Forms & Resources
Notice of Intent to Drill
Required before drilling begins. Submit to County Environmental Health office.
Download Form ↗Well Construction Report (Well Data Sheet)
Due within 30 days of completion. Provide to owner; keep copy on file.
Download Form ↗Additional EPD Forms
- License Application: New Water Well Contractor or Pump Contractor certificate
- Renewal Application: Biennial renewal (expires June 30, odd years)
- Performance Bond Template: $75,000 maximum requirement
- Injurious Water Report: If contaminated water found during drilling
Online Resources: Visit the GA EPD Watershed Protection Branch for all forms and the licensed contractor list.
Licensing Requirements
Georgia requires licensed Water Well Contractors and Pump Contractorsper O.C.G.A. §12-5-120 et seq. (Water Well Standards Act of 1985).
License Fees
Experience Requirements
- Water Well Contractor: 2 years' experience under a licensed driller
- Pump Contractor: 2 years' experience under a licensed driller or pump installer
- Performance Bond: $75,000 maximum bond or irrevocable letter of credit
Examination
- Exam provider: NGWA-prepared tests via PSI testing centers
- Passing score: 70%
- Schedule: Call PSI at 1-800-211-2754 or online at PSI NGWA exam portal
- Fee: ~$150-$200 (paid to PSI)
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 8 hours per 2-year cycle (4 hours/year)
- Topics: Best practices, safety, water quality, hydrogeology, tech advances, business, regulations
- Providers: Water Well Standards Council-approved only
- Record retention: Keep certificates for audit
- Examples: Georgia Southern Univ., GA Drillers Assoc. seminars
Renewal Reminder
All licenses and certificates expire June 30 of odd-numbered years (biennial cycle). Submit renewal application with fee and CE completion before expiration to avoid late fees.
Reporting & Documentation
Well Construction Report Contents
The well completion report (Well Data Sheet) must include (O.C.G.A. §12-5-134):
- Owner name and property location
- Drill depths and lithology (formation descriptions)
- Casing details (sizes, materials, depths)
- Grouting information (depths, materials)
- Static and pumping water levels
- Test yield if measured (gpm)
- Disinfection confirmation (method and date)
- Contractor and pump installer identification
Injurious Water Reporting
If you encounter contaminated water during drilling, you must file a "Report of Injurious Water or Constituents" with GA EPD.
Record Retention
Drillers must retain well logs and construction data in their office (O.C.G.A. §12-5-134). While no specific time is mandated, best practice is to maintain records indefinitely or at minimum through license term and renewal audits.
Construction Standards (O.C.G.A. §12-5-134)
Casing Materials
- Steel: New ASTM-compliant steel, durable construction
- PVC: Approved plastic casing (no sewer pipe allowed)
- Concrete: Approved for certain applications
- Joints: Watertight casing/liner joints down to maximum drawdown depth
Annular Seal (Grouting)
Critical: All annular space between casing and borehole must be grouted with neat or sand-cement slurry. Water-bearing zones with potential pollutants must be isolated.
Wellhead Protection
- Sanitary seal or cover: Required on all wellheads
- Concrete curb: ≥4″ thick, ≥2 ft radius around casing
- Surface drainage: Curb sloped away to shed surface water
- Flood areas: Casing must extend ≥2 ft above recorded flood level
Setback Requirements
Disinfection
Mandatory Disinfection
- New wells: Chlorinate to ≥50 ppm with 2-hour contact before use
- Pump replacement: 50 ppm chlorine flush, 2+ hour soak before pumping
- Drilling fluids: Must be disinfected or from approved potable source (GA Safe Drinking Water Act MCLs)
- Method: Follow DPH chlorination instructions
Drill Cuttings
All drill cuttings and debris must be removed from the site after completion.
Permits
Notice of Intent (All Private Wells)
Before drilling any non-public well, file a Notice of Intent with the County Environmental Health office (O.C.G.A. §12-5-134). No state fee applies, though local building permits may have fees.
High-Capacity Wells (≥100,000 gpd)
State Permit Required
Withdrawals ≥100,000 gallons per day require a state permit from GA EPD under the Ground Water Use Act (O.C.G.A. 12-5-90 et seq.).
- Applies to: Municipal, industrial, large irrigation wells
- Farm limit: Average 100,000 gpd; beyond that requires permit
- Application: Submit to EPD Watershed Protection with hydrogeologic data, construction plans, pumping test results, water conservation plan
- Timing: Do not install pumps until permit is issued
Special Well Types
- Geothermal (ground-source heat): Treated like water wells for construction standards. No separate drilling license required.
- Monitoring/research wells: Must be constructed under professional engineer/geologist direction, with watertight casing and grout.
Local Variations
Georgia's well regulations are statewide; counties follow state code. No special county drilling permits beyond normal building permits. Always check with County Environmental Health for local requirements.
Drilling Conditions by Region
Coastal Plain (South & Southeast GA)
- Geology: Layered sand, clay, limestone aquifers
- Aquifers: Brunswick, Floridan, Claiborne
- Typical depths: 100–400 ft (deeper for Floridan/Claiborne)
- Yields: Often high (hundreds of gpm once tapped)
- Challenges: Alternating clays/sands; caving risk; artesian possible
- Notes: Floating rigs or sheet piling may be needed in swampy areas
Piedmont / Blue Ridge (North GA)
- Geology: Crystalline bedrock (granite, gneiss, schist)
- Typical depths: 200–800 ft to find productive fractures
- Yields: Modest, often <50 gpm without stimulation
- Challenges: Hard rock drilling; variable yields
- Methods: Cable-tool or large rotary rigs; hydrofracturing may be needed
- Water quality: Watch for uranium >30 ppb above Fall Line
Valley & Ridge (NW GA)
- Geology: Folded sedimentary rocks (limestone, dolomite)
- Typical depths: 50–300 ft
- Yields: Moderate to high in valleys
- Challenges: Folded strata; variable aquifer depths
Seasonal Factors
- Frost line: Very shallow (4-6″); not a major concern
- Spring rains: Raise water table; can flood shallow wells
- Summer droughts: Drop water levels tens of feet in some aquifers
- Best drilling: Early winter/spring when ground is dry
- Late winter/early spring: Sites may be muddy
Regional Data
Reference USGS Groundwater Conditions of Georgia for detailed aquifer maps and typical drilling conditions by region.
Special Requirements
Arsenic Advisory Areas
South Georgia Arsenic Zones
Naturally high arsenic is known in South Georgia (Gulf Trough area), particularly in Thomas, Camden, Irwin, Tift, Bibb, and Lowndes counties.
- Wells frequently exceed 10 ppb arsenic (EPA MCL)
- GA DPH recommends testing all new wells in these areas
- Advise clients to install treatment if arsenic detected
- No special casing required by law, but maintain setbacks from septic
Wellhead Protection Areas
Public drinking water wells have designated Wellhead Protection Areasunder GA Safe Drinking Water rules (391-3-5-.40). These areas have managed zones:
- Inner management zone: 100 ft for confined aquifers (no hazardous activities)
- Outer management zone: Additional buffer area (varies by aquifer type)
- Identify if your planned well falls within a protection zone and coordinate with utility
Well Abandonment
Wells unused for ≥3 years are considered abandoned (GA DPH). Abandoned wells must be properly sealed per O.C.G.A. 12-5-134(1)(K):
- Fill well and annulus with impervious material
- Notify EPD/County Health when plugging (recommended)
- Owner must ensure proper sealing to prevent cross-contamination of aquifers
Resources & Contacts
Regulatory References
- O.C.G.A. §12-5-120 et seq. – Water Well Standards Act of 1985
- O.C.G.A. §12-5-134 – Well construction standards and setbacks
- GA Rules 770-3 to 770-8 – Licensing, applications, examinations, CE
- GA Rules 391-3-2 – Groundwater Use (high-capacity wells)
Frequently Asked Questions
Renew online through GA EPD before June 30 of odd-numbered years. Fee is up to $400. You must complete 8 hours of CE (4 hours/year) before renewal, including Council-approved topics like safety, hydrogeology, and regulations.
8 hours every 2 years (4 hours per year) from Water Well Standards Council-approved providers. Topics include industry best practices, safety, water quality protection, hydrogeology, technical advances, business management, and government regulation. Keep certificates for audit.
Within 30 days after completion (O.C.G.A. §12-5-134). Provide the detailed well construction report to the well owner and keep a copy in your office. Some counties request a copy for their records.
10 ft minimum for private wells; 25 ft in igneous/metamorphic rock; 50 ft in sedimentary formations. Deeper in Coastal Plain areas. All annular space must be grouted with neat or sand-cement slurry to prevent contamination.
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