laws can change quickly. Be sure to check with your official for the last word. The state of Nebraska is located on the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest aquifer in the United States. Due to its widespread use as a valuable resource, all well owners must register their well with the Department of Natural Resources.
As with most things, it comes down to the fact that different states have different rules. Eventually, you will find that the rules differ at all levels. What`s interesting, with the exception of California, every state allows you to dig a well on your property, regardless of location, in one way or another. The degree of rigor in the states varies from not allowing California at all to a necessary permit in North Carolina to very few restrictions in Florida. For this reason, it would be important to check the laws around your own condition before whipping your equipment. A permit is a temporary permit issued by the state or county authority that allows a person to dig a well in certain guidelines. While most states require an individual to apply for a permit before digging a well on their property, some local counties require special permits in addition to a state permit. “Any person proposing to drill a well in the State of Alabama must submit an application for a well drilling license with payment of the annual fee of $200.00 by September 30 of each year.” A licence differs from a permit in that a licence is a government-issued guarantee that well operators carry to fulfill their professional obligations.
A license requires a number of education, training and tests – which are then issued by a state committee. Permits considered “domestic use only” are limited to wells on less than 35 acres of land and are not intended for watering livestock. “Before commencing work on a water supply well, the registered well driller applies to the council for a permit to drill such a well. A fee of five dollars is attached to this application. When a state requires a license to drill a well, it is often because there are precarious groundwater conditions that need to be professionally managed and/or the water table is far too low for an unauthorized landowner to dig themselves. Due to the previously mentioned distance restrictions for fountains, there are certainly other complications if you intend to create a well in a city. Space to even provide enough distance is a problem. In addition, you fall back into the pot-luck aspect of well drilling, where you have to learn the location of the terrain to avoid even more human infrastructural or chemical obstacles. Not only do you need to have an increased awareness of obstacles such as gas lines and electrical wiring as in cities or rural areas, but sewage, underground transport systems or other pollutants can also cause problems. This means that drilling a well in a city will certainly require even more care in planning. Whatever the obstacles to consider, it is possible to create a well in a city, although many can do it themselves.
This article is intended to provide an overview of general groundwater laws as expressed in recent state laws and should not be understood as legal advice. For a more detailed review of state groundwater laws, contact your state official or attorney.*** The engineering firm requires a permit to construct water wells on private property and has strict standards that must be met.