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 WATER WELL PERMITS
The service described in this document is available only to persons residing within the 15-county High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 service area.
NOTE: Rule amendments adopted by
the district's Board of Directors on January 14, 2009 now require
permits for water wells expected to
produce
17.5 gallons of water per minute or more. (This was
previously 25 gallons of water per minute or more.)
Also, permits are now required for
water wells drilled into the Dockum ("Santa Rosa") aquifer.
Please see spacing chart at bottom of page.
Please
contact the High Plains Water District at (806) 762-0181 if you have questions
about the water well permit process.
Why does the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 require well permits, and why is well spacing required?
Water from the Ogallala formation flows into a well as a result of the forces of gravity. As the water in storage inside the casing and well bore is pumped out, water from the formation begins to flow into the well to fill the void.
As a result, the water in the formation begins to take the shape of a cone, with the point of the cone being the bottom of the well. The larger the quantity of water being pumped and the longer the well is pumped, the deeper the "cone of depression" becomes, and the further out from the well the cone extends.
When the outside edges of the cone of a pumped well extend to a nearby well, it reduces the potential yield of
the neighboring well and will increase the depth of the cone (pumping level) of that well when pumped. If both wells are being pumped at the same time, their cones of depression overlap and
can negatively affect each other. Several wells located in a cluster can for all practical purposes deplete the water from the Ogallala
formation in the cluster of wells. All wells in that area
could be affected.
The High Plains Water District's well spacing rules are designed to reduce the interference between wells when pumped. The rules provide that wells be spaced in accordance with their expected production; and as a part of this requirement,
each landowner is required to apply for a permit prior to the drilling and production of any well expected to produce
17.5 gallons of water per minute or more.
(Revised as per
January 14, 2009 rule amendment.)
A
permit must be applied for and approved by (1) the district
manager or his designee and (2) the district's board of directors before the well drilling
may legally begin. A refundable deposit of $250.00 is
required for each water well permit (Ogallala
or Dockum well). This is refunded
to the landowner/operator when the well is completed and the
driller's log and other documentation is returned to the
district office.
PERMIT
PROCEDURE
1. An appointment should
be made with the district's Lubbock office for one of the
district's field technicians to meet the landowner/operator
at the proposed well site.
2. The field technician
discusses the permit application and the proposed water well
site location with the landowner/operator. A copy of the
water district's revised rules are provided to the
landowner/operator at this time.
3. A global positioning
system (GPS) reading is obtained at the proposed well site.
Measurements are also made to historic property line
boundaries and nearby existing water wells.
4. The field technician
returns the permit application to the district's Lubbock
office. The district manager or his designee reviews the
application and recommends approval or denial of the permit
application to the High Plains Water District's Board of
Directors. The board has the final decision in
approving or disapproving a water well permit application.
WELL SPACING REQUIREMENTS
FOR WELLS DRILLED INTO THE OGALLALA AQUIFER
|
Well Production
(Factor that determines spacing of proposed wells) |
Minimum Distance from
nearest well or proposed well site |
Minimum Distance From
Property Line |
|
17.5 to 70 gallons of
water per minute (g.p.m.) |
100 yards |
25 yards |
| > 70 to
165 g.p.m. |
200 yards |
50 yards |
| > 165 to 265 g.p.m. |
300 yards |
75 yards |
| > 265 to 390 g.p.m. |
350 yards |
87.5 yards |
| > 390 to 560
g.p.m. |
400 yards |
100 yards |
| > 560 to 1,000 g.p.m. |
500 yards
|
125 yards |
| >1,000 g,p.m. |
540 yards |
135 yards |
WELL SPACING REQUIREMENTS
FOR WELLS DRILLED
INTO THE DOCKUM ("Santa Rosa") AQUIFER
Effective Jan. 14,
2009
|
Well Production
(Factor that determines spacing of proposed wells) |
Minimum Distance from
nearest well or proposed well site |
Minimum Distance From
Property Line |
| 17.5 to 70 gallons of
water per minute (g.p.m.) |
100 yards |
25 yards |
| > 70 to
165 g.p.m. |
200 yards |
50 yards |
| > 165 to 265 g.p.m. |
300 yards |
75 yards |
| > 265 to
500 g.p.m. |
880 yards |
100 yards |
| > 500 g,p.m. |
1,760 yards |
135 yards |
For more information on water
well permits or spacing requirements, contact Patty Bryant
at 806-762-0181 or e-mail her at
permit@hpwd.com.
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