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 (9.17.2026); questions: ag.permits@dnr.ga.gov
- Renewal Application: Biennial renewal (expires June 30, odd years)
- Performance Bond Template: EPD sets the amount (statutory cap $75,000); renewal forms ask for $30,000 (water well contractor) or $20,000 (pump contractor)
- 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
| License Type | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|
| New Application | $100 | Application kept on file 12 months |
| Restoration (expired over 6 months) | +$650 | In addition to the new application fee and license/certificate fee; new application with passing exam scores required (EPD fee schedule, item 6) |
| Water Well Contractor License | $400 | 2 years ($200 per year) |
| Pump Contractor Certificate | $400 | 2 years ($200 per year) |
| Late Renewal (46 days to 3 months late) | +$250 | No late fee if 0-45 days late |
| Late Renewal (3 to 6 months late) | +$500 | In addition to the license fee |
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: Bond or irrevocable letter of credit in an amount EPD sets, capped at $75,000; the 2025-2027 renewal form asks for at least $30,000 (pump contractors: $20,000)
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: $75 per written exam per EPD's fee schedule, plus the $100 application fee
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 8 hours per 2-year cycle (4 hours/year); up to 4 of the 8 may be online
- 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
Licenses and certificates expire biennially on June 30. Water well contractor licenses run 2025-2027 (next expiry June 30, 2027); pump contractor certificates run 2026-2028 (next expiry June 30, 2028). Return the renewal form, fee, bond or letter of credit, and CE proof by the date EPD prints on the form (June 6 in 2025, June 5 in 2026). Renewals more than 45 days late pay a $250 late fee ($500 after 3 months).
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Intent | Before drilling begins | County Environmental Health |
| Well Construction Report | 30 days after completion | Well owner; keep a copy in your office |
| Abandonment/Sealing Report | After plugging | EPD/County Health (recommended) |
| License Renewal | June 30 (odd years for drillers; even years for pump contractors) | GA EPD Tifton office (renewal form, fee, bond, CE proof) |
| CE Certificates | Complete before renewal | Keep for audit |
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 along the entire casing in drilled wells (to maximum drawdown in bored or driven wells)
Annular Seal (Grouting)
| Well Type | Minimum Grout Depth |
|---|---|
| Individual wells (minimum) | 10 ft |
| Nonpublic wells in igneous/metamorphic rock | 25 ft |
| Nonpublic wells in sedimentary rock | 50 ft |
| Irrigation wells | 20 ft |
| Coastal Plain (deeper) | 50+ ft (site-specific) |
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: Watertight, ≥4″ thick, extending ≥2 ft in all directions from the casing; the statute makes this the owner's duty
- Surface drainage: Curb sloped away to shed surface water
- Flood areas: Casing must extend ≥2 ft above recorded flood level
Setback Requirements
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| Sewer lines | 10 ft |
| Septic tanks | 50 ft |
| Septic leach fields/absorption fields | 100 ft |
| Cesspools or seepage pits | 150 ft |
| Livestock/fowl facilities, animal yards | 100 ft |
Disinfection
Mandatory Disinfection
- New wells: Chlorinate to ≥50 ppm with 2-hour contact before use (individual and nonpublic wells for drinking or food processing)
- Pump replacement: 50 ppm chlorine flush, 2+ hour soak before pumping (also after repair)
- Drilling fluids: Must be disinfected or from approved potable source (GA Safe Drinking Water Act MCLs)
- Method: Follow DPH chlorination instructions
Drill Cuttings
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): Geothermal boreholes that reach groundwater are grouted bottom to top by forced injection, and kept at least 10 ft from sewer lines, 25 ft from septic tanks and 50 ft from septic drain fields. 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 radius for confined aquifers; 250 ft for unconfined aquifers and springs; 500 ft in karst areas (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 more than 3 years are permanently abandoned and must be filled, sealed, and plugged; wells unused for more than 1 year and up to 3 years are temporarily abandoned and must be sealed and maintained (O.C.G.A. 12-5-134(6)). 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; plugging of an abandoned water well is done by a water well contractor licensed by the Council
Resources & Contacts
GA EPD - Water Well Standards Advisory Council (EPD is its agent)
Licensing, renewals, forms, complaints (Tifton office)
GA Assoc. of Groundwater Professionals
Industry association, CE courses, networking
National Ground Water Association (NGWA)
Certification exams, national standards
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
How do I renew my Georgia driller license?
Water well contractor licenses expire June 30 of odd-numbered years (the current period is 2025-2027); pump contractor certificates run on the 2026-2028 cycle. Send GA EPD (Tifton office) the renewal form, the $400 fee payable to the Department of Natural Resources, your performance bond or irrevocable letter of credit, and proof of 8 hours of CE (4 hours/year, Council-approved topics). EPD sets a return date a few weeks before June 30 (June 6 in 2025). Renewals more than 45 days late pay a $250 late fee, and $500 after 3 months.
What are the CE requirements for Georgia drillers?
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. EPD accepts up to 4 of the 8 hours from online courses. Keep certificates for audit.
How soon must I file the well completion report?
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.
What are the minimum grouting depths in Georgia?
10 ft minimum for individual wells; for nonpublic wells, 25 ft in igneous/metamorphic rock and 50 ft in sedimentary rock; 20 ft for irrigation wells (O.C.G.A. §12-5-134). Deeper in Coastal Plain areas. All annular space must be grouted with neat or sand-cement slurry to prevent contamination.
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