Forms & Resources
Well Completion Report
Required for every completed well. Due within 30 days.
Access ePermitting ↗Well Sealing Report
Required when abandoning/sealing a well. Due within 30 days.
Access ePermitting ↗Online Submission
DNREC uses a Digital ePermitting system for all well permits, completion reports, and license applications. Paper forms are being phased out. Access the portal at dnrec.delaware.gov/water/forms.
Key Forms
- Well Construction Permit: Required before drilling (contractor applies)
- Well Completion Report: Due 30 days after completion (includes formation log)
- Well Sealing Report: Due 30 days after abandonment/sealing
- Emergency Replacement Report: Due 72 hours (combined completion + sealing)
- Injurious Water Report: Immediate notification if contamination encountered
Licensing Requirements
Delaware requires licensed drillers and pump installers per 7 Del. Admin. Code §7302.
License Categories
- Water Well Contractor: Company license (requires insurance)
- Pump Installer Contractor: Company license for pump work
- Well Driller: Individual license (must be employed by contractor)
- Pump Installer: Individual license for pump work
- Well Driver: Individual license for driven wells
License Fees (Current vs. Future)
Fee Increase Coming
License fees will increase significantly on December 21, 2025. Exam fees (currently $0) will also begin at $100 per exam. Plan renewals accordingly.
Requirements
- Age: Must be 18 years or older
- Experience: 2 years operating well rigs (drillers); 1 year for pump installers
- Exam: Pass written exam at ≥75% (quarterly exams: Feb, May, Aug, Nov)
- Insurance (contractors): $100k/$300k bodily injury, $50k property damage
- Employment: Individual licenses only valid while employed by licensed contractor
Renewal
- Renewal deadline: November 30 (licenses expire Dec 31)
- Late renewals: Accepted within 1 year with $50 late fee
- License cards: Must be carried on-site at all times
- Online renewal: Via DNREC ePermitting portal
Continuing Education
Delaware requires annual CE for all licensed drillers and pump installers.
CE Requirements
- Courses must be Board-approved before counting toward CE
- Topics: well construction, abandonment, repair, pump work, hydrogeology, safety, regulations
- Providers: colleges, trade workshops (NGWA, state associations), manufacturers, seminars
- Record retention: Keep certificates for 1 year after course date
- Licensee pays all CE costs
CE Providers
Contact the Delaware Water Well Licensing Board at (302) 739-9116 for a list of approved CE providers, or check with the Maryland-Delaware Water Well Association and NGWA for regional courses.
Reporting & Documentation
Well Completion Report Requirements
The completion report must include:
- Well design details (depth, casing size, materials)
- Formation lithology (layer-by-layer log)
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Grouting/sealing information
- Yields and pump test data (if conducted)
- Water quality observations
- Licensed driller\'s signature
Contamination Reporting
If you encounter contamination during drilling, you must stop work immediately, decontaminate the rig, and notify DNREC. Contaminated drill fluids must be handled as hazardous waste.
Call-In Authorization Number
Delaware uses a "call-in authorization number" system. Before starting work, call DNREC to obtain this number and validate the permit. Display the permit on-site during drilling.
Construction Standards (7 Del. Admin. Code §7301)
Casing Requirements
- PVC: NSF-approved, Schedule 40 minimum (or DNREC-approved alternative)
- Steel: Schedule 40 or better (required for crystalline bedrock wells)
- Minimum diameter: 4″ for domestic, 6″ for public wells (DNREC may require larger)
- Minimum depth: 20 ft casing required (42 ft on small lots with septic)
- Joints: Watertight (PVC: solvent-welded or threaded; steel: welded or threaded)
Grouting Requirements
- All wells must be grouted within 24 hours after casing is set
- Shallow wells (≤40 ft unconfined): Bentonite chip seal allowed
- Deep wells (>40 ft confined): Pressure-grouting required from pack to surface
- Geothermal closed-loop: Pressure-grouted bottom-to-surface
- Wells ≤20 ft deep: Exempt from full-depth grouting
- Minimum 0.5″ annular space required
Setback Requirements
Wellhead Protection Areas
Drilling new wells inside a Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA) for public water supply requires stringent review. Higher casing/sealing standards may apply under §5.1.8.
Disinfection (Mandatory)
All new, repaired, or reconditioned potable wells must be disinfectedper §7.1-7.2:
- Disinfectant: NSF/ANSI 60 calcium hypochlorite at ≥100 mg/L free chlorine
- Contact time: 24-30 minutes throughout well and distribution system
- Flushing: Flush until chlorine appears at all taps
- Public wells: Must pass bacteriological testing before service
- Prohibition: Continuous chlorination in active wells is prohibited
Permits
Standard Well Permits (≤50,000 gpd)
Most domestic, agricultural, and small commercial wells require a standard construction permit from DNREC. Current fee is $75 (increasing to $250 on 12/21/2025).
- Licensed contractor submits application (owner consent required)
- DNREC reviews site for contamination risks (1,000 ft radius)
- Processing typically 1-2 weeks
- Permit must be displayed on-site during work
High-Capacity Wells (>50,000 gpd)
Withdrawals above 50,000 gal/day require a Water Allocation Permitunder 7 Del. Admin. Code §7303. Hydrogeologic review required. Contact DNREC Water Supply & Allocations branch.
Delaware River Basin
If the well is in the Delaware River Basin (northern Delaware), withdrawals >100,000 gpd also require Delaware River Basin Commission approval.
Special Well Types
- Monitoring/Observation Wells: $75 fee for project (any number of wells)
- Geothermal Closed-Loop: Minimal fee (no groundwater withdrawal)
- Injection Wells (ASR/Remediation): $75 fee
- Test Wells: $0 now, $250 after 12/21/2025
- Dewatering Wells: May be temporary/exempt from full standards
Monitor Wells in DelDOT ROW
Monitor wells in Delaware Department of Transportation right-of-way require special permit markings and DelDOT approval. See DNREC monitor well guidelines.
Drilling Conditions by Region
Northern Delaware (New Castle County)
- Geology: Piedmont – crystalline bedrock (schist, gneiss)
- Depths: 100–200 ft into fractured rock
- Challenges: Hard rock, slower drilling, bit wear
- Aquifers: Fractured bedrock (yields depend on fractures)
- Water quality: Generally good, may contain iron
Central Delaware (Kent County)
- Geology: Coastal Plain – sands, clays, gravels
- Depths: 300–600 ft for confined aquifers (Piney Point, Cheswold)
- Challenges: Clay layers, potential sand collapse
- Aquifers: Piney Point (supplies ~80% of Dover's water)
- Water quality: Iron/nitrate concerns in unconfined sands
Southern Delaware (Sussex County)
- Geology: Coastal Plain – shallow water table
- Depths: 50–150 ft typical for domestic wells
- Challenges: Coastal brackish water, peat, soft sands
- Aquifers: Unconfined sands (shallow, abundant)
- Water quality: Iron, hardness common; saline intrusion near coast
Flowing Wells & Artesian Conditions
- Some confined aquifers (e.g., Potomac) may be semi-artesian
- High-yield public wells occasionally discharge to atmosphere
- Plan for discharge control and blow-off taps
- Common in Kent/New Castle counties
Seasonal Considerations
- Frost depth: 1-2 ft (winter may freeze pits/pipes)
- Spring: Highest water levels (best for well development)
- Summer: Water tables drop ~5 ft with seasonal pumping
- Flooding: Spring rains can waterlog sites
Aquifer Maps
Reference the Delaware Geological Survey for detailed aquifer maps, geologic data, and formation logs by region.
Resources & Contacts
Regulatory References
- 7 Del. Admin. Code §7301 – Well Construction Standards (casing, grouting, setbacks, disinfection)
- 7 Del. Admin. Code §7302 – Licensing Regulations (drillers, pump installers, contractors)
- 7 Del. C. §6003, §6010 – Statutory authority for well regulations
Additional Resources
- DNREC ePermitting Portal – Online license and permit applications
- Delaware Open Data Portal – Search well permits and completion reports
- Delaware Geological Survey – Aquifer maps, geologic data, water-level information
Frequently Asked Questions
Renew online through DNREC before November 30 (licenses expire Dec 31). Current fee is $30 for drillers ($100 starting 12/21/2025). You must complete 4 hours of CE annually and maintain employment with a licensed contractor.
Well drillers and drivers need 4 hours per year; pump installers need 2 hours per year. Courses must be Board-approved and cover well construction, abandonment, repair, or pump work. Keep certificates for 1 year after completion.
Within 30 days after completion. Submit via DNREC's ePermitting system or by mail. Include well design, formation log, yields, and water quality data. Late or incomplete reports can delay future permits.
100 ft from potential contaminants for potable wells, 150 ft for public supply wells. 50 ft from septic tanks/pipes (can be reduced to 10 ft if cased and grouted to 100 ft depth). See 7 Del. Admin. Code §7301-5.1 for complete requirements.
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