Brian Dickey

State law requires that all wells meet certain minimum standards for construction. These standards are outlined in the Department of Ecology's publication, Minimum Standards for Construction and Maintenance of Wells. You and your well driller share the responsibility to ensure that the wells on your property are constructed to these standards.

Please read through this thoroughly. If you have questions about the information presented, please contact the Department of Ecology's well drilling coordinator for your area. (360) 407-0281

PLAN AHEAD

You do not need a water right to install a well serving less than six homes, or if you will use less than 5,000 gallons per day for domestic or industrial supplies or will irrigate less than half an acre of lawn or non-commercial garden. However, you still need a permit to drill or construct a well. If you will be using more than 5,000 gallons per day or want to irrigate a larger area than 1/2 acre, contact the Department of Ecology's Water Resources Program Office (360) 407-0240 to obtain information on applying for a water right.

Applications for permits may be obtained at the Regional Office of the Department of Ecology. (360) 407-6300

Research the area in which the well is to be constructed. Well log data can be obtained from your neighbors, local well contractors, county health offices, and records in the Department of Ecology's Regional Office covering your area. Valuable data as size, depth, capacity, and location of these wells are often available. One must realize, however, that there is no guarantee that the well contractor will find water based on this data. Geology is complex in Pacific County. Groundwater may not be available on your property even though a neighbor's well may be close to your proposed well site.

LOCATION OF THE WELL

Always locate the well on high or well drained ground and observe the prescribed distances from septic tanks, privies, stockyards, and other sources of contamination (at least 100 feet). Contact your county health offices and/or county planning departments to check for any additional county regulations or ordinances. Public water supplies (serving two or more homes) must have prior approval by local or state health official (refer to Washing Administrative Code (WAC) 173-160-171, available at your public library).

SELECTION OF A WATER WELL CONTRACTOR

Only a duly licensed and bonded well contractor is permitted to construct wells in the State of Washington. The license must be issued by the Department of Ecology. A general contractor's registration with the Department of Labor and Industries is not sufficient authority to contract for the construction of wells.

To verify Washington State well driller licenses please contact: Department of Ecology, Well Drilling Coordinator at (360) 407-6648 or Well Driller Licensing/Testing at (360) 407-6650.

Step 1. Consult the following sources for the names of local well drillers:

Classified section of telephone directory

Well equipment suppliers

Well owners in your neighborhood

Department of Ecology, Headquarters or Regional Offices for verification of Washington State Well Drilling licenses.

Step 2. Seek information on well contractors as follows:

Reputation

Reliability

Competence

Experience

Current License

Up-to-date well drilling license

Licensed and bonded through the Department of Labor and Industries

To verify enforcement actions (if any) issued against specific well drillers, please contact the Regional Office of the Department of Ecology in your area. (360) 407-6300)

Step 3. Consult with well contractors on the following:

A written contract for mutual protection

Insurance protection

Construction of well to include:

Size of hole

Casing diameters including reduction

Casing quality and type

Screening and perforation requirements, if any (also called well development)

Sealing requirements under state codes (WC 173-160-075).

Water quality and water production tests

Filing a certified copy of well log for the owner: Water well logs are filed at the Department of Ecology's Regional Offices. Well logs are filed by County, Section, Township and Range. Please have this information before contacting the appropriate office. Well Drillers are required to file well logs with the Department of Ecology 30 days after completion of the well.

Department of Ecology well identification tag: well drillers are required to attach a well identification tag and record the well identification number on the well log. The tag should be attached in a reasonable permanent fashion.

Guarantee of materials and workmanship.

Estimated depth of well to be cased.

Estimated total depth of well.

Step 4. Require that the prospective well contractor itemize an estimate of costs to include the following:

Cost per foot of drilling

Cost per foot of casing

Cost of sealing materials and labor involved

Cost of other materials (drive shoe, screen, perforated casing, etc.)

Cost of well development (including bailer test when appropriate

Cost of pump test on wells drilled under water right permit (required by regulations)

Cost of pump installation, riser pipe, control box, wiring and well cap, if appropriate

Step 5. State Paid Fee

A fee is charged for construction of water wells. The fee is to be paid by the property owner to the Department of Ecology Headquarter's Fiscal Office at PO Box 5128, Lacey, WA 98509-5128 when the notification form is sent in.

The fee for construction of a new water well with a minimum top casing diameter of less than twelve (12) inches is $100.

The fee for construction of a new water well with a minimum top casing of twelve (12) inches or greater is $300. These fees are used by Ecology to support inspections of wells.

Step 6. Pacific County Paid Fee

Because the State does not have the resources to verify every newly constructed well in the state, the County provides this service. The County becomes the "eyes" for the State to ensure each well meets the regulations for setbacks, construction standards, and safety. Pacific County conducts a pre-construction site inspection. There is a fee of $130.00 for this service payable to Pacific County, Department of Community Development. See Application Information for applications.

Step 7. Coliform Samples

A Coliform water test is required on all new wells. See Water Sampling for Pacific County's water testing service.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES

The property owner is to submit, along with the State fee mentioned above, a notification form to the Department of Ecology at least 72 hours prior to well construction. Notification forms are available through Ecology's Regional Offices, licensed well drillers, and county building departments. The forms can be filled out by the property owner or the driller. It is also the responsibility of the property owner to decommission any well that is abandoned, unusable, not intended for future use, or that poses an environmental, safety, or public health hazard. Contact Ecology's Regional Office for your area regarding State questions and Pacific County, Department of Community Development for County questions.

PUMP INSTALLATION

When selecting pump and water system equipment be sure to:

Select a proper pump and water system adaptable to your present and future needs
Properly house and protect your pump and equipment
Arrange to have your pump equipment serviced periodically.

NOTE: If your pump installer disturbs the surface seal when installing the pump, it is their responsibility to re-install/fix this surface seal. This is very important as contaminants can enter your well if the seal is broken.

Department of Ecology Water Resources/Water Rights	Department of Ecology's Water Resource web page.
	Department of Ecology's Water Resource web page.

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