Iowa governs well drilling through Iowa Code ch. 455B and Iowa Admin. Code 567 Ch. 49 (construction standards) and Ch. 82 (certification). Wells supplying fewer than 15 connections or less than 25 people/day are "private"; those exceeding this are "public" and fall under stricter rules (567 IAC Ch. 43).
Forms & Resources
Well Construction Log (542-8170IGS)
Required for every completed well. Due within 30 days.
Submit through IWIS (Iowa Wells Information System) or mail to DNR.
Access IWISWell Plugging Record (542-1226)
Required when permanently abandoning a well. Submit promptly after plugging.
File with Iowa DNR. Include grouting details and casing removal info.
Download FormIWIS (Iowa Wells Information System)
The online portal for submitting well logs, tracking permits, and accessing water test results. All contractors should create an IWIS account for electronic reporting.
- Submit well construction reports electronically
- Track permit applications and approvals
- Access historical well data statewide
- View water quality test results
Paper Submissions
If submitting by mail, counties often collect paper logs and upload them to IWIS. However, direct electronic submission through IWIS is preferred and faster.
Certification Requirements
Iowa requires DNR-certified contractors for all well services per 567 IAC Ch. 82.
Certification Types
| Certification Type | Requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Well Driller | 2 years employment and 2,000 hours in Class 1 and Class 2 well construction; fundamentals exam plus driller exam | Required for all drilling work |
| Pump Installer | 2 years employment and 1,000 hours installing, repairing and maintaining water systems; fundamentals exam plus pump installer exam | Required for pump installation |
| Well Plugger | No experience requirement; 4-hour DNR training course plus plugging exam | Limited certification: plugs only Class 1 and Class 3 wells |
| Provisional | Half of the required experience; works with a fully certified contractor | One-year certificate, then full certification |
How to Get Certified
- Gain Experience: 2 years of employment and 2,000 hours (driller) or 1,000 hours (pump installer); approved education can replace up to half
- Apply: Submit DNR certification application form (542-1433) with required documentation
- Study: Review DNR study guides covering well construction standards and Iowa codes
- Exam: Pass the general fundamentals exam and a specialty exam ($50 per exam; $100 for an oral exam)
- Fee: $300 certification for well drilling ($250 for pump installation and well plugging)
- Receive Certification: DNR issues certification card upon passing all requirements
Contact for Certification
Laurie Sharp at Iowa DNR handles licensing and exams: 515-664-8553, laurie.sharp@dnr.iowa.gov
Continuing Education
- Hours required: 16 contact hours (1.6 CEUs) for drillers; 10 (1.0 CEU) for pump installer only; earned April 1 to March 31 of even-numbered years (567 IAC 82.8)
- Topics: Well construction standards, groundwater protection, disinfection, Iowa code updates
- Providers: DNR-approved providers only (verify approval before attending)
- Documentation: You are responsible for keeping a written record of CEUs and reporting them to DNR
Additional Registration
Iowa DIAL Registration
Contractors also register annually with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL), separate from DNR certification. The fee is $50; self-employed contractors who pay others $2,000 or less per year can file a fee exemption form instead. See DIAL contractor registration.
Reporting & Documentation
| Document | Deadline | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Well Construction Log (542-8170IGS) | Within 30 days after completion (567 IAC 82.9) | The authority that issued the permit (county health department or DNR); nonpublic wells go into IWIS |
| Well Plugging Record (542-1226) | Within 30 days after plugging (567 IAC 39.4); abandoned wells must be plugged within 90 days | Local county agent, or DNR if no county agent |
| Certification Renewal | June 30 of even-numbered years; a certificate not renewed within 60 days after expiry is terminated | DNR (digital, postmarked or hand delivered) |
| Continuing Education | March 31 of even-numbered years (16 hours driller; 10 pump installer only) | Report to DNR; keep your own written record |
Well Log Requirements
The well construction log (Form 542-8170IGS) must include:
- Well location (GPS coordinates preferred)
- Total depth and drilling method
- Lithology (formation descriptions) by depth interval
- Water-bearing zones encountered
- Casing diameter, material, and depth
- Grouting/sealing materials and depths
- Screen intervals (if applicable)
- Pump test data (yield, drawdown)
- Static water level
- Completion date and contractor certification
Injurious Water
If you encounter contaminated water during drilling, you must report it to the DNR immediately. File a separate report describing the contamination.
Record Retention
While Iowa law doesn't specify retention periods for contractors, best practice is to keep copies of all well logs, permits, plugging records, and related documents for the life of the well. The DNR and county offices retain submitted reports indefinitely in IWIS.
Construction Standards (567 IAC Ch. 49)
Casing Materials
- Steel: New ASTM-compliant steel casing required (no used casing)
- PVC: Must be NSF/ANSI-certified for potable water (NSF-61)
- Thermoplastic: New PVC or ABS, 200 psi minimum, SDR 21/17/13.5, DR 18/14 or Sch 40/80; protect pipe above ground from UV light (567 IAC 49.11)
- Depth: Must extend through unconsolidated deposits into competent material
Chemical Storage Setback
Chemical and mineral storage and fertilizer areas must be 150 ft from a well, and liquid hydrocarbon tanks 100 ft (Table I). The rule does not set a separate PVC distance.
Annular Seal (Grouting)
Critical requirement: Iowa requires aminimum 40 ft grout seal (or the full casing length if less than 40 ft is set) around the casing of drilled wells (567 IAC 49.10).
- Grout material: Bentonite or neat cement
- Borehole at least 3 in. larger than the casing OD to the minimum grouting depth (5 in. for percussion-driven steel casing to 25 ft)
- Grout may stop 5 ft below the top of a low-permeability layer at least 5 ft thick found within 40 ft, but never shallower than 20 ft
- Grout the full casing length below 40 ft where needed to isolate contaminated zones
- Must isolate shallow groundwater from surface contamination
- For monitoring wells, grout to top of screening interval
Setback Requirements
Wells must be located "free from known surface and subsurface contamination." Typical setback distances:
| Contamination Source | Minimum Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Animal enclosures (confinement buildings, open feedlots) | 100 ft (deep well) / 200 ft (shallow well) | 567 IAC 49.8 Table I |
| Manure solids stockpiles, settling facilities, storage tanks | 100 ft (deep) / 200 ft (shallow) | Basins, lagoons and runoff control basins: 1,000 ft (400 ft with a percolation test) |
| Septic systems | 50 ft closed portion (tank) / 100 ft open portion (absorption field) | Wastewater treatment works: 400 ft |
| Chemical and mineral storage, spray materials, fertilizer | 150 ft | Liquid hydrocarbon tanks (not LPG): 100 ft; LPG tanks: 15 ft |
| Public water supply wells | 200 ft (deep) / 400 ft (shallow) | Existing private wells: 10 ft if conforming, 100 ft if not |
| Streams, ponds, lakes, wetlands, drainage channels | 25 ft | Sewers: 25 ft (water main materials) or 50 ft (standard sewer materials) |
| Property lines | 4 ft | Unless a mutual easement is recorded; buildings: no building may block access |
Site-Specific Review
Wells near known contamination sources require DNR review during the permit process. Counties forward these applications to the DNR, which can add 3–4 weeks to approval.
Disinfection
Mandatory: All new or serviced drinking water wells must be disinfected during construction. Pump to waste until clear, then hold the chlorine in the well at least 2 hours at 100 mg/L or at least 24 hours at 50 mg/L (567 IAC 49.24). Drilling water is treated to 50 ppm residual. The owner submits a coliform and nitrate sample 10 to 30 days after the well goes into service.
Wellhead Completion
- Casing top at least 12 inches above established grade, pump house floor or the 100-year flood level, whichever is higher
- Sanitary well cap required (vermin-proof, watertight)
- Grade area to drain away from wellhead
- Casing must extend minimum height above flood level
Permits
Private Well Construction Permits
All private wells require construction permits from the local county health department before drilling (except Osceola County, which uses DNR directly).
- Who applies: The landowner or the landowner's agent; the permit requires construction by a certified well contractor
- Fee: Set by each county (counties send DNR $25 per application); DNR charges $125 where it issues the permit (Osceola County)
- Processing: 2–4 weeks (longer if DNR review required)
- Trigger for DNR review: Sites near contamination sources
Never Drill Without Permit
Do NOT begin drilling until the approved permit is issued in writing per 567 IAC Ch. 49. Drilling without a permit violates state law.
High-Capacity Well Permits
Wells withdrawing ≥25,000 gallons per day require a Water Use and Allocation Permit from Iowa DNR Water Resources (per Iowa Code §455B and 567 IAC).
- Applies to irrigation, industrial, or large livestock operations
- Ensure customer obtains use permit before drilling
- Contact DNR Water Resources: 515-281-5918
Special Permits
- Geothermal (GHEX): Boreholes ≥20 ft deep require same permit as water wells
- Monitoring Wells: Generally require private well permit unless part of DNR-directed cleanup (UST, landfill monitoring)
- Dewatering Wells: Require construction permit PLUS NPDES GP9 permit for discharge
- Drilling Wastewater (GP6): If drilling wastewater reaches surface waters, obtain NPDES GP6 permit and notify DNR Field Office before construction
- Floodplain Wells: May require Flood Plain Development Permit
Drilling Conditions by Region
Iowa's geology varies significantly across the state, affecting drilling methods, depths, and challenges.
North-Central Iowa (Glaciated Region)
- Thick glacial deposits (sand, gravel, till)
- Typical depths: 50–200 ft
- May encounter quicksand layers requiring casing
- Boulders in till can stall auger rigs
- Des Moines Lobe: watch for elevated arsenic
Northeast Iowa (Karst/Limestone)
- Shallow bedrock (Silurian sandstone, dolomite)
- Karst terrain with sinkholes and caverns
- Risk of borehole washouts in cavities
- Prone to bacterial contamination from surface
- Typical depths: 100–300 ft into bedrock
Western Iowa (Deep Bedrock)
- Thick clay layers over bedrock aquifers
- Dakota aquifer: artesian conditions possible
- Typical depths: 200–500+ ft (some >1,000 ft)
- Sticky clays can stall auger rigs
- Often flowing wells from confined aquifers
Southwest Iowa (Mixed Geology)
- Pennsylvanian sandstone aquifers
- Often low-yield wells
- May encounter hydrogen sulfide (odor)
- Depths: 200–500 ft typical
- Shale layers can be difficult to drill
Central Iowa (Alluvial Valleys)
- Shallow alluvial (sand/gravel) aquifers
- Typical depths: 50–100 ft
- High water tables, may flood in spring
- Good yields but vulnerable to surface contamination
- Extra grouting protection recommended
Seasonal Considerations
- Winter: Frost up to 1–2 ft deep; must clear for grout placement. Cold, slippery conditions slow work
- Spring: High water tables and flooding (especially river valleys) may delay drilling. Wet conditions can cause borehole collapse
- Summer/Fall: Best drilling conditions. Droughts can lower water tables, requiring deeper wells
- Rainy seasons: Borehole collapse risk in sands; use casing or drilling fluid to stabilize
Aquifer Data
Reference the Iowa Geological Survey's aquifer maps and IWIS database for local geology, typical depths, and expected yields by region.
Resources & Contacts
Iowa DNR – Private Well Program (Certification)
Laurie Sharp - Licensing, exams, compliance
Iowa DNR – Private Well Program (Technical)
Daniel Watterson - Permits, technical questions
Iowa DNR – Water Supply Engineering
Carmily Stone - Public water supply permits
Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL)
Annual contractor registration ($50; self-employed contractors paying others $2,000 or less per year can claim a fee exemption)
Regulatory References
- 567 IAC Ch. 49 – Nonpublic Water Wells: Permits and Construction (PDF)
- 567 IAC Ch. 82 – Well Contractor Certification
- 567 IAC Ch. 39 – Well Plugging
- 567 IAC Ch. 43 – Public Water Supply Wells (reference)
- Iowa Code §455B – Water Use and Allocation
Online Systems
- IWIS (Iowa Wells Information System): programs.iowadnr.gov/iowawellinformationsystem
- Certified Well Contractor Search (IWIS): Verify certifications
- GP6 Well Siting Tool: Online mapper to check distances to streams for NPDES GP6
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a certified well contractor in Iowa?
A driller needs 2 years of employment and 2,000 hours of experience in Class 1 and Class 2 well construction (up to half may be replaced by approved education). Apply to DNR to take the fundamentals exam and the well driller exam ($50 per exam), then pay the $300 certification fee. DNR does not reciprocate other states' licenses.
How often must I renew my certification?
Certificates expire June 30 of even-numbered years. The renewal fee is $300 for well drillers and $200 for pump installers and well pluggers, plus a $100 penalty if late. Drillers must earn 16 contact hours (1.6 CEUs) and pump installers only 10 between April 1 and March 31 of each even-numbered year. DNR posts the renewal application 60 days before expiration, and a certificate not renewed within 60 days after expiration is terminated.
How soon must I file the well log?
Within 30 days after completion (567 IAC 82.9). Submit the well record to the authority that issued the permit, the county health department or DNR; for nonpublic wells the record goes into the Iowa Well Information System (IWIS). Cuttings samples go to the Iowa Geological Survey for public-supply and permitted-withdrawal wells.
What are the grouting requirements in Iowa?
For drilled wells in unconsolidated material, grout to at least 40 ft, or the full casing length if less than 40 ft of casing is set (567 IAC 49.10(1)). Where a 5 ft layer of low-permeability material lies within 40 ft, grout may stop 5 ft into it but no shallower than 20 ft. Bedrock wells need casing at least 40 ft deep, seated in firm rock. Grouting the full length below 40 ft may be needed to isolate contaminated zones.
Looking for Homeowner Information?
Check out our Iowa well guide for homeowners covering costs, permits, and water quality.
Iowa Homeowner Well GuideSources & References
All facts in this guide are sourced from official Iowa government sources: