Forms & Resources
Water Well Construction Report
Required for every completed well. Due within 30 days.
Download Form ↗Water Well Sealing Report
Required when abandoning/plugging a well. Due within 30 days.
Download Form ↗Pump Installation Report
Required for pump installations. Due within 30 days.
Download Form ↗Permit Application
Required before drilling. Submit to county health or IDPH.
Download Form ↗All IDPH Forms
- Application for Permit: Construct/Modify/Seal a Water Well
- Water Well Construction Report: Document depths, casing, yield
- Water Well Sealing Report: Document abandonment and grouting
- Pump Installation Report: Document pump type, capacity, depth
- Closed-Loop Well Permit: Geothermal closed-loop systems
- Closed-Loop Contractor Certification Application: For geothermal work
Online Submission
Many counties allow online submission through IDPH's GISuite system. Check with your county health department for electronic filing options.
Licensing Requirements
Illinois requires licensed Water Well Contractors and Pump Installation Contractors per 225 ILCS 345 and 77 IAC Part 915.
License Categories
- Water Well Contractor: Drills and constructs water wells
- Pump Installation Contractor: Installs and repairs pumps
- Combined (Water Well + Pump): Both drilling and pump work
- Closed-Loop Well Contractor: Geothermal closed-loop systems (separate certification)
Qualifications
- Age ≥18 years
- U.S. citizen (or declared intent)
- Good moral character, no disqualifying criminal history
- 2 years (420 working days) documented experience under a licensed contractor
- Proof: Signed affidavits + 10 prior well construction reports (or pump installation reports)
Examination
Written exam with 4 parts:
- Part 1: Well Code & Act (77 IAC 920, 415 ILCS 30)
- Part 2: Pump Code & Act (77 IAC 925, 225 ILCS 345)
- Part 3: Well Construction (techniques, materials, geology)
- Part 4: Pump Installation (equipment, electrical, safety)
Water Well Contractor: Pass Parts 1 & 3 (70% minimum)
Pump Installation Contractor: Pass Parts 2 & 4 (70% minimum)
Combined License: Pass all 4 parts (70% minimum each)
Fees & Renewal
| Activity | Fee | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Exam - Water Well Contractor | $50 | Per exam |
| Exam - Pump Installation Contractor | $50 | Per exam |
| Exam - Water Well + Pump (Combined) | $80 | Per exam |
| Annual Renewal (single license) | $25 | 1 year |
| Annual Renewal (water + pump) | $35 | 1 year |
| Reinstatement (expired ≤3 years) | $10-$15 + lapsed renewals | One time |
| Restoration (expired >3 years) | $150-$175 | One time |
Annual Renewal Deadline
Licenses expire January 31 each year. Renewal applications must be submitted by December 31 to avoid late fees. Submit proof of 6 hours CE completed within the prior 2 years.
Continuing Education (CE)
- Requirement: At least one 6-hour IDPH-approved CE session every 2 years
- Topics: Well construction, pump installation, grouting, sampling, contamination control, safety
- Providers: Must be IDPH-approved (e.g., IAGP, NGWA chapters, equipment manufacturers)
- Certificates: Provider issues completion certificate; submit with renewal
- Record retention: Providers keep attendance records for 3 years
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Drilling Notice | At least 2 days before work starts | IDPH or county health |
| Well Construction Report | 30 days after completion | IDPH or county health |
| Pump Installation Report | 30 days after installation | IDPH or county health |
| Well Sealing Report | 30 days after sealing | IDPH or county health |
| Sealing Pre-Notice | 48 hours before sealing | IDPH or county health |
| License Renewal | December 31 annually | IDPH (expires Jan 31) |
Pre-Drilling Notice
Critical: You must notify IDPH or your county health department at least 2 days before starting construction. For well sealing, give 48 hours advance notice.
Construction Report Requirements
The Water Well Construction Report must include:
- Well location (legal description, GPS coordinates)
- Depths of well, static water level, casing
- Lithology (formation descriptions)
- Casing sizes, materials, depths installed
- Grouting information (depth, materials, method)
- Pump test data (if conducted) - yield, drawdown
- Disinfection method and date
- Contractor signature attesting supervision of unlicensed workers
Inspection
County health departments are authorized to inspect each permitted well. Be prepared for inspections during or after construction. Keep job site documentation current.
Construction Standards (77 IAC 920)
Casing Requirements
Unconsolidated Formations (Sand/Gravel)
- Permanent casing through entire water-bearing zone
- Minimum 20 feet of steel or approved PVC casing
- Casing must be centered and watertight
Bedrock Settings
- Casing must extend at least 40 feet below ground where drift or earth cover is under 30 ft thick
- Must be firmly seated into bedrock (plastic casing: at least 3 ft into firm rock)
- Prevent surface water infiltration
Casing Materials (77 IAC 920 Tables A & B)
- Steel: ANSI/API 5CT certified, new pipe only
- PVC/PE Plastic: NSF-61/ANSI-16 certified for potable water
- Pitless Adapters: Watertight, pressure-rated, sanitary seals
- All materials must be on IDPH-approved list
Annular Sealing (Grouting)
The annular space between borehole and casing must be pressure-groutedwith neat-cement or bentonite grout:
- Sand/gravel wells: Grout the annular space from within 10 ft of the top of the screen to the surface (oversized hole at least 3 in. larger than the casing)
- Rock wells: Grout the whole annular space when drift is over 30 ft thick (bottom of casing to ground level); neat cement sets at least 48 hours before drilling resumes
- Method: Tremie pipe from bottom up (no voids permitted)
- Materials: Neat-cement grout or bentonite per specifications
Surface Completion
- Upper casing must be raised at least 8 inches above finished grade
- In flood zones: 24 inches above maximum water level
- Watertight cap until pump installation
- If buried: Concrete slab with no joints, vented locking cover
- No discharge drains or unsealed slabs permitted
Setback Requirements (77 IAC 920 Table C)
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance |
|---|---|
| Cesspools | 150 ft |
| Leaching pit | 100 ft |
| Pit privy, subsurface seepage system, distribution box, sand filter, waste stabilization pond, manure pile | 75 ft |
| Septic tank, aerobic treatment plant, surface discharge effluent line, barnyard or animal confinement lot | 50 ft |
| Sewers (sanitary or combined) | 50 ft (10 ft with approved pipe and joints) |
| Lake, pond or stream | 25 ft |
| Potential primary or secondary source, or potential route | 200 ft (75 ft if the same owner) |
| Abandoned wells | 200 ft |
| Closed-loop (geothermal) wells | 200 ft from a water well (75 ft if the same owner) |
Setback Adjustments
Some adjustments to setback distances may be allowed under specific conditions (e.g., topography, hydrogeology). Consult 77 IAC 920 Table C and your county health department for site-specific requirements.
Disinfection Requirements
New and modified wells must be disinfected before use:
- Achieve 100 ppm free chlorine in the casing
- Refer to 77 IAC 920.100(b) dosage table by well diameter
- Use household bleach (5.25% hypochlorite) or granular calcium hypochlorite
- Allow the solution to stand several hours, preferably overnight
- Flush thoroughly until no chlorine odor remains
- Throttle discharge to avoid overloading septic systems
Permits
Standard Well Permit
A permit is required before drilling any new well or modifying/sealing an existing well (415 ILCS 30, 77 IAC 920).
- Issued by: IDPH or delegated county health department (90 counties)
- Fee: Up to $100 (state law cap)
- Application requirements: Site plan showing lot lines, slope, distances to contamination sources, well location, proposed depth, driller\'s license number
- Expiration: Permit expires if work has not started within 1 year
High-Capacity Wells
Wells capable of withdrawing >100,000 gallons/day are classified as high-capacity wells:
- Must be noted on permit application
- Landowners must register with local Soil and Water Conservation District
- Subject to groundwater withdrawal guidelines and local management
- May trigger review under Illinois Water Use Act
Special Permits
Closed-Loop Geothermal Wells
Separate permit and certification required:
- Closed-Loop Well Permit (IDPH form)
- Certified Closed-Loop Well Contractor
- Follow 77 IAC 920 geothermal standards
Monitoring Wells
No separate IDPH permit required, but:
- Must comply with 77 IAC 920 construction standards
- File construction/sealing report within 30 days
- Follow well screen, gravel pack, seal zone specs (920.90)
County Variations
Some counties have additional requirements. For example, Lake County enforces its own "Well and Water Regulations" (Lake County Code Chapter 170). Always check with your local health or planning department for county-specific rules.
Drilling Conditions by Region
Northern Illinois
- Geology: Thick glacial drift (till, sand/gravel) over Silurian-Devonian dolomite/limestone
- Typical depths: Glacial wells 50-150 ft; bedrock wells 100-600 ft
- Challenges: Fractured dolomite (high yield when karsted), deep drift in valleys
- Water quality: Elevated radium/uranium in deep wells (granite, dolomite)
Central Illinois
- Geology: Buried sand aquifers (Mahomet Valley) under thick glacial till
- Typical depths: Sand/gravel wells 100-300 ft; bedrock 150-500 ft
- Challenges: Finding buried sand channels; tight bedrock (sandstone/shale)
- Water quality: High nitrates in agricultural areas; naturally elevated arsenic
Southern Illinois
- Geology: Thinner glacial cover; Mississippian-Pennsylvanian sandstone/limestone bedrock
- Typical depths: Shallow bedrock 100-300 ft; some wells to 500+ ft
- Challenges: Hard rock drilling; tight or depleted formations; may need cable tools
- Water quality: Naturally high arsenic in deep sandstone; iron/manganese common
Northeastern Illinois (Chicago Area)
- Geology: Deep Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone aquifers (St. Peter, Mt. Simon)
- Typical depths: Municipal wells 800-1,500+ ft; private wells 100-600 ft
- Challenges: Very deep drilling; artesian pressures; regulatory scrutiny (high-capacity wells)
- Water quality: Radium in deep sandstone; iron/hardness
ILWATER Database
Reference the ILWATER well database (500,000+ well records) for local geology, typical depths, and formation yields. Invaluable for site planning and expected drilling conditions.
Resources & Contacts
IDPH Private Water Program
Licensing, permits, forms, and compliance
Illinois Association of Groundwater Professionals (IAGP)
Industry association, CE courses, networking
County Health Departments
Local permit issuance and inspections (90 counties)
Regulatory References
- 77 IAC Part 920 – Water Well Construction Code (construction standards, setbacks, grouting)
- 415 ILCS 30 – Illinois Water Well Construction Code Act
- 225 ILCS 345 – Water Well and Pump Installation Contractor\'s License Act
- 77 IAC Part 915 – Licensing rules (exam, renewal, CE requirements)
- 77 IAC Part 925 – Pump Installation Code
Study Materials
- Study Manual for Water Well Contractors – IDPH exam preparation guide
- IAGP Resources – Industry association materials and CE courses
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my Illinois driller license?
Renew annually by December 31 through IDPH. Fee is $25 for single license or $35 for combined water + pump license. You must have completed 6 hours of approved CE within the prior 2 years. Submit CE certificate with renewal. License expires January 31 if not renewed.
What are the CE requirements for Illinois drillers?
Complete at least one 6-hour IDPH-approved continuing education session every 2 years. Topics must include well construction, pump installation, grouting, sampling, contamination control, and safety. CE providers issue certificates; submit with renewal. Providers keep attendance records for 3 years.
How soon must I file the well log?
Within 30 days after completion. Submit Water Well Construction Report (IDPH form) to IDPH or your county health department. If you installed a pump, also file the Pump Installation Report within 30 days. Both reports document depths, casing, grouting, yield tests, and materials used.
What are the setback requirements in Illinois?
Per 77 IAC 920 Table C (clay and loam soils): 150 ft from cesspools; 100 ft from leaching pits; 75 ft from pit privies, seepage systems and manure piles; 50 ft from septic tanks and barnyards; 25 ft from lakes, ponds and streams; 50 ft from sewers; 200 ft from potential primary or secondary sources. Closed-loop wells must be 200 ft from water wells (75 ft if the same owner). See full Table C for all sources and footnotes.
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our Illinois well guide for homeowners covering costs, permits, and water quality.
Illinois Homeowner Well Guide →