Forms & Resources
Required before starting work. Owner or driller submits. $25 filing fee.
Download Form ↗Required within 30 days after completion (HRS §174C-85).
Download Form ↗All CWRM Forms
- Well Construction/Pump Installation Permit: Application form for drilling/pump work
- Well Completion Report: Details drilling date, strata, depth, casing, grout, yield, water quality
- Well Sealing Permit: Required before permanently abandoning/sealing a well
- Water Use Permit: Required in designated Groundwater Management Areas (high-capacity wells)
Licensing Requirements
Hawaii licenses well-related work under the Contractors Licensing system (Chapter 444 HRS). Key classifications are C-57 (Well Contractor), C-57a (Pump Installation Contractor), and C-57b (Injection Well Contractor).
License Classifications
Authorizes drilling, casing, cementing, cleaning, repair of water wells and related pump work. Requires several years of supervised drilling experience and passing trade exam.
Installing well pumps and controls. Exam covers pumping systems, electrical, controls.
Installing injection wells (geothermal, disposal, etc.). Requires specific training.
License Fees & Renewal
Exam Requirements
Applicants must pass the state trade exam for their classification plus the Business & Law (contractors' law) exam. Exams are administered by PSI.
- C-57 exam: 24 questions, 60 minutes (covers geology, drilling techniques, pumping, casing, abandonment)
- Application fee: ~$25 file fee + first renewal fee
- Study materials: Available from PVL and PSI
Continuing Education
No continuing education required for Hawaii contractor licenses (including C-57, C-57a, C-57b). However, staying current with technical standards and safety is recommended through professional associations like the Hawaii Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
Reporting & Documentation
Well Completion Report Requirements (HRS §174C-85)
The completion report must include:
- Drilling date and location
- Strata encountered (depth, thickness, description)
- Total depth drilled
- Casing depth, size, weight, and placement
- Grout type and seal depth/material
- Yield (GPM or CFS)
- Static water level/pressure (psi)
- Laboratory analysis of water quality
Well Abandonment/Sealing (HRS §174C-87)
If a well is permanently abandoned, the owner must obtain a Well Sealing Permit from CWRM before sealing. The sealing work must be done by a licensed driller and follow State well standards and EPA guidelines. After sealing, file a completion-like report on the sealing.
Construction Standards (HAR §13-168)
Governing Law
Well drilling in Hawaii is governed by the State Water Code (HRS Chapter 174C) and Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Title 13, Subtitle 7, Chapter 168 (Water Use, Wells, and Stream Diversion Works). These incorporate the Hawaii Well Construction and Pump Installation Standards (adopted in HAR §13-168-13).
Casing Requirements (HAR §13-183-71)
- Conductor pipe: Must be set 50–150 ft deep and cemented solid to surface
- Surface casing: Must be cemented to surface; set at least 10% of total depth or 500 ft (whichever is greater)
- Multiple casing strings: Most deep wells require multiple strings with grout seals between aquifers
- Sanitary seals: Required at top; port/cap at surface
Setback Requirements
Note: Hawaii generally follows AWWA setback guidelines. Specific setback distances are applied case-by-case per well standards and local health department requirements. All wells must be sited to prevent contamination of ground water.
Disinfection
New wells must be disinfected (chlorinated) after construction and prior to use. Hawaii best-practices (consistent with EPA/CDC guidance) require:
- Shock well with chlorine bleach
- Circulate for ≥24 hours
- Verify bacteriological safety before pumping potable water
- Well standards implicitly require sanitary disinfection
Permits
Well Construction Permit (HRS §174C-84)
No well work may start without a CWRM permit. An application for a Well Construction Permit must be filed with CWRM before drilling or pump installation.
- Who applies: Owner (often via driller)
- Filing fee: $25
- Review timeline: CWRM acts within 90 days by law
- DOH review: CWRM forwards application to DOH for location review (concurrent)
Water Use Permit (High-Capacity Wells)
Any substantial withdrawal (especially in designated Groundwater Management Areas) requires a Water Use Permit under HRS 174C Part IV and HAR Title 13, Ch. 171.
- Trigger: Large wells (e.g., >100,000 gpd or in overpump areas)
- Filing fee: $25
- Review timeline: 90 days statutory review
- Criteria: Reviewed per HRS §174C-49 (consistency with public interest, existing rights, etc.)
County Permits
Each county imposes its own permits for private wells. Drillers must check with local Department of Water Supply or Building Department:
- Honolulu (Oahu): Building permits + Board of Water Supply plan approval
- Hawaii County (Big Island): Well drilling registration/permits + water testing
- Maui County: DWS reviews well plans
- Kauai County: DWS reviews well plans
Special Permits
Geothermal/Injection Wells (Class V)
Drilling geothermal/exploratory wells or injecting geothermal fluid requires a Hawaii DOH Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit (HAR 11-23). DOH UIC rules govern siting/construction to protect drinking water.
Monitoring/Test Wells
Wells drilled solely for monitoring or geotechnical testing (no production) may be exempt from standard permit if properly abandoned afterwards. Per HAR 11-23, test borings used only for investigations and plugged with impermeable material upon completion are not treated as injection wells (but should still be reported to authorities).
Drilling Conditions by Region
General Geology
Hawaii's aquifers are in volcanic rock. Each island is built from large shield volcanoes of varying ages. The islands range from Miocene-age basalt (Niihau/Kauai) to active basalt flows (Hawaii Island). Interior calderas and rift zones often have low-permeability "lens" traps, while outer flanks host high-yield aquifers.
- Two volcanoes: Waianae (west, older) and Koolau (east, younger)
- Basalt flows with occasional pyroclastic caprock
- Wells often hit brackish or saltwater lens below fresh-water
- Typical depths: Few hundred to 1,000+ ft
- Haleakala volcanics (younger, relatively impermeable)
- West Maui basalt (older shield, often deeply weathered)
- Wells in West Maui penetrate deeply weathered basalt
- Typical depths: 300–1,000+ ft
- Complex stratigraphy: Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Kilauea
- Yields can be high in fractured flows
- Saltwater intrusion concern near coasts
- Geothermal activity (Puna, Kilauea): sulfur, H₂S
- Basalt island aquifers with significant dike intrusion
- Dikes compartmentalize aquifers
- Typical depths: Moderate (consolidated basalt)
- Perched lenses above impermeable layers common
Common Challenges
- Hard basalt: Can wear bits and slow progress; plan for harder rock
- Perched lenses: Above impermeable layers may give high initial flows
- Artesian conditions: Confined aquifers west of dikes; require pressure control
- Saltwater intrusion: Coastal wells must guard against pulling in brackish water (deep casing through freshwater lens)
- Volcanic minerals: Sulfate levels or minor boron from volcanic materials common
Seasonal Issues
Hawaii's tropical climate means no freezing, but:
- Heavy rains (Nov–Mar): Can flood low-lying drilling sites, raise water table
- Dry season (summer): Often lowers water tables and yields
- High-rainfall areas (windward sides): May require scheduling drilling to avoid flash floods/landslides
- Water levels fluctuate seasonally (typically higher in wet months)
Special Requirements
Arsenic Advisory Areas
Certain regions (notably parts of Maui and Hawaii Island) have naturally high arsenic in groundwater or soil. The Kula/Puunene area on Maui and volcanic areas of Hawaii Island have elevated arsenic levels.
- Extra casing depth (extending casing below arsenic-bearing zones)
- Immediate arsenic testing of pumped water
- Refer to latest DOH "Arsenic Advisory Areas" map (HDOH GWPP) when specifying casing
Contamination Zones
Wells near known contaminant sites (landfills, former agricultural/pesticide storage, fuel stations, military sites) are subject to additional rules. DOH Groundwater Contamination Maps identify wells where organics have been detected.
- Wells in contamination zones may require advance DOH approval
- Special waterproofing of seals may be required
- No injection of waste allowed
- Report to DOH if site is in protected zone
Wellhead Protection Areas
CWRM has designated Groundwater Management Areas (critical wellhead protection regions) around key aquifers and wellfields (e.g., Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Wailua, Windward Oahu, all Molokai, Central Maui).
- Drilling reports and permits reviewed more strictly
- Proposed high-capacity wells scrutinized for source impacts
- Typically tied to Water Use Permit requirement
Resources & Contacts
Regulatory References
- HRS Chapter 174C (State Water Code) – Including §174C-84 (permits), §174C-85 (completion reports), §174C-87 (well sealing)
- HAR §13-183-71 – Casing and cementing requirements
- HAR §13-168-13 – Well construction and pump installation standards
- HAR 11-23 – Underground Injection Control (UIC) permits
Professional Associations
- Hawaii Section of AWWA – Technical resources, code workshops, networking
- National Ground Water Association (NGWA) – Industry standards, training, certification
- General Contractors Association of Hawaii – Local industry support
Frequently Asked Questions
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