Forms & Resources
Construction Report
Required for every completed well. Due within 90 days.
Submit online via WISE or mail to ANRC.
Get Form ↗Rig Permit Application
Abandonment Report
Required when permanently plugging a well.
Use concrete, bentonite, or soil plugs per ANRC guidance.
Get Form ↗License Application
For new licenses and renewals. Requires exam approval first.
Submit 2 weeks before Commission meeting.
Get Form ↗Online Submission
Use the ANRC Water Well Information System Exchange (WISE) for electronic filing of construction reports. Reduces processing time and provides immediate confirmation.
Licensing Requirements
License Types & Fees
Requirements for Individuals
Requirements for Contractors
- Bond: $20,000 surety bond required
- License fee: $175–$350 depending on services
- Registered individuals: Must employ/associate with registered drillers
- CE requirements: 6 hrs/yr + 2 hrs per additional driller/installer
Continuing Education
Annual CE Requirements
- 6 hours per year per contractor
- +2 hours per additional driller/installer
- Maximum 3 hours online
- Remainder must be live seminars
Approved Topics
- Well/pump technology
- Water science and health
- Worker safety
- Compliance and business practices
CE Providers
Approved CE sources include ANRC meetings, AWWCA seminars, NGWA conferences, and registered providers. Keep certificates of completion for audit purposes.
Renewal Process
Licenses and certificates renew annually, effective August 1.
- Submit renewal to ANRC before expiration
- Fee: $125 per certificate + $25 late fee if lapsed
- If lapsed >1 year, must submit new application
- Applications reviewed at next Commission meeting (~3 weeks)
- Must complete CE requirements before renewal
Reporting & Documentation
Construction Report Requirements
The construction report must include:
- Well location (latitude/longitude required)
- Depth and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing sizes, materials, and depths
- Grouting/sealing information
- Pump test data (if conducted)
- Well yield and static water level
Copy to Owner
A copy of the completed construction report must be provided to the well owner upon request. Keep copies of all reports filed.
Record Retention
Contractors must maintain records of all well installations and pump systems at their office. Recommended retention: minimum 5 years.
Construction Standards (17 CAR Part 11)
Casing Requirements
- Steel: Schedule 40 or heavier, new ASTM-rated
- PVC: ASTM F480, NSF-certified for water wells
- FRP: Must meet NSF-61/ASTM standards
- Depth: In consolidated rock, ≥10 ft below surface or 1 ft into solid rock
- Joints: Must be watertight throughout casing length
Annular Seal (Grouting)
- Metal casing: Encase in ≥2″ cement grout from surface down ≥10 ft
- Upper annulus (top 5–10 ft): Seal with cement or bentonite grout
- Industrial/irrigation wells: Reinforced concrete slab (≥4″ thick, overlap 2 ft)
- All joints must be watertight to prevent surface contamination
- Curbed wells: 6″ concrete for 10 ft below ground
Setback Requirements
Disinfection
All new, reconditioned, or repaired wells for human consumption must be disinfected before service:
- Chlorinate system to ≥50 ppm for ≥24 hours
- Disinfect well with chlorine tablets or liquid
- Flush all piping with chlorinated water
- Test water for coliform bacteria after disinfection
Flood-Prone Areas
Wells must avoid flood-prone sites. If unavoidable:
- Industrial/irrigation wells: Casing must terminate ≥2 ft above known flood elevation
- Use special floodproof casing construction
- Ensure adequate surface seal to prevent floodwater entry
Permits
Rig Permit (Required)
$145 Rig Permit Required Before Each Well
Arkansas law requires licensed contractors to obtain a rig permitfrom ANRC before drilling any well (Ark. Code §17-50).
- Fee: $145 per well
- Submit to: Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
- Timing: Before mobilizing to site
- Contractor responsibility (not homeowner)
High-Capacity Wells
Wells withdrawing >50,000 gallons per day (≈35 gpm) require water-use registration with ANRC:
- Submit Water-Use Registration form to ANRC
- Report monthly withdrawals (October–March)
- Contact ANRC Water Management Division
Special Well Types
Geothermal (Heat Pump) Wells
Allowed under 17 CAR §11-604. Must meet standard location rules (11-502) and construction standards. Closed-loop and direct-exchange systems permitted.
Monitoring/Piezometer Wells
Follow standard drilling rules. No special permit beyond rig permit and driller license. Common in environmental and regulatory work.
Drilling Conditions by Region
Mississippi Alluvial Plain (Delta)
- Pleistocene sand and gravel aquifers
- Typical depths: 100–200 ft
- High yields: 1,000–2,000 gpm possible
- Easy drilling, but watch for iron content
- Artesian conditions in some areas
Ozark Plateau (NW Arkansas)
Gulf Coastal Plain (S/E Arkansas)
- Cockfield Formation: 300–400 ft
- Sparta/Memphis aquifers: 200–1,000 ft
- Artesian pressure common
- Watch for arsenic in some areas
- Major municipal water source
Ouachita Mountains (W Arkansas)
- Low-porosity shales and sandstones
- Limited water availability
- Often requires deep wells (>300 ft)
- Fractured zones offer best yields
- Driven wells in shallow alluvium
Seasonal Considerations
- Spring floods: Common in Delta areas. Set casing ≥2 ft above flood elevation
- Water table fluctuations: Dramatic in alluvial areas during wet season
- Frost depth: Minimal (few inches in north), rarely affects drilling
- Scheduling: Schedule irrigation/shallow wells in dry season when possible
Geology Resources
Reference the Arkansas Geological Survey for detailed aquifer maps and typical drilling conditions by county.
Resources & Contacts
Regulatory References
- Arkansas Code §17-50-101 et seq. – Water Well Construction Act
- 17 CAR Part 11 – Arkansas Water Well Construction Rules
- 17 CAR §11-502 – Location and setback requirements
- 17 CAR §11-603 – Industrial and irrigation wells
Frequently Asked Questions
Renew annually through ANRC before your August 1 expiration. Fee is $125 per certificate plus $25 late fee if lapsed. Contractor licenses are $175–$350. You must complete 6 CE hours per year before renewal.
6 hours per year for each contractor license, plus 2 additional hours per extra driller or installer on staff. Maximum 3 hours may be online; remainder must be live seminars. Topics include well/pump technology, water science, safety, and compliance.
Within 90 days after completing a well. Submit to ANRC online via WISE system or by mail. Test borings must be reported within 30 days. A copy must be provided to the well owner upon request.
100 ft from septic systems, privies, manure piles. 50 ft from cast-iron sewers. 10 ft from footing drains. 2 ft from pump room drains. These distances double in highly permeable (gravel) soils. Wells must be accessible and on higher ground than contamination sources.
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our Arkansas well guide for homeowners covering costs, water testing, and finding drillers.
Arkansas Homeowner Well Guide →Sources & References
All facts in this guide are sourced from official Arkansas government agencies and statutes:
- Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) – Well construction regulations, licensing, and rig permits
- Arkansas Code §17-50-101 et seq. – Water Well Construction Act
- Arkansas Code of Rules (17 CAR Part 11) – Water Well Construction Rules
- 17 CAR §11-502 – Location and setback requirements
- 17 CAR §11-603 – Industrial and irrigation wells
- 17 CAR §11-604 – Geothermal (heat pump) wells
- Arkansas Geological Survey – Groundwater and aquifer data
- Arkansas Department of Agriculture – Licensing and CE requirements